Trace the charge to whoever actually billed you before you dispute it. Match the receipt, the store account, and the card or bank statement so you know whether Apple, Google, a developer, a mobile carrier, a wallet, or a card issuer posted the amount. If it went through Apple or Google, start with that platform's refund or fraud process. If a developer, carrier, wallet, or card statement billed you directly, contact that biller instead.

U.S. credit cards have a separate clock. The Federal Trade Commission says to dispute a billing error in writing within 60 days after the first statement containing it was sent. A platform review doesn't pause that deadline, so don't wait on Apple or Google if the 60 days are almost up.

Refund, complaint, dispute, or chargeback?

These are not interchangeable, and mixing them up can stall a claim.

A refund request is you asking Apple, Google, a developer, or another merchant to return the payment. A complaint to a platform, regulator, or consumer agency records the problem; it does not, by itself, put money back on the card. A payment dispute is a request that your card issuer, bank, or payment provider review the transaction. A chargeback is the formal reversal that issuer or provider may open under its rules and the payment network's procedures.

Use the reason that fits the facts. A child or household member may have bought something you didn't intend, which can be accidental or unauthorized from your point of view. Don't describe an authorized purchase as fraud just because you regret it.

Identify the charge and keep the paperwork

Find the receipt in the Apple, Google, email, or app account connected to the purchase. Then line up the amount, date, currency, and transaction ID with your bank or card statement.

Watch pending charges. A hold can look like a second purchase, and a canceled order can leave an authorization that later drops off once processing finishes.

Check other family accounts and devices if a child had access. Screenshot the receipt, the missing item or error message, the subscription renewal, and the relevant account history. Write a short timeline of when you noticed the charge and what you did afterward.

Redact passwords, full card numbers, security codes, and anything else the recipient doesn't need. Keep the original emails and a copy of every submission.

How to request an Apple App Store refund

For an App Store purchase, use Apple's refund portal. Apple describes the process as follows:

1. Sign in with the Apple Account used for the purchase.
2. Select I'd like to, then choose Request a refund.
3. Select the reason that best matches the facts.
4. Choose the app, subscription, or other item.
5. Submit the request and save the confirmation.
6. Return to the portal to check the request status.

If the charge is still pending, Apple says you can't request a refund yet. Wait until the transaction posts, then try again. Refund eligibility can vary by country or region and by the type of purchase. The official Apple Support refund instructions outline the flow, but the options you'll see after you sign in are the ones that apply to your account.

A refund request doesn't cancel future renewals. If you want those to stop, cancel the subscription in your Apple Account settings and keep a screenshot of the cancellation.

Don't rely on a universal 48-hour review period or a guaranteed seven-to-14-day payout. Apple lets you check the request status. When an approved refund actually appears can depend on the payment method and the financial institution.

How to report an unrecognized Google Play charge

Start with Google Play order history and your Google Payments activity. Google asks you to compare the statement line with your purchase history before you report it, because a forgotten purchase, a duplicate authorization, or a recently canceled order can look fraudulent.

If you still don't recognize the transaction, follow Google Play's guidance for unrecognized charges:

1. Confirm that the charge is connected to the correct Google Account.
2. Use Google's reporting form for eligible recent transactions.
3. Include the transaction ID, amount, date, and a clear explanation.
4. Save the claim ID and the email address used for the report.
5. Check your email for the decision or a request for more information.

Google says transactions within the past 120 days can generally be submitted through that reporting route, with an email update typically within seven business days. If a transaction is more than 60 days old and was billed through a mobile carrier, its guidance says to contact the carrier's billing-fraud department immediately. If you can't access the Google Account, contact the fraud department for the payment method instead.

For a known accidental purchase, or an item that wasn't delivered, use the refund or support route in Google Play rather than reporting it as unauthorized. Cancel the subscription separately if you don't want another renewal.

When Apple or Google is not the biller

An app may charge you through a direct subscription on the developer's website, mobile-carrier billing, a card saved in another payment account, a digital wallet, or a family member's separate Apple or Google account. The statement descriptor and receipt usually show which path applied.

A developer may be able to restore missing content or confirm that an item was never delivered. That same developer can't necessarily refund a purchase billed by Apple or Google. Conversely, an App Store or Google Play support team generally can't reverse a direct subscription billed on the developer's website.

Apple Pay doesn't decide the refund path by itself. If the receipt identifies an App Store purchase, begin with Apple. If a separate merchant charged the card through Apple Pay, contact that merchant and, if necessary, the issuer of the underlying card.

Secure the account after an unauthorized purchase

Treat an unfamiliar charge as a security issue until you know what happened. Change the affected Apple, Google, email, or merchant password. Turn on two-factor authentication where it's available. Remove unknown devices, review recent sign-ins, and revoke payment methods or app access you don't recognize.

If the payment details may be compromised, contact your bank or card issuer promptly and ask whether the card should be replaced.

Apple warns that scammers may impersonate Apple Support or another trusted company to obtain passwords, security codes, or financial information. Use the official Apple guidance on social engineering scams, and don't give a caller or message your password or one-time security code.

