How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge: Your Rights and the 60-Day Deadline
The Fair Credit Billing Act timeline, which problems qualify, how to write the dispute, and why debit cards protect you less.
By the MoneyBackKit team · Updated October 27, 2026 · 4 min read
If you were charged for something you didn't get, were billed twice, or a merchant won't refund a charge it promised to, federal law gives you the right to dispute it with your credit card company. The Fair Credit Billing Act sets deadlines for both sides.
The timeline
| Step | Deadline |
|---|---|
| You send the dispute in writing | Within 60 days of the statement that first showed the charge |
| The card issuer acknowledges it | Within 30 days |
| The issuer resolves it | Within two billing cycles (no more than 90 days) |
While the charge is under investigation, you don't have to pay the disputed amount or interest on it, and the issuer can't report it as late.
Which problems count
- Charges you didn't make or authorize, or for the wrong amount.
- Goods or services you didn't accept or that weren't delivered as agreed.
- Math errors, or a payment or credit not posted.
- For poor-quality goods, you're expected to try to fix it with the merchant first.
How to do it well
- Write to the billing-error address on your statement (online forms are fine, but keep a copy).
- Include your name, account number, the charge, the date and why it's wrong, with receipts or emails.
- If the issuer doesn't follow the rules, complain to the CFPB.