How do I dispute a credit card charge?

Contact your card issuer first — by phone or in writing — to report the error or unauthorized charge. If the issuer doesn't resolve it, the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) gives you the right to file a formal written dispute within 60 days of the statement date and limits your liability while the investigation is pending.

The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) is a federal law that gives you a formal dispute process for billing errors on credit cards. It covers more than just fraud — it also applies to charges for goods not received, wrong amounts, charges for goods returned, and math errors on statements. Knowing the timeline and process protects you.

What qualifies as a disputable billing error

Unauthorized charges (someone used your card without permission).
Charges for the wrong amount.
Charges for goods or services you didn't receive or that weren't delivered as described.
Math errors on your statement.
Failure to credit a payment or return you made.
Charges for which you want documentation (you have the right to request this).

Step 1: Call or message your issuer first

Most disputes resolve fastest by calling the number on the back of your card or using the issuer's online dispute tool. Provide the transaction date, merchant name, and amount, and explain why it's an error. For unauthorized charges, your issuer will typically cancel the card and issue a new one immediately. Keep a record of who you spoke with and when.

Step 2: Send a written dispute within 60 days if needed

Under the FCBA, to preserve your full legal protections you must send a written dispute to the issuer's billing inquiries address (not the payment address — check your statement) within 60 days of the date the statement containing the error was mailed to you. Send by certified mail with return receipt. Include: your name, account number, the specific charge, and why it's in error. The FTC's FCBA guide has a sample dispute letter.

What happens during the dispute

Once the issuer receives a written dispute, it must acknowledge it within 30 days and resolve it within two billing cycles (but not more than 90 days). During the investigation, you are not required to pay the disputed amount, and the issuer cannot report it as delinquent to credit bureaus. If the dispute is resolved in your favor, the charge is removed. If not, the issuer must explain in writing and you still have the right to dispute the decision.

Your rights under the FCBA

The Fair Credit Billing Act gives consumers the right to dispute billing errors on credit card accounts. The issuer must acknowledge a written dispute within 30 days and resolve it within two billing cycles (no more than 90 days). — FTC Consumer Advice — Disputing credit card charges
Under the FCBA, your maximum liability for unauthorized credit card use is $50 — and is zero if you report the card lost or stolen before any unauthorized charges are made. Most issuers have $0-liability policies that exceed this floor. — FTC Consumer Advice — Disputing credit card charges
During a billing dispute, the issuer cannot require payment of the disputed amount, charge interest on it, or report it as delinquent to a credit bureau while the dispute is under investigation. — CFPB — Billing disputes

Key takeaways

Call your issuer first — most disputes resolve without a formal letter.
For full FCBA protection, send a written dispute within 60 days of the statement date that shows the error.
Mail to the billing inquiries address, not the payment address — they're often different.
You don't have to pay the disputed amount while the investigation is open, and it can't be reported as delinquent.
Your maximum liability for unauthorized charges is $50 by law; most issuers offer $0 liability.