For a U.S. credit card, start with a written billing-error notice to the issuer. Consumers often call this a chargeback, but the federal protections described here are part of the Regulation Z billing-error process. It can cover an unauthorized charge, an incorrect or duplicate amount, a missing credit, or goods or services not delivered as agreed.

The issuer must receive the notice within 60 days after it sent the first statement showing the error. Call for urgent fraud or to open a case, but don't rely on the call alone. Use the billing-inquiry address on the statement and keep proof that the issuer received your notice.

Free credit card chargeback letter template

Copy the template, replace the bracketed text, and remove the reason blocks that don't apply. Keep the explanation factual. A short timeline supported by documents usually works better than a long accusation.

[Your full name]
[Billing address]
[City, State, ZIP code]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Account number, as directed by the issuer]
[Date]

[Card issuer name]
Billing Inquiries or Billing Dispute Department
[Address shown on your statement for billing disputes]

Re: Written billing-error dispute for [merchant name], [$amount], [transaction date]

Dear Billing Disputes Team:

I am writing to dispute a billing error on my credit card account.

Merchant: [Merchant name as shown on the statement]
Transaction date: [Date]
Amount charged: [$Amount]
Date the first statement showing the error was sent to me: [Date]

Reason for dispute:
[Delete the options that do not apply.]

[Unauthorized charge: I did not make or authorize this transaction. I noticed it
on [date] and reported it to the issuer on [date or "with this letter"].]

[Item or service not received: I paid for [item or service]. It was due to be
delivered or provided on [date], but it was not delivered or provided as agreed.]

[Wrong amount or duplicate charge: The agreed amount was [$amount], but the
statement shows [$amount]. If this is a duplicate, the same transaction was
posted [number] times.]

[Missing credit: I returned or canceled [item or service] on [date]. The
merchant agreed to issue a credit, but it has not appeared on my account.]

Additional facts:
[Set out a brief timeline. Include your contact with the merchant, relevant
dates, and the result.]

I have enclosed copies of documents supporting this dispute. Please investigate
the billing error, correct my account if the charge is erroneous, and send me
the written result of your investigation.

I am retaining the original documents. Please contact me at [phone or email]
if you need additional information.

Sincerely,

[Your signature, if mailing]
[Your printed name]

Enclosures:
- [Statement page showing the charge]
- [Receipt, invoice, or order confirmation]
- [Merchant messages or refund confirmation]
- [Tracking, return, or cancellation records]

Remove every bracketed instruction before sending. If you're unsure how the issuer will classify the problem, describe what happened without guessing and ask which dispute process applies. Don't call a charge fraudulent just because a seller refused a refund; fraud means you didn't make or authorize the transaction.

What to do before sending the letter

1. Read the statement closely. Record the merchant name as it appears, the transaction date, the amount, and the date the first statement showing the error was sent. A statement descriptor may not match the seller's public store or website name.
2. Contact the seller when that makes sense. Ask for a correction or refund and save the response. For an unauthorized transaction, contact the issuer immediately rather than waiting for the seller.
3. Call the issuer. Report urgent fraud, ask whether the card should be blocked or replaced, and confirm the address or secure channel for written disputes.
4. Send the notice to the right address. Use the billing-inquiries or billing-dispute address on the statement. It may be different from the address used for payments. If the issuer directs you to a secure online dispute form, save the confirmation and the files you uploaded.
5. Keep a complete record. Save the letter, attachments, delivery confirmation, online submission receipt, claim number, and every response.
6. Pay the undisputed balance. During an investigation covered by the federal billing-error process, you generally don't have to pay the disputed amount or related finance charges. Continue paying amounts you aren't disputing.

Match the wording to the problem

Unauthorized credit card charge

Say plainly that you didn't make or authorize the transaction. Include when you noticed it, when you reported it, and whether you still had the card. Stick to facts you can verify; don't speculate about address checks, security-code results, device data, or location records. The issuer and merchant handle that evidence.

Report an unfamiliar charge promptly even while you're checking the merchant name. An unfamiliar descriptor may be a billing name rather than the name you remember.

