A merchant took your money and did not deliver, delivered something substantially different, or charged you for something you cancelled. They are unresponsive, or they refuse.
Your card issuer can reverse the payment. It is a genuine and underused protection, and it works within specific grounds and time limits that people frequently miss because nobody told them the clock was running.
What changed in 2026
- Dispute processes moved online. Filing through an app or website replaced phone calls at most issuers.
- Subscription disputes grew. Difficult-to-cancel recurring charges became a common category — see subscription cancellation.
- Merchant evidence requirements tightened. Merchants gained better tools to contest disputes, making your documentation more important.
- Time limits stayed strict. Windows continued to be measured from specific events rather than from when you noticed.
Valid grounds
A chargeback is not a general refund mechanism. It applies to specific situations.
| Ground |
Typically valid |
| Goods or services never received |
Yes |
| Substantially not as described |
Yes |
| Charged after cancelling |
Yes |
| Duplicate charge |
Yes |
| Wrong amount charged |
Yes |
| Transaction not authorised by you |
Yes — fraud |
| You changed your mind |
No |
| You did not read the terms |
Generally no |
| Ordinary dissatisfaction |
Generally no |
The distinction that matters: a chargeback addresses the merchant failing to deliver what was agreed. It does not address you regretting the purchase.
Filing without valid grounds wastes your time and, done repeatedly, can affect your standing with the issuer.
Try the merchant first
Issuers generally expect you to have attempted resolution with the merchant, and will ask what happened.
It also frequently works. A clear written request for a refund, referencing what was agreed and what was delivered, resolves a great many disputes without escalation — and it produces the documentation you will need if it does not.
Do it in writing. A phone call leaves no record, and the record is what the dispute turns on.
Give a reasonable but bounded time to respond — days rather than weeks — because the clock on your dispute rights is running while you wait.
Time limits
The part that catches people.
Windows are measured from a specific event: the transaction date, or the date delivery was expected, depending on the ground. Not from when you noticed, and not from when the merchant stopped replying.
That matters for goods that never arrive. Waiting several months hoping something turns up, then discovering the window closed, is a common and avoidable outcome.
The limits vary by card network and by ground, and they are generally shorter than people assume. When in doubt, file rather than wait — you can always withdraw a dispute if the merchant resolves it afterwards.
Debit card protections are typically weaker and shorter than credit card protections, which is a genuine argument for paying by credit card for anything where delivery or quality is uncertain — see the bid-ask spread for an unrelated example of a cost people do not see, and warranty claims for the parallel process with faulty goods.
Document everything
The dispute is decided on evidence, and the merchant will present theirs.
Useful to have: the order confirmation, what was advertised or promised, what actually arrived including photographs, all correspondence with the merchant, tracking information, cancellation confirmations, and dates throughout.
Submit it with the dispute rather than waiting to be asked. A well-documented dispute is decided quickly; a bare assertion frequently is not.
Keep everything even after filing, because merchants can contest and a second round may follow.
Common mistakes
- Waiting too long. Windows are shorter than expected.
- Not contacting the merchant first. Issuers ask, and it frequently resolves it.
- Phone-only communication. No record.
- Filing for buyer's remorse. Not a valid ground.
- Insufficient documentation. The dispute turns on evidence.
- Paying by debit for uncertain purchases. Weaker protection.
- Not following up. Merchants contest; disputes can require another round.
FAQ
Does a chargeback hurt my credit?
No. It is a dispute between you, the merchant, and the issuer, and it does not appear on your credit file.
What if the merchant contests it?
You may be asked for further evidence. Respond promptly with documentation. Decisions can go either way and evidence quality matters considerably.
Can I chargeback a subscription?
For charges after a valid cancellation, generally yes — with evidence of the cancellation. For charges you simply forgot to cancel, generally not.
What about services rather than goods?
The same grounds apply — services not provided, or substantially not as described. Documentation of what was agreed matters more, since there is no package to photograph.
Where to go next
For faulty goods rather than undelivered ones, read how to win a warranty claim. For recurring charges you cannot stop, subscription cancellation, and for price protection, price drop refunds.
This is general information, not legal advice. Dispute rights and time limits vary by card network and country.