You have up to 60 days from when you first see the charge on your statement

The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) sets a 60-day window to dispute a charge. This clock starts the day your credit card statement arrives — either in the mail or online, depending on how your issuer sends it. The 60 days is a hard important date; disputes filed after that point are not required to be investigated by law, though some issuers may still look at them.

The charge does not have to post to your account for you to start the clock. Many cardholders spot unauthorized or incorrect charges within days of the transaction. You can contact your card issuer as soon as you notice the problem, and the issuer will log your dispute. Waiting until day 59 is legal but risky — mail delays, system errors, or your own oversight could cost you the window.

Your issuer must acknowledge your dispute in writing within 30 days of receiving it. They then have up to 90 days total to investigate and tell you the outcome. During this time, the disputed amount does not have to be paid by you, though it may still appear on your statement as pending.

Key Takeaways

  • The 60-day window starts when your statement arrives, not when the charge posts to your account.
  • You must contact your issuer in writing — a phone call counts as notice, but follow it with a written dispute to protect yourself.
  • Your issuer has 30 days to acknowledge receipt and up to 90 days total to investigate and resolve the dispute.
  • Charges for services you authorized but later regretted are harder to dispute than unauthorized or incorrect charges.
  • If your issuer rules against you, you can request the documents they used to make that decision.

What counts as a valid reason to dispute a charge

The FCBA covers four main categories: unauthorized charges (someone else used your card), billing errors (wrong amount, duplicate charge, charge posted to the wrong account), charges for services or goods you never received, and charges for services or goods that differ materially from what was promised.

Unauthorized charges are the strongest disputes. If your card was stolen, lost, or your number was used without permission, the issuer must investigate. You are not liable for unauthorized charges once you report them, though you may be responsible for the first $50 if your physical card was used.

Billing errors — a charge for $150 when you agreed to $15, or the same charge posted twice — are also straightforward. Bring your receipt or the merchant's confirmation to show the discrepancy.

Disputes over services or goods not received or not as described are more complex. If you ordered a laptop and received a broken one, or paid for a haircut that never happened, you have grounds to dispute. But if you received what you ordered and straightforward changed your mind, the dispute is weaker. Merchants can argue you authorized the charge and received the service. These disputes often hinge on whether the merchant's description matched what you got.

How to file a dispute with your card issuer

Start by contacting your issuer directly. Most major card companies have a disputes department you can reach by phone, and they will take your report over the phone. However, follow the phone call with a written dispute — email, mail, or through your online account portal, depending on what your issuer accepts. Written disputes create a paper trail and may support your 60-day clock is properly documented.

Your written dispute should include your name, account number, the transaction date, the merchant name, the amount, and a clear explanation of why you are disputing it. Attach copies of any supporting documents: your receipt, the merchant's confirmation email, screenshots of the product listing if the item was misrepresented, or a police report if the charge is unauthorized. Do not send originals; keep those for your records.

Send your dispute to the address your issuer provides for disputes — this is often different from the billing address. Check your statement or the issuer's website for the correct mailing address or email. If you mail it, use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery.

Your issuer will send you a written acknowledgment within 30 days. This letter will confirm they received your dispute and outline the next steps. Keep this letter; you will need it if you have to escalate the case.

What happens during the investigation period

Once your issuer receives your dispute, they have up to 90 days to investigate. During this time, they will contact the merchant, request transaction records, and review the evidence you provided. The merchant has a chance to respond and defend the charge.

You are not required to pay the disputed amount during the investigation, though it may still appear on your statement as pending. Your credit score should not be affected by a pending dispute, but check your credit report to be sure. If the charge is later ruled valid, you will owe it, and interest may accrue depending on your card's terms.

Your issuer must resolve the dispute and notify you in writing before the 90-day mark. The letter will explain whether the charge was upheld or reversed. If reversed, the credit typically appears on your account within one or two billing cycles. If upheld, the letter should explain why and provide information about how to request the documents the issuer used to make that decision.

Disputes after 60 days: what you can still do

If you miss the 60-day window, the FCBA no longer requires your issuer to investigate. However, you are not completely without options. Some issuers will still look at disputes filed after 60 days, especially if the charge is clearly unauthorized or if there is compelling evidence of fraud. Call your issuer and explain the situation; they may make an exception.

If your issuer declines to investigate, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov. The CFPB does not resolve individual disputes, but it logs complaints and can pressure issuers to review cases. You can also contact your state's attorney general or your state banking regulator.

For unauthorized charges, you may have additional protections under state law or your card's fraud policy. Review your cardholder agreement or call your issuer to ask what protections explore after the FCBA window closes.

Disputes for recurring charges and subscription services

Recurring charges — gym memberships, streaming services, software subscriptions — follow the same 60-day rule, but the dispute often hinges on whether you authorized the recurring charge in the first place. If you signed up for a free trial and were charged after it ended, or if you canceled but were charged again, you have grounds to dispute.

Bring proof of cancellation if you have it: a confirmation email, a screenshot of your account settings showing the cancellation, or a support ticket number. If the merchant claims you authorized the charge and you cannot prove otherwise, the dispute becomes harder to win.

For recurring charges, consider setting up alerts in your online account so you catch unwanted charges quickly. Many issuers let you set notifications for any charge over a certain amount, which can help you stay within the 60-day window.

What happens if your issuer rules against you

If your issuer investigates and decides the charge is valid, they will notify you in writing and the amount becomes your responsibility again. You can request copies of the documents the issuer used to reach that decision — the merchant's response, transaction records, or any other evidence. Review these carefully to see if there is new information you can use.

If you believe the issuer made an error, you can file a second dispute, but it must be based on new evidence or information you did not have during the first investigation. straightforward disagreeing with the outcome is not enough to reopen the case.

You can also escalate to your state's banking regulator or file a complaint with the CFPB. These agencies cannot overturn the issuer's decision, but they can investigate whether the issuer followed the law during the dispute process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 60-day clock start when I see the charge online or when my statement officially closes?

It starts when your statement arrives, whether that is in the mail or when you receive an email notification that your statement is ready online. If you spot a charge before your statement closes, you can still report it, but the 60-day window does not officially begin until the statement date.

Can I dispute a charge if I authorized it but the merchant did not deliver what they promised?

Yes, if the service or product was materially different from what was described. If you paid for a hotel room advertised as oceanfront and it faced a parking lot, or if a contractor quoted one price and charged another without your approval, you have grounds to dispute. The key is that the merchant misrepresented or failed to deliver what you agreed to pay for.

What if my issuer takes longer than 90 days to investigate?

If your issuer does not resolve the dispute within 90 days, they must credit the disputed amount to your account while they continue investigating. Once they reach a final decision, they will notify you. If the charge is later found to be valid, the credit may be reversed and you will owe the amount again.

Do I have to pay interest on a disputed charge while it is being investigated?

That depends on your card's terms. Some issuers waive interest on disputed amounts during the investigation period; others do not. Check your cardholder agreement or ask your issuer directly. If interest accrues and the charge is later reversed, ask the issuer to remove the interest as well.

Can I dispute a charge through my bank if I used a debit card instead of a credit card?

Debit card disputes are covered under different rules — the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) — which gives you a shorter window. You typically have 60 days to report an unauthorized debit card charge, but the investigation timeline is faster. Contact your bank when ready if you spot an unauthorized debit card charge, as the rules are stricter than credit card disputes.