A chargeback is your ability to ask your card issuer to reverse a charge. It's powerful leverage — and often works when a merchant won't cooperate. Here's how it works.
Valid reasons to dispute
- You were charged for something you never received
- The item arrived broken, wrong, or not as described
- You were billed the wrong amount or double-charged
- Unauthorized or fraudulent charges
- You were charged after canceling a subscription
Try the merchant first
In most cases you should attempt to resolve it directly first (and issuers may ask if you did). Keep records of that attempt — it strengthens your dispute. See filing a complaint.
File with your issuer
Contact your card company (app, website, or phone), state the reason, and provide your evidence: order confirmations, screenshots, emails, and dates. The issuer investigates and can issue a temporary credit while they do.
Mind the deadlines
Disputes have time limits (often measured from the statement or transaction date). File promptly — waiting can forfeit your right to dispute.
How to win
Documentation wins disputes. The more clearly you show what you paid for versus what you got — with a record of trying to resolve it — the stronger your case. Don't dispute charges you actually owe; that's abuse and can backfire.
FAQ
What is a chargeback?
A chargeback is when your card issuer reverses a charge after you dispute it — for example, for goods never received, wrong or broken items, double billing, or fraud.
How long do I have to dispute a charge?
There are deadlines, often measured from the statement or transaction date, so file promptly. Waiting too long can forfeit your right to dispute.