How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge?
Noticed a suspicious transaction that you didn’t make? Don’t worry, there is a way to solve this
problem.
Discover the circumstances that allow you to dispute a transaction, learn how to do that, and
forget about financial losses for good.
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There will be a time in every person’s life when they will have to dispute a debit card transaction. But what exactly does it mean? When might you need to open a dispute? And how to dispute a credit card charge? In this article, we will talk about the dispute charge and how to get your money back if you become a victim of credit card fraud. So, without any further ado, let us begin.
What Does Dispute a Charge Mean?
First of all, let us figure out what a dispute is. Basically, a credit card dispute occurs when a cardholder questions a transaction. In other words, if a cardholder notices a suspicious transaction they believe they didn't make in their statements, they will most likely contact their card issuer and start the dispute procedure to reverse the transaction if it’s proven to be illegitimate. That is how cardholders usually dispute a credit card charge, and in many cases of fraud, it works.
However, you cannot dispute a legitimate credit card charge, for example, a transaction someone else in your household made, since such a dispute is considered to be illegitimate.
As you might have already guessed, an option to dispute a credit card charge is a safety precaution that is aimed at protecting cardholders against various types of payment fraud.
Though it doesn’t mean that you can easily dispute any credit card transaction and get your money back immediately. In reality, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Since chargeback disputes are often used by cybercriminals, merchants use various protection methods, which make the dispute procedure much more complicated. So, when does it make sense to dispute a credit card charge? Let’s talk about that in the following paragraph.
When to Dispute a Credit Card Charge?
As we have already mentioned above, it is pointless to dispute certain credit card charges, but when should you open a dispute? Below are some cases when you should definitely dispute a charge:
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Fraud
Obviously, fraud is the #1 reason to open a credit card charge dispute. If you notice a transaction you’re 100% sure you did not make, contact your card issuer immediately and dispute that transaction. You might also need to reissue your credit or debit card since in case of fraud, cybercriminals know your card details and will most likely try to charge your card again. -
You were charged the wrong amount
If you buy anything online and notice that the order total price and the amount of money that was charged from your card are different, it’s a good reason to open a debit card dispute. -
It is impossible to contact the merchant
Pretty often, people have quality issues with the products they buy online, or their order doesn’t get delivered, and in this case, it’s best to contact the store to solve the problem. However, in some cases, for various reasons, it is impossible to contact the store, and that’s when a credit card charge dispute comes in handy. So, if you get in such a situation, you can open a dispute and get your money back.
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You are charged for the service you canceled
Another popular reason for a credit card charge dispute is getting charged for services you have already canceled. It usually happens due to some mistakes and is rarely connected with fraud, yet a charge dispute is one of the fastest ways to solve that problem. -
You returned the product but didn’t get a refund
Last but not least, not getting refunded. In case you returned the goods, following all the policies of the online store you ordered from, yet 14 days have passed and you still didn’t get a refund, it’s high time to open a credit card charge dispute and get your transaction reversed.
As you can see, a credit card charge dispute is a rather useful feature that helps protect customers from money losses and fraud. Just remember, in all cases except for fraud (in cases of fraud, there is no time limit), you have 60 days to open a card charge dispute. So, if you have any issues with your order and the store is unresponsive, your card is still charged for the service you canceled, or you suspect fraud, do not hesitate to issue a credit card charge dispute.
Steps to Take to Dispute a Credit Card Charge
Now we know when we can open a credit card charge dispute, but how exactly can we do that? Well, the procedure is not too complicated, yet still a lot of people need some assistance. So, let’s take a look at tips on how to dispute a charge.
Step 1. Take a look at the details of the charge
Open your monthly statement in the mobile app of your bank or in the web version. Take a
closer look at the suspicious transaction. Open the details to see when the transaction was
made, who charged the credit card, what currency was used, etc. You have to make sure it
wasn’t you or someone else in your household who made the transaction. Only when you are
100% sure you did not make that transaction can you open a dispute due to suspicion of
fraud.
Step 2. Contact the merchant
If you pay for something voluntarily, but you aren’t satisfied with the goods or your order
was not delivered, it’s not the best idea to issue a credit card charge dispute right away.
Try to contact a merchant first since, in many cases, they can easily and quickly solve most
problems. In case a merchant is unresponsive or, for some reason, cannot solve your problem,
you can proceed with the credit card charge dispute procedure.
Step 3. Make sure you have evidence
Once the credit card charge dispute procedure is on, you have to make sure you have all the
evidence required. Receipts, screenshots of communication with the seller, and other
documentation will help you win a dispute in the shortest time possible. Thus, do not throw
away the receipts right away if you don’t want to pay for the things you don’t get.
Step 4. Reach out to your credit card issuer
As soon as you are 100% sure that opening a credit card charge dispute is the only option
for you and you have all the required evidence, it’s time to contact your credit card
issuer. At this stage, all you have to do is present your evidence to the card issuer and
tell them about your desire to dispute a charge. Luckily, today, most banks have great
customer support services and allow their customers to easily dispute a credit card charge
online, so you won’t have to pay for the things you do not get.
All in all, a credit card charge dispute is a rather simple procedure that will not take much of your time. Just make sure you are eligible for opening a chargeback dispute, gather all the evidence, and contact your credit card issuer.
Conclusion
The credit card charge dispute procedure was made with customers’ care and protection in mind. Not only is it a great way to protect us from fraud but also from unscrupulous sellers who are happy to charge our credit cards yet aren’t that happy to deal with any possible problems. So, we hope this article was useful for you and now you know how and when to issue a credit card charge dispute and avoid paying for the things you never get.
