The time limit depends on which law protects you
You can dispute a credit card charge under two different rules, and they give you different windows. The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) lets you dispute a charge up to 60 days after your statement closes — that is the federal floor. Some card issuers allow disputes beyond 60 days, but they are not required to. A few states have longer windows, but most follow the federal rule.
The second path is chargeback protection, which your card network (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) offers. Chargebacks typically allow 120 days from the transaction date, though the exact window varies by card network and the reason for the dispute. If you miss the FCBA window but are still within the chargeback window, you can ask your card issuer to file a chargeback instead of a billing dispute.
The practical difference matters: a billing dispute under the FCBA is faster and simpler, but a chargeback is your backup if the issuer denies your dispute or if you discover the problem after 60 days have passed.
Key Takeaways
- The Fair Credit Billing Act gives you 60 days from your statement closing date to dispute a charge, and this is the important date most card issuers follow.
- Chargeback rules allow 120 days from the transaction date in most cases, giving you a second window if you miss the FCBA important date.
- You must contact your card issuer in writing (email, online form, or letter) to start a dispute — a phone call alone does not create a paper trail.
- The issuer must investigate within 30 days and either reverse the charge or explain why it is valid, though the full process can take up to 90 days.
- Fraudulent charges have no time limit under the FCBA if the card itself was used without your permission, but you must report the card lost or stolen promptly.
The 60-day window under the Fair Credit Billing Act
The FCBA clock starts when your statement closes, not when you make the purchase. If you buy something on January 5 but your statement closes on January 31, your 60 days begin on February 1. You have until March 31 to file a dispute. This matters because a charge can sit on your statement for weeks before the statement even closes.
To start a dispute, contact your card issuer in writing. A phone call does not count. Use your card's website (most have a "dispute a charge" form), send an email to the address on your statement, or mail a letter to the address listed for billing inquiries. Include the transaction date, the merchant name, the amount, and a clear explanation of why you are disputing it. Keep a copy of everything you send.
Once you file, the issuer must acknowledge your dispute within 30 days and begin an investigation. They have up to 90 days total to resolve it, though many resolve faster. During this time, the charge remains on your account, but you do not have to pay it while they investigate.
The 120-day chargeback window
If you discover a problem after 60 days have passed, you have missed the FCBA window but may still have a chargeback option. Chargebacks are disputes filed through the card network itself rather than directly with your issuer. Visa allows 120 days from the transaction date; Mastercard allows up to 120 days depending on the reason code; American Express typically allows 120 days; Discover allows 120 days in most cases.
You do not file a chargeback directly. Instead, you contact your card issuer and ask them to file one on your behalf. Not all issuers will do this if you have already filed a billing dispute, so be clear about which path you are taking. The chargeback process is slower than a billing dispute — it can take two to three months — but it carries more weight because the card network investigates rather than just the issuer.
Chargebacks are most useful for unauthorized transactions, items that never arrived, or services that were never provided. They are less useful for disputes about quality or whether a merchant's description was accurate, because the merchant gets a chance to respond with evidence.
What counts as a valid dispute reason
Not every disagreement with a merchant qualifies as a dispute the issuer must investigate. The FCBA covers billing errors — charges you did not authorize, charges for the wrong amount, charges for items you returned, charges that appear twice, and math errors on your statement. It also covers charges for items or services you ordered but never received, and charges for items that arrived damaged or defective if you reported the problem to the merchant first.
The FCBA does not cover disputes about quality, merchant service, or whether you changed your mind about a purchase. If you bought a shirt and hated the color, that is not a billing error. If you bought a shirt and it never arrived, that is. The distinction is whether the merchant failed to deliver what you ordered, not whether you liked what you got.
Unauthorized charges — transactions made without your permission — have special rules. If someone used your card number without your knowledge, you can dispute it at any time, even years later, as long as you report the card lost or stolen as soon as you discover the fraud. The issuer must reverse the charge, though they may investigate to confirm you did not authorize it.