Item not received or service not provided

Identify what you bought, the promised delivery or performance date, and what the seller failed to provide. Attach the order confirmation, payment record, tracking information, and messages with the seller.

For a service, describe what the agreement promised and which part was missing. A disappointing result, a change of mind, or an ordinary return request isn't automatically an unauthorized transaction. Use the seller's cancellation or refund process where it applies, then give the issuer an accurate account of what happened.

Wrong amount, duplicate charge, or missing credit

Show the arithmetic. State the agreed price, the amount posted, and the difference. For a duplicate, identify both statement entries. For a missing credit, include the return receipt, cancellation confirmation, or the seller's written promise to refund.

Credit card dispute deadlines and issuer responses

These deadlines apply to U.S. credit card billing-error disputes covered by Regulation Z, not to every kind of payment dispute.

Treat 60 days as the deadline, not a target. The FTC notes that some issuers may extend the dispute period when a shipment is delayed, but don't rely on an extension unless the issuer confirms it.

A card-network chargeback process can have additional procedures and time limits. Those procedures don't make the federal written-notice deadline irrelevant, so follow the issuer's instructions and act as soon as you identify the problem.

Evidence checklist

Send copies, not originals. Depending on the dispute, useful records include:

• The statement page showing the charge, with unrelated information redacted.
• The receipt, invoice, order confirmation, or contract.
• The seller's return, cancellation, or refund confirmation.
• Delivery tracking, return tracking, or proof that a promised service wasn't provided.
• Emails, chat messages, and support-ticket numbers.
• A brief timeline showing when you ordered, canceled, returned, contacted the seller, or reported fraud.
• Records showing the correct price or explaining why a charge was duplicated.
• Fraud alerts or other records that support your account of an unauthorized transaction.

Don't send your PIN, password, or card security code. Include an account number only as directed by the issuer, and use a secure channel for sensitive documents.

Credit card disputes are different from debit card disputes

This template is for U.S. credit card accounts. Debit cards, prepaid cards, ACH payments, and peer-to-peer transfers use different rules and may have different notification and investigation deadlines.

When the money came directly from a checking account or prepaid balance, contact the bank or provider immediately and ask which error-resolution process applies. Don't assume that the credit card's 60-day billing-error rule, payment protections, or dispute terminology applies to a debit transaction. The Federal Reserve's official staff commentary on Regulation E provides background on electronic-transfer rules.

Do you need a Visa, Mastercard, or Amex reason code?

Usually, a consumer letter should explain the transaction in plain language and attach supporting records. Network labels such as fraud, non-delivery, or merchandise disputes are used in the issuer, merchant, and card-network workflow.

If the issuer gives you a reason code or claim number, include it in a follow-up. Otherwise, don't guess a code or describe a purchase as fraudulent merely because the seller refused a refund. A merchant's representment or rebuttal form is a separate document from a cardholder's billing-error notice.

If the issuer denies the dispute

Read the written decision alongside your evidence. If the issuer says the charge was valid, ask what information it relied on and whether it will reconsider the decision when you provide relevant additional documents. Keep the follow-up focused: identify the specific point you believe is wrong and attach only records that address it.

If the issuer doesn't acknowledge or resolve a written dispute within the applicable timeframe, or you believe it mishandled the process, consider using the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's complaint portal. Include your letter, delivery proof, statements, supporting records, and the issuer's response. A complaint doesn't replace the original dispute deadline or guarantee a credit.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting for the seller until the 60-day credit card deadline has passed.
• Sending the notice to the payment address instead of the billing-dispute address.
• Relying on a phone call without creating a written record.
• Describing a non-delivery or refund problem as fraud.
• Sending original documents or unredacted sensitive information.
• Stopping payment on the entire account instead of paying undisputed amounts.
• Using an unverified network reason code.
• Claiming facts you can't support with records.

For the federal rule text, see Regulation Z billing-error resolution, 12 CFR 1026.13. The FTC's sample dispute letter and its guidance on billing errors involving goods or services are useful references.

This is general U.S. consumer information, not legal advice. Before sending anything, find the first statement date, gather copies of the records that support your account, and make sure the issuer receives a precise written notice before the deadline.