You have 60 days from when the charge appears on your statement to dispute it with your card issuer
The 60-day window is set by federal law under the Fair Credit Billing Act. The clock starts when the statement containing the charge is mailed or made available to you online, not when the transaction happened. If you miss this important date, your card issuer is no longer required to investigate the charge or reverse it.
Most card issuers give you a way to report a dispute through their website, mobile app, or by calling the number on the back of your card. You do not need to wait until the charge appears on a statement to contact them — many issuers will take a report as soon as you notice an unauthorized transaction — but the 60-day protection only applies to charges on statements you have received.
The dispute process itself takes time after you file. Your issuer typically has 30 days to acknowledge your dispute and begin an investigation, and up to 90 days to resolve it. During this period, the charge is usually removed from your balance while they investigate, though this is not may provide.
Key Takeaways
- The 60-day important date runs from the date your statement is mailed or posted online, not from the date of the transaction.
- You can report a dispute before your statement arrives, but the 60-day protection only covers charges that appear on statements you have received.
- Your card issuer must acknowledge your dispute within 30 days and complete their investigation within 90 days.
- If a charge is reversed during the investigation, the money is usually returned to your account, but you may owe it back if the issuer later rules against you.
- Unauthorized charges and billing errors follow the same 60-day rule, but the steps to prove each one differ.
What counts as a billing error you can dispute
A billing error is a charge that appears on your statement that you did not authorize or that was processed incorrectly. Common examples include duplicate charges, charges for items you returned, charges posted to the wrong account, math errors on your bill, or charges for services you cancelled.
Unauthorized charges — transactions made without your permission — are also disputable within 60 days. This includes fraudulent use of your card number, charges made after you reported your card lost or stolen, or charges made by someone else who had access to your card.
Charges you regret or changed your mind about are not billing errors. If you bought something, received it as described, and now wish you had not made the purchase, that is a buyer's remorse situation, not a billing dispute. Your card issuer will not reverse it under the Fair Credit Billing Act, though the merchant's own return policy may still explore.
How to file a dispute with your card issuer
Contact your card issuer as soon as you notice the charge. Most major issuers have a disputes section in their online account or mobile app where you can report the problem in writing. You can also call the number on the back of your card and speak to a representative, or send a written letter to the address listed on your statement for billing inquiries.
When you report the dispute, provide the transaction date, the merchant name, the amount, and a clear description of why you believe it is an error or unauthorized. If you are disputing a charge for an item you returned, mention the return date and any tracking or receipt number. If the charge is a duplicate, note the date of the original charge. The more detail you provide, the faster the issuer can investigate.
Keep records of everything: your dispute report, any confirmation number the issuer gives you, copies of receipts, return documentation, or correspondence with the merchant. If the issuer asks for more information during the investigation, you will need to provide it quickly to stay within the 90-day resolution window.
What happens after you file a dispute
Your card issuer must send you a written acknowledgment of your dispute within 30 days. This letter will confirm what charge you disputed and outline the steps they will take to investigate. They will also tell you whether the charge has been temporarily removed from your balance or if it remains while they investigate.
During the investigation, the issuer contacts the merchant to verify whether the charge was authorized and whether the transaction matches what you claim. If you are disputing a billing error — such as a duplicate charge or a charge for a returned item — the merchant's records will show whether the charge was correct. If you are disputing an unauthorized charge, the merchant will confirm whether they have a record of your authorization.
The issuer must complete their investigation and send you a final decision within 90 days of receiving your dispute. If they rule in your favor, the charge is permanently removed and any temporary credit is made permanent. If they rule against you, they will explain why and the charge goes back on your account. You have the right to request copies of the documents the issuer used to make their decision.
What to do if you miss the 60-day important date
If you discover a charge more than 60 days after your statement was mailed or posted, your card issuer is not required to investigate it under federal law. However, many issuers have their own dispute policies that extend beyond 60 days, so it is still worth contacting them to ask whether they will review the charge.
If the issuer declines to investigate, your other option is to contact the merchant directly. If you paid by credit card for a service or item that was not delivered as promised, the merchant may have their own refund or chargeback policy. Some merchants will reverse a charge even months later if you can show proof of the problem — such as a receipt showing you returned an item, or documentation that a service was never provided.
For unauthorized charges discovered after 60 days, contact your card issuer when ready anyway. If someone has fraudulent access to your account, the issuer may still help you find it and may reverse recent unauthorized charges even outside the standard window, depending on their fraud policy.
How disputes affect your credit report
A dispute itself does not appear on your credit report. The charge remains on your account and your credit history until the dispute is resolved. If the issuer rules in your favor and removes the charge, it will no longer appear on future statements or reports.
If the issuer rules against you and the charge stays on your account, it continues to count toward your credit utilization and payment history just as it did before. If you do not pay the charge and it goes unpaid for 30 days or more, it may be reported as a late payment or delinquency, which does affect your credit score.
If the charge is fraudulent and you are not responsible for paying it, make sure the issuer documents this in their investigation. Some issuers will note on your account that a charge was fraudulent, which protects you if the merchant or a debt collector later tries to collect on it.
Disputes for different types of charges
Charges from online merchants, in-person stores, and subscription services all follow the same 60-day rule, but the investigation process differs slightly. For a charge from an online retailer, the issuer will check whether the merchant has a record of your order and shipping confirmation. For a subscription charge, they will verify whether your account was active and whether you authorized recurring billing.
Foreign currency charges and cash advances have the same 60-day window, though cash advances are harder to dispute because you typically authorized the withdrawal yourself. If you are disputing a cash advance, you will need to show that you did not make the withdrawal or that the amount is incorrect.
Charges from merchants who have since gone out of business can still be disputed within 60 days. The issuer will attempt to contact the merchant, and if they cannot, the issuer may reverse the charge based on the merchant's unavailability to defend the transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 60-day clock start from the transaction date or the statement date?
It starts from the statement date — when your statement is mailed or made available online. A transaction that happened 30 days ago but appears on a statement you just received is still within the 60-day window. However, if your statement was posted 65 days ago, you have missed the important date even if the transaction is recent.
Can I dispute a charge if I authorized it but the merchant charged me the wrong amount?
Yes. If you authorized a $50 charge and the merchant posted $500, that is a billing error and you can dispute it within 60 days. The issuer will investigate whether the merchant has documentation of your authorization for the higher amount. If not, they will reverse the overcharge.
What happens if my card issuer does not respond to my dispute within 30 days?
Contact them again and reference your original dispute report number. If they continue to ignore your dispute, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or your state's attorney general. These agencies can pressure the issuer to comply with the 30-day acknowledgment requirement.
If my dispute is reversed during the investigation, do I get the money back when ready?
Usually within one to three business days after the issuer's final decision, though timing depends on your bank. The credit is applied to your account, and you will see it reflected in your next statement. If the issuer later reverses their decision and rules against you, they will debit the amount back from your account.
Can I dispute a charge if I used a debit card instead of a credit card?
Debit card disputes are covered under different federal rules (the Electronic Funds Transfer Act) and have shorter timelines. You typically have 60 days to report an unauthorized debit card charge, but only 10 days if you want the strongest protection. Contact your bank when ready if you notice an unauthorized debit card transaction.