Recurring charges and subscription traps
Recurring charges — subscriptions, memberships, auto-renewals — fall under FCBA protection, but the timing is trickier. You have 60 days from the statement closing date to dispute any single charge, including a renewal you did not authorize. However, if a merchant has been charging you monthly for months and you only now noticed, you can only dispute the charges within the 60-day window from each statement closing.
This means if a subscription charged you in January, February, March, and April, and you discover it in May, you can dispute the April charge (within 60 days of your April statement closing) but probably not the earlier ones. The exception is if the merchant charged you after you cancelled — that is a clearer error and issuers often reverse multiple months of charges in that case.
The best protection is to check your statements monthly and dispute unauthorized recurring charges as soon as you spot them. Some card issuers also let you set up alerts for charges above a certain amount, which can catch surprise renewals before they pile up.
What happens after you file a dispute
Your issuer must send you a written acknowledgment of your dispute within 30 days. They will tell you what they are investigating and when you can expect a decision. During the investigation, the charge stays on your account, but you do not have to pay it. Your credit report will not be damaged by a disputed charge.
The issuer will contact the merchant and ask them to provide evidence that the charge was valid — a signed receipt, proof of delivery, proof you received the service, or proof you authorized it. The merchant has a limited time to respond, usually 10 to 30 days depending on the card network. If the merchant does not respond, the issuer often reverses the charge in your favor.
If the issuer decides the charge was valid, they will explain why and the charge becomes your responsibility again. You can then ask the issuer to escalate to a chargeback if you still disagree, or you can pursue the merchant directly through small claims court or a complaint to your state's attorney general.
Fraud versus billing disputes — which path to take
If someone used your card without permission, report it as fraud, not a billing error. Fraud has stronger protections: your liability is capped at $50 by federal law (and $0 by most issuers if you report it quickly), and the issuer must reverse the charge while they investigate. A billing dispute does not may provide reversal during the investigation.
To report fraud, call the number on the back of your card or use your online account. Tell them the card was used without your permission and ask them to cancel the card and issue a replacement. Then file a written dispute explaining which charges were unauthorized. Some issuers will reverse fraudulent charges when ready; others wait for their investigation to finish.
If you authorized the original transaction but the merchant charged you incorrectly — wrong amount, duplicate charge, charge after you cancelled — that is a billing error, not fraud. File it as a dispute, not fraud, because the issuer will handle it more quickly and the merchant is less likely to contest it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dispute a charge from six months ago?
Not under the Fair Credit Billing Act — you have 60 days from your statement closing date. However, if the charge is fraudulent (someone used your card without permission), you can dispute it at any time as long as you report the card lost or stolen. If you are past 60 days and it is not fraud, ask your issuer whether they will file a chargeback, which may have a 120-day window depending on your card network.
Do I have to pay the disputed charge while the investigation is happening?
No. Under the FCBA, you do not have to pay a disputed charge while the issuer investigates. However, the charge will still appear on your account and your statement. It will not damage your credit report because it is marked as disputed. If the issuer rules against you, the charge becomes your responsibility again.
What if the merchant says I authorized the charge?
The merchant will likely claim you authorized it, and the issuer will ask them for proof — a signed receipt, an email confirmation, or a record of your consent. If the merchant cannot provide clear proof, the issuer often reverses the charge. If they can, the issuer will deny your dispute. You can then ask for a chargeback or pursue the merchant directly.
Can I dispute a charge if I used the card myself but the merchant made a mistake?
Yes. If you authorized the transaction but the merchant charged you the wrong amount, charged you twice, or charged you after you cancelled, that is a billing error under the FCBA. File a written dispute explaining what went wrong. The merchant will have to prove the charge was correct.
What is the difference between a dispute and a chargeback?
A dispute is filed directly with your card issuer and is usually resolved within 30 to 90 days. A chargeback is filed through the card network and takes longer but carries more weight. Use a dispute first if you are within 60 days; use a chargeback if you are past 60 days or if your issuer denies your dispute.