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    Money & Banking
    Beginner
    4 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Dispute a Charge on Your Credit Card

    If you see a charge on your credit card statement you did not authorize or that is incorrect, you have the right to dispute it.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Money & Banking
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    4 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    dispute charge
    credit card
    chargeback
    unauthorized charge
    fraud
    billing error

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Check if you recognize the merchant
    2. 2.Try contacting the merchant first (for errors)
    3. 3.Contact your credit card company to dispute
    4. 4.Understand what happens next
    5. 5.Keep records of everything
    1

    Check if you recognize the merchant

    ~26s
    Look up the charge name online — sometimes purchases show up under a parent company name or generic processor name rather than the store you shopped at. For example, "AMZN Mktp US" is Amazon. "SQ *" prefix means the merchant uses Square as their payment processor. If you still do not recognize it after searching, proceed to dispute.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: Check your email for a receipt matching the date and amount. You may have forgotten about a purchase.

    2

    Try contacting the merchant first (for errors)

    ~19s
    For a legitimate merchant with an incorrect charge (wrong amount, double charge, unprocessed return), call their customer service. Explain the issue and ask for a correction or credit. This is usually resolved faster than a bank dispute. Note the date, time, and name of who you spoke with in case you need to follow up.
    3

    Contact your credit card company to dispute

    ~25s
    Call the number on the back of your credit card. Explain the charge, say you want to dispute it, and ask to open a dispute case. Alternatively, log in to your card's website or app: find the charge in your transaction history → tap it → look for "Dispute" or "I don't recognize this." Follow the prompts.

    Quick Tip

    Disputing online through your card's app or website creates a written record and is often faster than calling.

    4

    Understand what happens next

    ~18s
    Once you file a dispute: the card company may right away issue a provisional (temporary) credit to your account for the disputed amount. They then investigate — contacting the merchant for their side of the story. The investigation usually takes 30–45 days. You will receive a letter or email with the outcome.
    5

    Keep records of everything

    ~27s
    Save screenshots of the disputed charge, any emails with the merchant, the date and case number of your dispute, and any follow-up correspondence. If the charge was truly fraudulent, the credit becomes permanent. If the card company sides with the merchant after investigation, you can appeal with additional documentation.

    Warning

    If you dispute a charge for a subscription you forgot about and actually received the service, the card company may not resolve in your favor. Disputes are for errors and unauthorized charges, not buyer's remorse.

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    Seeing an unexpected charge on your credit card statement is alarming. But you have strong legal protections. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you have the right to dispute billing errors and unauthorized charges with your credit card company.

    When you can dispute a charge:

    - You do not recognize the charge at all (possible fraud) - You were charged the wrong amount - You were charged twice for the same thing - You returned a product and the merchant never issued a credit - A service was not delivered as described

    Your protection:

    For credit cards (not debit cards), you are generally not responsible for fraudulent charges once you report them. The $0 fraud liability policy most major cards offer means the bank absorbs the loss.

    Time limits:

    You usually have 60 days from when the charge appeared on your statement to dispute it. Do not wait — the sooner you dispute, the better.

    Debit cards

    : Have less protection. You have 60 days to dispute, but if money was taken from your bank account, recovery can take longer. Always prefer credit cards for purchases that might need dispute protection.

    Start with the merchant first

    : If the charge is from a legitimate business but incorrect (wrong amount, double charge, returned item not credited), contact the merchant directly first. This is often faster than going through your card company. Keep a record of whom you spoke with and when.

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    dispute charge
    credit card
    chargeback
    unauthorized charge
    fraud
    billing error

    Official Resources

    Consumer Financial Protection BureauFTC — Identity TheftAnnualCreditReport.com

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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