Credit card disputes and chargebacks in the U.S.

If the platform denies the request, the content was never delivered, the charge is truly unauthorized, or the merchant won't correct a billing error, contact the card issuer. Explain what happened and ask for its billing-dispute procedure.

For a U.S. credit card, the FTC says you should:

1. Send a written billing-error dispute within 60 days of the statement being sent.
2. Identify the transaction, amount, and reason for the dispute.
3. Include receipts, screenshots, correspondence, and your timeline.
4. Send the letter to the billing-dispute address shown on the statement, if it differs from the payment address.
5. Keep a copy and proof of delivery.
6. Pay the undisputed part of the bill while the investigation is open.

According to FTC billing-error guidance, the issuer must acknowledge the written dispute within 30 days unless it has already resolved the issue. It must resolve the dispute within two billing cycles, and no later than 90 days after receiving the letter. You generally don't have to pay the disputed amount or related finance charges during the investigation.

That FTC procedure is for credit card billing errors. Don't assume the same 60-day rule applies to debit cards, prepaid cards, electronic bank transfers, mobile-carrier billing, or peer-to-peer payment services. Contact those providers promptly and ask which unauthorized-transaction process applies.

A chargeback isn't an automatic refund. The issuer reviews the facts, and the result can depend on the payment rail, the evidence, and the reason selected. If you already requested a platform refund, tell the issuer and provide the platform's response. Don't submit conflicting claims or seek payment twice for the same transaction.

Evidence that makes a complaint clearer

Build the file around the actual problem, not a general grievance.

For an unauthorized charge, include the statement line, the platform receipt and transaction ID, the date and time you noticed it, any account-security or login alerts, the steps you took to change passwords and secure devices, and a statement that you did not authorize the purchase.

For an accidental purchase or renewal, include the receipt and item name, how the purchase happened, proof that the item was not intentionally used if that's relevant, the subscription cancellation confirmation, and any prior refund correspondence.

For non-delivery or a defective digital item, include what was promised, a screenshot of the missing balance, item, or feature, the app version and device information, dates and copies of messages to the developer, and evidence that troubleshooting didn't fix the problem.

Keep the explanation factual and concise. A dated sequence tied to the transaction is more useful than a long accusation.

What to do after a refund is denied

A denial isn't necessarily the end of the process, but escalation should stay orderly. Read the decision and confirm that it covers every disputed transaction. Contact the platform through its official support channel, such as Apple Support, and ask what additional information would support a review. Submit a concise timeline, the order IDs, and new evidence rather than repeating the same request.

Contact the developer if the issue is missing content, a technical failure, or a direct subscription. Contact the card issuer or payment provider before its dispute deadline.

Report suspected scams or deceptive business conduct through the FTC complaint page. A regulator complaint is a record of the conduct; it isn't a substitute for asking the platform or payment provider for the money back. If a large or repeated fraud involves an account, card, or bank account, prioritize account security and the financial institution's fraud process.

A short complaint template

You can adapt this message for Apple, Google, a developer, or a payment provider:

I am disputing the charge of [amount] on [date], transaction ID [ID]. The charge is [unauthorized, accidental, duplicated, or for content not received]. I first noticed it on [date]. I have attached [receipts, screenshots, and correspondence]. Please review the transaction and confirm the outcome in writing.

For a suspected unauthorized transaction, add the security steps you have taken. For a missing item, explain exactly what was purchased and what was not delivered. Keep the wording accurate; the reason on the form should match the evidence.

Common questions

Is there a universal deadline for an in-app purchase refund?

No. Apple and Google apply their own account, purchase, and regional rules. Payment providers have separate deadlines. For a U.S. credit card billing error, the FTC's written-dispute period is 60 days from the statement containing the error, so act promptly even while seeking a platform refund.

How long does an Apple or Google refund take?

There isn't one reliable timeline for every purchase. Apple provides status tracking through its refund portal. Google says an unrecognized-charge report typically receives an email update within seven business days. Once approved, the time for funds to appear can depend on the payment method and issuer.

Can I charge back an in-app purchase after Apple or Google denies it?

You can ask your card issuer or payment provider whether a dispute is available. Give it the platform decision and use the correct reason. For a U.S. credit card, preserve the written 60-day billing-error deadline; a platform denial doesn't extend it.

Should I report a child's purchase as fraud?

Describe what actually happened. If the child used a device or account that the household permitted them to use, explain that the purchase was accidental or made without the account holder's intended permission. Use an unauthorized-fraud description only when no authorized person made the transaction.

What if the FTC doesn't get my money back?

The FTC complaint route is for reporting suspected scams or deceptive conduct. Continue pursuing the platform, merchant, card issuer, bank, or carrier that processed the transaction. Save every case number and response.

If the receipt and statement are still in front of you, confirm the biller now and file the matching refund or unrecognized-charge form. On a U.S. credit card, note the statement date and the 60-day written-dispute cutoff before you wait on a platform email.