Credit Card Chargeback
A reversal of a credit card transaction initiated by the cardholder through their bank.
📖 What It Means
A chargeback is a consumer protection mechanism that allows credit card holders to dispute a transaction directly with their bank or card issuer. When you file a chargeback, the bank reverses the charge and investigates. If the bank rules in your favor, the merchant loses the funds plus a chargeback fee ($15-$100). Chargebacks are your last resort after trying to resolve the issue with the merchant directly.
✅ Key Points
- 1File within 120 days of the transaction (Visa/Mastercard) or 60 days for billing errors (FCBA)
- 2Must attempt to resolve with merchant first — document your attempts
- 3Bank investigates and may issue a provisional credit immediately
- 4Merchant can dispute the chargeback with evidence
- 5Too many chargebacks can result in merchant account termination
💡 How to Use This
Always try to resolve with the company first and document everything. If they refuse, file a chargeback citing "services not provided" or "services not as described." Our templates include chargeback-ready language.
Find Your Service →⚖️ Legal Citation
Fair Credit Billing Act (15 U.S.C. § 1666)Use this citation in your dispute letters for legal weight.
🔗 Related Terms
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Use our free templates with Credit Card Chargeback citations built in.