Disputing a credit card charge has a 96% success rate
Of those who disputed a claim, 75% had an authorized charge, 21% claimed they didn't receive the goods they paid for or they were defective and 21% said they canceled a subscription and were still charged.
Key Takeaways
In some cases, even if you willingly paid for something, you can file a dispute. This includes when there is a billing error, you did not get the item in acceptable condition, or you did not receive the full services promised.
What are claims and defenses? Claims and defenses are any valid reasons you have for not paying a certain credit card charge. They include billing errors, unauthorized charges, and claims that goods or services were misrepresented, defective, or not delivered.
The acquiring bank notifies the merchant when a customer has disputed a charge. It will provide the merchant with the deadline for deciding whether to dispute the chargeback and for submitting all compelling evidence that shows the dispute is unwarranted. Timeframes for acquirers average 10-35 days.
You should dispute a debt if you believe you don't owe it or the information and amount is incorrect. While you can submit your dispute at any time, sending it in writing within 30 days of receiving a validation notice, which can be your initial communication with the debt collector.
Loss of revenue: Chargebacks result in a direct loss of revenue for merchants, as they have to refund the disputed amount to the customer.
Fraudulent Transactions: One of the most common reasons for a chargeback is fraud. A customer might notice charges on their credit card statement for purchases they did not authorize. Upon investigation, they discover their credit card information was stolen and contact their bank to file chargebacks.
Disputing a credit card charge does not hurt your credit. However, if the information on your credit report changes because of the dispute, your score may change accordingly. Credit agencies can also note the dispute by placing the “XB” code on your account, which simply means the dispute is under investigation.
You might not always get a fair outcome when you dispute a chargeback, but you can increase your chances of winning by providing the right documents. Per our experience, if you do everything right, you can expect a 65% to 75% success rate.
Filing a Dispute Will Not Affect Your Score
If you are correcting identification or contact information, the change will not affect your score. However, if you successfully get harmful information removed, your score may go up. Really, you have nothing to lose by disputing an error on your report.
Your credit card company will investigate the dispute. If it resolves it in your favor, it will remove or fix the charge. Read below for more on how to dispute a billing error or assert claims and defenses.
Who pays when you dispute a charge? Your issuing bank will cover the cost initially by providing you with a provisional credit for the original transaction amount. After filing the dispute, though, they will immediately recover those funds (plus fees) from the merchant's account.
Key takeaways
If the credit card issuer denies the dispute, the customer can request supporting documents and can also appeal the decision or file a complaint with consumer protection agencies. If the dispute is still not resolved, customers can seek legal advice and file a case.
Before initiating a claim
Consider calling the merchant first, as they may resolve your claim faster (we may also require information from the merchant to process a claim, so contacting them directly may save you time). Only posted transactions can be disputed (pending charges are temporary and may change).
You may also be able to dispute if the merchant fails to provide your refund, makes a mistake, or is otherwise uncooperative. The merchant has the option to provide evidence that may invalidate your claim.
However, banks are expected to investigate dispute claims before initiating chargebacks. If a cardholder files a bank dispute, the bank will investigate the claim. They will then decide whether the cardholder's claim is true, and if a chargeback is justified.
Detailed Investigation Process
The investigation begins when potential fraud is identified, either through customer claims or the bank's fraud detection system. Investigators analyze transaction data, looking for fraud indicators such as location data, timestamps, and IP addresses.
To dispute and win a collection, send a formal collection dispute letter to the creditor or collection agency within 30 days of receiving the claim. Gather comprehensive documentation, verify the debt's accuracy against contracts and records, and articulate discrepancies clearly in the letter.
If you are struggling with debt and debt collectors, Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can help. As soon as you use the 11-word phrase “please cease and desist all calls and contact with me immediately” to stop the harassment, call us for a free consultation about what you can do to resolve your debt problems for good.
The charge is in error because [explain the problem briefly. For example, “the items weren't delivered,” “I was overcharged,” “I returned the items,” “I did not buy the items,” etc.]. [Add any additional explanation that may be helpful. For example, “I ordered the items on [date].