Should I contact the merchant before filing a chargeback?

For quality problems on a credit card, yes: you have to make a good-faith attempt to resolve it with the seller first. For unauthorized charges, contact your issuer or bank right away. For other billing errors, writing to the company is usually worth it, but don't let the 60-day credit card window run out while you wait.

How long do I have to dispute a credit card charge?

Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, your letter must reach the card issuer within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was sent to you.

Can I dispute a debit card purchase?

For unauthorized debit transactions, yes. Report them fast: liability is generally capped at $50 if you report a lost or stolen card within 2 business days. For problems with what a seller delivered, it depends more on your bank's own policies, so ask your bank.

Will disputing a charge hurt my credit?

During a credit card billing-error investigation, the FTC says the issuer can't report you as delinquent over the disputed amount or threaten your credit rating, though it may tell the credit bureaus you're challenging the bill. Keep paying the undisputed part of your bill.

PaperChore › Guides › Refunds

Chargeback vs. a dispute letter: which to use and when

By the PaperChore team · Updated Oct 15, 2026 · Sources checked Oct 15, 2026

The short answer

Usually write to the company first: it's often fastest, and for complaints about quality on a credit card you're required to try the seller first. Go to your card issuer or bank when the company won't fix it, when the charge wasn't authorized, or when a deadline is close. For credit card billing errors, your letter must reach the issuer within 60 days after the first bill with the error was sent. If the clock is close, do both at once.

The two routes

	Letter to the company	Dispute with your card issuer or bank
Who decides	The company	Your issuer or bank, after investigating
Best for	Refunds the company can just approve: missed delivery, a canceled service, a wrong charge it will admit	Companies that ignore you or refuse, unauthorized charges, billing errors
Deadlines	Whatever the company's policy says, plus any rules that apply (for example the FTC shipping rule or DOT's airline refund rule)	Credit card billing errors: 60 days from the first bill with the error. Debit card: report unauthorized charges as fast as possible (see below)
What you need	Order details, dates, what you want, evidence	The same, plus proof you tried the company if it's a quality complaint

"Chargeback" is the everyday word for the card issuer reversing a charge after you dispute it. The FTC's guidance calls it disputing a charge or a billing error.

Credit cards: the Fair Credit Billing Act

According to the FTC, you can dispute billing errors on a credit card, including unauthorized charges, charges with the wrong date or amount, and charges for things you didn't accept or that weren't delivered as agreed. To use the law's protections:

Write to the issuer at its address for billing inquiries (not the payment address), with your name, address, account number and a description of the error.
Your letter must reach the issuer within 60 days after the first bill with the error was sent to you. Certified mail with a return receipt gives you proof.
The issuer must acknowledge your dispute in writing within 30 days and resolve it within 90 days.
While it investigates, you can withhold payment of the disputed amount (and related charges), but keep paying the rest of your bill. The issuer can't report you as delinquent over the disputed amount during the investigation.

Quality problems are different. If the item arrived but was defective, federal rules let you raise the problem with your card issuer only after a good-faith attempt to resolve it with the seller. Regulation Z also generally requires that the purchase was over $50 and made in your home state or within 100 miles of your billing address (those limits don't apply when the seller is also the card issuer, for example a store card).

Debit cards and bank transfers

Debit protections focus on unauthorized transfers and errors. Under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act rules:

If you report a lost or stolen card within 2 business days of learning about it, your liability is generally capped at $50. Wait longer and it can be up to $500.
Report unauthorized transfers that appear on a statement within 60 days after the statement was sent.
The bank generally must investigate within 10 business days.

If the problem is with what a seller delivered (not an unauthorized charge), the FTC notes it depends more on your bank's own policies. Call your bank or credit union as soon as possible and ask whether it can help.

A simple decision path

Unauthorized charge? Contact your issuer or bank now. Don't wait on the merchant.
Billing error on a credit card and the 60-day window is getting close? Send the dispute letter to the issuer now, and write to the company at the same time.
Everything else: write to the company with a clear ask and a reply-by date (7 to 14 days is reasonable). If it says no or goes quiet, take your letter, its reply (or silence) and your evidence to your issuer.

Whatever you do, keep copies. The letter you send the company becomes evidence for the chargeback.

Common questions

Should I contact the merchant before filing a chargeback?: For quality problems on a credit card, yes: you have to make a good-faith attempt to resolve it with the seller first. For unauthorized charges, contact your issuer or bank right away. For other billing errors, writing to the company is usually worth it, but don't let the 60-day credit card window run out while you wait.
How long do I have to dispute a credit card charge?: Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, your letter must reach the card issuer within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was sent to you.
Can I dispute a debit card purchase?: For unauthorized debit transactions, yes. Report them fast: liability is generally capped at $50 if you report a lost or stolen card within 2 business days. For problems with what a seller delivered, it depends more on your bank's own policies, so ask your bank.
Will disputing a charge hurt my credit?: During a credit card billing-error investigation, the FTC says the issuer can't report you as delinquent over the disputed amount or threaten your credit rating, though it may tell the credit bureaus you're challenging the bill. Keep paying the undisputed part of your bill.

Sources

This guide explains general rules in plain language. It isn't legal advice. Rules change; check the official source for your situation.

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