Guides

How (and when) to dispute a credit card charge

Madison BlancaflorManaging editor
Madison Blancaflor is the managing editor for TPG's content operations team. She focuses on helping TPG's broader editorial team bring news, features and advice to readers. She has nearly six years of experience covering the credit cards and travel industries.
Ryan WilcoxFormer credit card writer
When Ryan worked as a TPG credit cards writer, he oversaw refreshes of card reviews and card offer stories. He enjoyed racking up cash back and helping readers maximize their points and miles for their next big trip.
also contributed to this story

May 1, 2026 • 7 min read

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Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Quick summary

Consumers are protected under federal law when disputing unauthorized or incorrect charges on their statements.
The dispute process should begin with contacting the merchant directly to resolve billing errors or issues.
If the merchant cannot resolve the problem, filing a dispute with your card company is the next step, often requiring supporting documentation.
A successful dispute may result in a chargeback, reversing the transaction and removing the charge from your account.

What to consider

Formal written disputes may be necessary within 60 days to ensure full legal protection under federal law.
Pending charges generally cannot be disputed until they are posted to your account.
Any rewards earned from a disputed purchase will typically be forfeited if the charge is reversed.

What you'll miss from the article

Step-by-step guidance on gathering evidence and navigating the dispute process to maximize your chances of a successful resolution.

Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.

We've all been there — you open your credit card app or check out your account online to pay a bill or look over recent purchases only to notice a charge that doesn't add up.

Either it's at a merchant you don't recognize or for a purchase you've made but in the wrong amount. Or, maybe the charge doesn't reflect a return you've made.

Many may wonder what options they have for fixing those errors if the merchant is unwilling or unable to make the necessary changes. There is an option in those cases with your credit card company: filing a dispute.

Let's go through the ideal process for recovering your money if something on your credit card statement doesn't seem right.

When can you dispute a credit card charge?

The Fair Credit Billing Act of 1975 protects consumers against creditors in certain situations regarding unauthorized charges and billing errors. Under the FCBA, you are entitled to be able to take action against a card issuer in these circumstances:

Unauthorized charges
Charges with an incorrect date or amount charged
Charges for undelivered goods and services
Math errors
Failure to post payments or credits for returns
Failure to send bills to your current address
Charges for which you request clarification or written proof of purchase

Closeup shot of a unrecognizable person giving a barman a credit card as payment inside of a restaurant — SHAPECHARGE/GETTY IMAGES

This means you can't dispute a charge just because you are dissatisfied with a product or service, or didn't agree with an authorized user making a certain purchase. Think of it this way: If you're not willing to file a police report on the person who made the purchase without your permission, you shouldn't try to dispute the purchase.

But let's say you order a product through an online seller and that product arrives at your house shattered. If you cannot resolve the matter with the merchant, you could escalate to disputing the charge.

For TPG readers, this could also apply to certain extreme situations in getting refunds from airlines or other common carriers. If you cannot get a refund from an airline when your flight is canceled or if you're trying to refund tickets from an airline that's gone bankrupt, disputing the charge is likely the best option to resolve the issue.

Rule of thumb: Talk to the merchant first

Your first course of action should always be to contact the merchant in cases of billing errors or order issues. Many times, this is the fastest way to resolve a problem. Most companies will work with you to try to fix the problem without getting the credit card issuer or payment network involved.

But if you are unable to receive a warranted refund or other acceptable resolution from the merchant, a credit card dispute should be your next step. It's in the banks' best interest to help you recover your money.

"Banks are making it a lot easier for customers to dispute charges; they want to keep their customers happy, and with the growth of dispute inquiries, an increasingly competitive landscape, and the ever-evolving demands of their cardholders, banks have no choice but to make the process as easy as possible for their customers," said Monica Eaton, CEO of Chargebacks911.

Now that we've covered when you can dispute a charge, let's go over how to actually do it.

How to dispute a purchase

If you notice a fraudulent purchase or another disputable charge (that you've already tried to resolve directly with the merchant), it's time to reach out to your credit card issuer to dispute the charge through them.

Woman talking on cell phone — JOSE LUIS PELAEZ INC/GETTY IMAGES

If you suspect an unauthorized charge has been made to your account, call the customer service line on the back of your card to discuss the next steps with the issuer, including replacing your cards and resetting your online account information.

Step 1: Gather the necessary evidence

Keep receipts, photos and any communication you've had with the merchant to try to resolve the issue. In many cases, your issuer will ask for evidence of the billing error and that you've made a good-faith effort to reach out to the merchant before it will step in.

Step 2: File a charge dispute with your issuer

Most issuers, including American Express, Chase, Citi and Bank of America, offer an easy way to do this online. Usually, there is a "Dispute This Charge" option when you expand a specific charge.

Remember that you can usually only dispute charges that have already been posted. Pending charges generally do not have a "Dispute" option available online or in the app.

If you can't find where to submit a dispute online, you can also call customer service and dispute a charge that way.

Step 3: Follow up in writing

Remember that while the Fair Credit Billing Act offers consumers protections, those protections depend upon you following its guidelines. This means you'll need to send in a formal dispute letter by mail (yes, snail mail) within 60 days of the disputable charge.

The Federal Trade Commission lays out your specific rights and the guidelines you must follow to be protected. It also provides a sample letter you can use.

This step isn't required to dispute a charge with your credit card company if the issuer has other avenues to request a dispute. And most of the top credit card companies will work with you to resolve the issue. That said, it is worth noting that the only way you'll technically be covered in the eyes of the FCBA is by sending in a written request.

Given that, if you're having trouble getting an issuer to cooperate with a dispute, make sure to send in a written request to ensure the issuer is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Chargebacks: What happens when you dispute a purchase?

So, you've disputed a purchase. What happens next?

Many issuers will issue you what's called a chargeback. Essentially, a chargeback is a reversal of a credit card purchase. A charge is sent back up the line from your account to your card issuer to the merchant bank and then back to the merchant, all through the payment network used (such as Visa or Mastercard).

This way, a charge is removed from the consumer's account, and the issuer is able to "charge back" the cost to the merchant when deemed appropriate. Remember that you will lose any rewards you earned on that purchase.

Bottom line

The Fair Credit Billing Act does offer protection in cases where unauthorized or incorrect charges are made to your account, and most issuers are diligent about helping cardholders where possible.

You should only dispute charges in the appropriate circumstances outlined above. The dispute and chargeback process can help cardholders receive refunds and correct billing errors when you cannot resolve them with a merchant.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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