Reasons to dispute a credit card charge: rules and a letter

The main reasons to dispute a credit card charge are the billing errors covered by the Fair Credit Billing Act: a charge you did not make, a wrong amount or double charge, goods or services not delivered as agreed, a refund or payment that was never credited, and a charge you need explained. For these, you must send a written dispute to your card issuer within 60 days of the statement that first showed the error. A second rule covers purchases that arrived but were faulty or poorly done, if you tried to fix it with the seller first and the purchase meets a $50 and location test.

Below are the nine reasons that hold up, the deadline for each, a letter you can copy and what happens after you send it. This is US federal law for credit cards. Debit cards follow different rules, covered further down.

On this page

• The 9 reasons to dispute a credit card charge
• How many days do you have to dispute a credit card charge?
• Billing error, quality claim or debit card: which rules apply
• How to dispute a credit card charge, step by step
• Dispute credit card charge letter template
• What happens if you dispute a credit card charge?
• Why disputes fail, and how to avoid it
• FAQ

The 9 reasons to dispute a credit card charge

Federal rules list seven kinds of billing error in Regulation Z, section 1026.13, and a separate right for disputes about quality in section 1026.12. In everyday terms, those rules cover these nine situations.

1. A charge you did not make

Someone used your card or card number without your permission. Federal law caps your liability for unauthorized use of a credit card at $50, or the amount charged if that is less. Your card agreement may promise more, but the $50 cap is what the law guarantees. Report it by phone straight away so the card is blocked, then follow up in writing.

2. The wrong amount

You agreed to $45 and were charged $54, or a tip was added that you did not write. The FTC lists charges with the wrong date or amount, and math mistakes, as billing errors. Keep the receipt, since it is your proof of the agreed amount.

3. Charged twice for one purchase

A duplicate charge is a billing error. Check first that it is not a pending authorization that will drop off, which often happens at hotels, gas stations and car rental desks. If both charges post on your statement, dispute the second one.

4. Goods or services never delivered

You paid for something that did not arrive, or was not delivered as agreed. This covers the parcel that never came, the event that was canceled and the contractor who took a deposit and did not show. If the seller says it was delivered, ask for proof of delivery before you dispute. Our guide on a parcel that never arrived covers that conversation.

5. You returned it or refused it, and the refund never came

The rules cover property you did not accept and a credit the issuer failed to post. If you sent the item back and the seller agreed a refund, a missing credit is a billing error. Keep the return receipt and tracking number. The same applies to a promised partial refund; our prorated refund calculator works out what you should get back when you cancel part way through a term.

6. A subscription that kept charging after you canceled

If you canceled under the merchant's terms, you can dispute later charges as ones you did not authorize. Your evidence is the cancellation confirmation, so save it as a screenshot or email. If you only stopped using the service and never canceled, the dispute will usually fail. Gyms are the usual problem; see how to cancel a gym membership that won't let you go.

7. A charge you do not recognize

You can ask the issuer to explain a charge and send documentary evidence, such as the merchant's receipt. Merchant names on statements are often different from the shop's name, so a request for clarification is a fair first step before you claim fraud.

8. Faulty goods or poor service

The item arrived but is broken, or the service was done badly. This is not a billing error. It is the separate right to assert "claims and defenses" against the card issuer. It applies only if you made a good-faith attempt to resolve it with the seller first, and, unless the seller is linked to your card issuer, the purchase was over $50 and made in your home state or within 100 miles of your billing address.

9. Your payment or credit was not applied

You paid your card bill and the payment is missing, or the issuer made a math error on your account. These are billing errors too, though the dispute is with the issuer itself, not a merchant.

How many days do you have to dispute a credit card charge?

For billing errors, your written notice must reach the issuer within 60 days after the first statement showing the error was sent to you. That is 60 calendar days, counted from the statement date, not from the purchase date. The FTC's guide to disputing charges also says to send it to the address for billing inquiries, not the address where you send payments.

Here is an example with real dates. A double charge of $89.99 appears on a statement dated September 3, 2026. Count 60 days: September 3 + 60 days = Monday, November 2, 2026. Send the letter well before then, because the deadline is about when the issuer receives it.

The quality claim in reason 8 is not tied to the 60-day window in the same way. But it only lets you withhold up to the amount of credit still outstanding on that purchase when you first notify the issuer. If you have already paid the card off in full, there may be little or nothing left to withhold. Raise quality problems early.

If you missed the 60 days, call your issuer anyway. Card networks run their own chargeback rules, and issuers sometimes accept disputes outside the federal window. You lose the legal protections, though, so treat it as a request.

Billing error, quality claim or debit card: which rules apply

The route decides your deadline and your rights.

