How to Dispute Unauthorized Charges: Deadlines, Steps, and What to Expect in 2026

Unauthorized charges on your credit card statement can stem from fraud or simple errors. U.S. federal law and card network rules offer strong protections, but speed matters. Begin by scrutinizing your statement for anything suspicious. Reach out to your card issuer immediately--ideally within 60 days from the statement date to secure the fullest federal safeguards, or up to 120 days from the transaction date under networks like Visa or Mastercard. Share specifics like the transaction date, amount, merchant, and your reason for deeming it unauthorized. The issuer will launch an investigation, often within 30-60 days, and might issue a provisional credit to your account in the meantime.

This guide focuses on U.S. credit card users, including those with Chase or Bank of America cards, dealing with fraud. Issuers frequently impose 60-day limits that are tighter than the 120-day network allowances, so consult your card terms to prevent denials. Evidence from sources like Chase and Bank of America supports these timelines as of 2026, even if some older 2021 network rules differ slightly.

Understand Your Dispute Time Limits by Card Network and Issuer

Deadlines for challenging unauthorized charges vary between card networks and issuers. Networks such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover typically permit 120 days from the transaction date. Cardholders, for instance, get 120 days to dispute a Mastercard transaction via their issuer, following guidance from SUBTA. Transactions beyond 120 days generally fall outside Visa and Mastercard chargeback policies.

Issuers often apply shorter windows that match federal protections. Chase demands submission within 60 days of the transaction appearing on your statement, per their site (https://chase.com/personal/credit-cards/dispute). Bank of America uses a comparable 60-day period from the statement or receipt date. Experian notes that filing within 60 days of the bill's arrival delivers the strongest legal protections under federal law (https://experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-to-dispute-credit-card-charge/).

Issuer timelines effectively shorten the wider network policies. Review your card agreement for specifics, since differences persist and 2021 network data might not capture all 2026 practices.

Step-by-Step Guide to Filing a Dispute for Unauthorized Charges

These steps help you file a dispute smoothly while hitting key deadlines:

1. Review your statement immediately: Scan for unfamiliar charges. Jot down the date, amount, merchant name, and location. Federal protections peak if you move within 60 days of the error showing on your statement.

2. Contact your issuer promptly: Use the number on the back of your card or your online account. Chase users can access their dispute portal (https://chase.com/personal/credit-cards/dispute); Bank of America provides an online option too (https://bankofamerica.com/credit-cards/credit-card-disputes-faq/). Supply transaction details and state it's unauthorized--avoid extra personal information unless asked.

3. Submit supporting details: Explain why the charge seems unauthorized (for example, you didn't authorize the purchase). Include evidence such as a police report for fraud, if relevant.

4. Track your dispute: Secure a reference number and check progress through the app or customer service. Provisional credits could post while the review continues.

For optimal results, submit within 60 days of the statement date, as recommended by Experian and chargebacks911. This fits with federal rules designed for consumers.

Investigation Timelines: How Long Until You Get a Decision

After filing, your issuer follows network timelines for investigations, though real-world durations can differ. Visa mandates a 30-day lead time for disputes. Mastercard allows 45 days for issuers to accept or decline, according to SUBTA.

Issuers like Chase handle reviews in 30-60 days, staying within network bounds. Bank of America targets 30 days for chargeback decisions post-filing. Provisional credits may apply during this window, with the outcome deciding permanence.

These timelines from 2021 SUBTA data and similar sources hold for 2026, pitting Visa's quicker frame against Mastercard's.

Choose the Right Path: Issuer vs Network Deadlines and When to Act Fast

Issuers such as Chase and Bank of America stick to 60-day windows from statement dates for solid federal protections, despite networks' 120-day transaction allowances. Stick to the issuer's briefer limit to cut rejection chances--network options serve as backups, but with reduced safeguards past 60 days.

Use this table to compare:

For Chase or BofA cards, prioritize speed: their 60-day rule overrides network flexibility. The statement date marks the start for issuer clocks.

FAQ

How many days do I have to dispute an unauthorized charge with Visa or Mastercard?
Cardholders typically have 120 days from the transaction date, per network policies.

What's the difference between 60-day and 120-day dispute deadlines?
The 60-day window applies to issuers like Chase and Bank of America from the statement date, offering strongest federal protections. The 120-day limit is the network fallback (Visa, Mastercard) from the transaction date, but issuers often enforce shorter times.

Can I dispute a charge older than 60 days with Chase or Bank of America?
Possibly up to network limits like 120 days, but protections weaken beyond the issuer's 60-day statement window--check your terms.

How long does Chase or BofA take to investigate a dispute?
Chase: 30-60 days. Bank of America: 30 days, aligned with network rules.

What counts as the start date for my dispute time limit?
For issuers like Chase/BofA: statement appearance or receipt date (60 days). For networks: transaction date (120 days).

Does federal law protect disputes filed after 120 days?
No, strongest protections require filing within 60 days of the statement; networks cap at 120 days.

Next, pull your latest statement and note any red flags. Contact your issuer today using their app or phone line to start the process securely.