Smart Spending
How to dispute a charge you never authorized
Billed for something you never bought? Federal law is on your side, but only if you act inside the window. Here is how the dispute actually works.
A charge shows up that you do not recognize. Maybe a free trial that quietly converted, maybe a duplicate, maybe something you have never heard of.
Federal law gives you a path. It just does not give you unlimited time.
What the law gives you
The Fair Credit Billing Act sets out billing error procedures your card issuer has to follow. It covers unauthorized charges, duplicates, charges for goods never delivered, and amounts that do not match what you agreed to.
The core deadline: you generally have 60 days from the statement date on which the error first appeared. Miss it and your federal protection for that charge is gone, even if the issuer chooses to help as a courtesy.
Credit and debit are not the same
| Credit card | Debit card | |
|---|---|---|
| Governing rule | Fair Credit Billing Act | Regulation E |
| Money while disputed | Stays with the issuer | Already out of your account |
| Effect of waiting | Deadline passes | Your exposure grows |
That middle row is the practical difference. With credit, you are arguing about money you have not paid yet. With debit, the cash left your account and you are waiting for it to come back.
How to file so it sticks
1. Try the merchant first, unless it is fraud. Genuine billing mistakes often get fixed in one call. Note the date, the representative's name, and follow up by email so there is a record.
2. Call your issuer to start the clock. Reporting by phone puts it on record immediately.
3. Put it in writing anyway. Send it to the billing inquiries address on your statement, not the payment address. Include your name, account number, the amount, the date it appeared, and why it is an error. This is the step the statute keys on, and it is the one most people skip.
4. Keep copies of everythingincluding what you sent and when.
What happens next
Once a proper written dispute lands, your issuer has to acknowledge it and investigate within set timeframes, and it cannot report the disputed amount as delinquent while the investigation runs.
If the dispute is denied and you still believe you are right, ask for the documentation the issuer relied on. You can also escalate to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The mistake that costs people money
Waiting to see if the charge disappears on its own.
It usually does not, and the 60-day window is shorter than it feels. Reviewing your statement once a month, line by line, is a ten-minute habit that catches almost everything worth catching.
This is general information about federal consumer rules, not legal advice. Your issuer's own policies and your state's laws may give you more. Check the dispute instructions printed on your statement.
Official sources to check
Laws and official pages on this topic, so you can confirm the current rules and numbers before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to dispute a charge?
Under the Fair Credit Billing Act you generally have 60 days from the statement date on which the error first appeared. Card networks often allow longer for outright fraud, but the federal protection runs on the 60-day clock.
Is a debit card treated the same way?
No. Debit falls under Regulation E, and your exposure grows the longer you wait. That is why reporting a debit problem quickly matters even more than with credit.
Does disputing hurt my credit score?
No. Filing a dispute is not a negative event on your file.
Should I call or write?
Both. Call to start the clock and get it on record, then follow with a written dispute to the billing inquiries address on your statement, which is what the law actually keys on.
Unauthorized charges are one problem. Fees you agreed to without noticing are another.