Route	Covers	Deadline	Main condition
Credit card billing error	Reasons 1 to 7 and 9	60 days from the statement	Written notice to the billing inquiries address
Credit card quality claim	Reason 8	Limited to what you still owe on the purchase	Tried the seller first; over $50; home state or within 100 miles
Debit card, unauthorized use	Charges you did not make	2 business days for the lowest cap; 60 days from the statement	Report to your bank; liability rises the longer you wait

The debit card rules come from a different law. According to the CFPB, if your debit card is lost or stolen and you tell your bank within two business days, your loss is capped at $50. After that it can reach $500, and if you wait more than 60 days after the statement, you could lose the full amount of later unauthorized transfers. Debit cards also have no quality-claim right like reason 8. That is one reason to pay for big or risky purchases by credit card.

How to dispute a credit card charge, step by step

1. Contact the merchant first. Many problems end here. For a quality claim it is required. Write it down: date, name, what they said. A short, clear message works best; our guide on how to write a complaint letter has a template.
2. Gather evidence. Receipt or order confirmation, the statement page, tracking or delivery records, photos of the fault, the cancellation confirmation, and your messages with the seller.
3. Call or use your issuer's app. This starts things quickly and blocks a stolen card. Note the date and the reference number.
4. Send written notice within 60 days. Use the billing inquiries address on your statement. Some issuers accept online disputes as written notice; check your card agreement.
5. Pay the rest of your bill. You can withhold the disputed amount and related finance charges, but you must pay the undisputed part on time.
6. Keep a file. Copies of everything you send and receive, and the dates of follow-up calls.

Dispute credit card charge letter template

Copy this, fill in the brackets and delete the reasons that do not apply. Keep it to one page.

Send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt, and keep a copy. Do not send original receipts.

What happens if you dispute a credit card charge?

Under section 1026.13, once the issuer gets your written notice:

• It must acknowledge it in writing within 30 days, unless it has already resolved it.
• It must resolve it within two complete billing cycles, and no later than 90 days.
• While it investigates, it cannot try to collect the disputed amount or report you as delinquent for not paying it.
• If it finds an error, it must correct it and remove any related finance charges. If it finds no error, it must explain why in writing and tell you what you owe and when.

In practice, the issuer usually passes the dispute to the merchant's bank, and the merchant gets a chance to respond with its own evidence. That is why your file matters. If you lose and still disagree, you can tell the issuer in writing that you still dispute the debt, and you can submit a complaint to the CFPB.

Why disputes fail, and how to avoid it

• [ ] Too late. Check the statement date today and count 60 days.
• [ ] No merchant contact. Required for quality claims, and it strengthens every other kind.
• [ ] You authorized it. A free trial that rolled into a paid plan, or a recurring charge you never canceled, is hard to win.
• [ ] Wrong reason. "Bad service" filed as "not delivered" can fail on evidence alone. Pick the reason that matches what you can prove.
• [ ] Thin evidence. A dispute with a receipt, dates and the seller's own words beats a long story.
• [ ] Disputing to get out of a valid charge. If the charge was valid, the merchant can still pursue you for the money, and issuers notice repeat disputes.

If you shop from the UK, the rules are different, including Section 75 for purchases over £100. See our guide to chargeback vs Section 75.

FAQ

How long do you have to dispute a credit card charge?

For billing errors, your written notice must reach the card issuer within 60 days after the first statement showing the error was sent to you. Count from the statement date, not the purchase date. Quality claims are not tied to that window, but you can only withhold what you still owe on the purchase, so act quickly either way.

Can I dispute a credit card charge for bad service?

Yes, under the claims and defenses rule, but only after a good-faith attempt to fix it with the seller. Unless the seller is linked to your card issuer, the purchase must be over $50 and made in your home state or within 100 miles of your billing address. Bad service is not a billing error, so describe it as a quality dispute.

What happens if you dispute a credit card charge?

The issuer must acknowledge your written dispute within 30 days and resolve it within two billing cycles, and no later than 90 days. During that time you can withhold the disputed amount, and the issuer cannot report it as late. The merchant can respond with evidence. If the issuer finds no error, it must explain why in writing.

Can I dispute a hotel charge on my credit card?

Yes, if it fits a billing error, such as a charge for a room you canceled within the policy, a wrong amount or a fee you never agreed to. First check whether it is a pending hold that will drop off. Ask the hotel for an itemized bill, raise it with them in writing, then dispute with your issuer within 60 days of the statement.

Will disputing a credit card charge hurt my credit score?

Disputing a charge should not hurt your score by itself. While a billing error is being investigated, the issuer cannot report the disputed amount as delinquent, though the FTC says it may report that the amount is in dispute. Keep paying the undisputed part of your bill on time, because a missed payment on the rest can be reported.