The federal deadline is 60 days from when the charge appears on your statement

You have 60 days from the date the charge appears on your credit card statement to dispute it with your card issuer. This is the window set by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), a federal law that applies to all credit cards issued in the United States. If you miss this deadline, you lose the right to dispute the charge through your card issuer's formal process.

The 60-day clock starts when the statement containing the charge is mailed or made available to you — not when you discover the charge is wrong. If your statement is delivered on the 15th of the month, your dispute window closes on the 14th of the second month after that. Many card issuers show statements online immediately, so the deadline can arrive sooner than you expect.

This deadline is firm. Card issuers are not required to consider disputes filed after 60 days have passed, though some may do so as a courtesy. Waiting longer than 60 days significantly weakens your position and may mean you cannot recover the money through the formal dispute process.

Key Takeaways

  • The federal deadline to dispute a charge is 60 days from the date it appears on your statement, not from when you discover it.
  • You must contact your card issuer in writing (by mail, email, or through their online portal) to start a formal dispute; a phone call alone does not create a legal record.
  • Your card issuer must acknowledge your dispute within 30 days and investigate within 60 days, though the full process often takes longer.
  • If you dispute a charge before paying your bill, you do not have to pay that amount while the dispute is being investigated.
  • Disputing a charge does not hurt your credit score, but disputing many charges in a short time may flag your account as high-risk.

How to file a dispute before the deadline expires

Contact your card issuer directly — do not wait for them to contact you. Call the number on the back of your card, or log into your online account to find the dispute process. Many card issuers now have a dedicated dispute or "claim" button in their app or website. Using the online or app method creates an immediate time-stamped record, which is stronger than a phone call.

If you call, follow up with a written dispute within a few days. Write to the address listed on your statement for billing disputes (different from the payment address). Include your name, account number, the transaction date, the amount, the merchant name, and a clear explanation of why the charge is wrong. Keep a copy for your records and send it by certified mail if possible, so you have proof of when it arrived.

Your card issuer must send you written acknowledgment of the dispute within 30 days. They will then investigate and must complete their investigation within 60 days of receiving your dispute. During this time, the disputed amount does not have to be paid by you, and it cannot be reported as late to credit bureaus.

What happens during the investigation period

Once you file a dispute, your card issuer contacts the merchant to ask for proof that the charge was legitimate. The merchant has a set number of days (usually 7 to 10) to provide documentation — typically a signed receipt, proof of delivery, or a record showing you authorized the charge. If the merchant does not respond or cannot provide proof, the card issuer is more likely to rule in your favor.

You may be asked to provide additional information during this time. If the card issuer requests documents from you, respond as quickly as possible. Delays on your end can extend the investigation. The card issuer will also check whether you have disputed similar charges recently, which can affect how they handle your case.

At the end of the investigation, the card issuer will notify you in writing of the outcome. If they find in your favor, the charge is removed and you are credited. If they find against you, they will explain why and the charge remains on your account. You have the right to request copies of the documents the merchant provided.

Disputes for unauthorized charges versus billing errors

The 60-day deadline applies to both unauthorized charges (someone else used your card) and billing errors (you were charged twice, charged the wrong amount, or charged for something you returned). However, the process and your protections differ slightly.

For unauthorized charges, your liability is capped at $50 if you report the charge before it is paid. If you report it after payment, you may owe the full amount, though many card issuers waive this as a customer service measure. Report unauthorized charges as soon as you notice them — do not wait until the end of the 60-day window.

For billing errors (duplicate charges, wrong amounts, charges for returned items), the 60-day window is your only deadline. The card issuer must investigate and resolve the error. If they find you were overcharged, you receive a credit. If they find no error, you owe the full amount.

What to do if you miss the 60-day deadline

If 60 days have passed since the charge appeared on your statement, you have lost the right to file a formal dispute under the FCBA. However, you still have other options depending on the type of charge and the merchant involved.

Contact your card issuer anyway and explain the situation. Some issuers will investigate disputes filed after 60 days as a courtesy, especially if the charge is large or clearly fraudulent. There is no harm in asking, and you may get results even though you are outside the legal window.

If the charge is for a service or product you never received, you may have a claim under your state's consumer protection laws or through your card issuer's purchase protection program (if you have one). These are separate from the FCBA dispute process and may have different deadlines. Check your card's benefits guide or contact the issuer to learn what protections apply to your specific situation.

For merchants who continue to charge you after you have canceled a subscription or membership, you may also file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or your state's attorney general. These complaints do not recover money directly, but they create a record and may prompt investigation of the merchant.

How disputes affect your credit and account

Filing a dispute does not hurt your credit score. The disputed charge is not reported as late or delinquent while the investigation is ongoing. Your payment history remains unaffected as long as you pay the rest of your bill on time.

However, filing many disputes in a short time can flag your account as high-risk. Card issuers use dispute patterns to detect fraud, but they also use them to identify customers who file disputes frequently for other reasons. If you file multiple disputes and the issuer finds in the merchant's favor each time, the issuer may close your account or reduce your credit limit.

A dispute itself does not appear on your credit report. Only the outcome matters: if you win, the charge is removed and there is no record. If you lose, the charge remains and is treated as a regular transaction. Merchants can see that a dispute was filed and resolved, but this information does not appear on your credit report.

Disputes for online purchases and chargebacks

Online purchases are covered by the same 60-day FCBA deadline as in-person charges. The date the charge appears on your statement is what matters, not the date you placed the order or received the item.

If you ordered something online and it never arrived, or arrived damaged, you have two paths. First, try to resolve it with the merchant directly — many online retailers will refund or replace items without involving your card issuer. If the merchant does not respond or refuses, then file a dispute with your card issuer within 60 days.

Your card issuer may also offer chargeback protection as part of your card benefits. A chargeback is a formal reversal of a charge initiated by the card issuer on your behalf, and it is a stronger tool than a dispute for cases where the merchant is unresponsive. However, chargebacks have their own rules and timelines, which vary by card network (Visa, Mastercard, American Express). Ask your issuer whether chargeback protection is available on your card and what it covers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 60-day deadline change if I dispute the charge by phone instead of in writing?

No, the deadline is the same regardless of how you file. However, a written dispute creates a time-stamped record that is harder to dispute later. If you call, always follow up with a written dispute to the address on your statement. Phone calls alone can be denied or forgotten.

Can I dispute a charge if I authorized the transaction but changed my mind?

Changing your mind about a purchase is not a valid reason for a dispute under the FCBA. Disputes are for unauthorized charges, billing errors, or charges for items that were never received or were significantly different from what was described. If you want to return an item, contact the merchant directly.

What if the merchant says I authorized the charge and I say I did not?

Your card issuer will ask the merchant for proof of authorization — usually a signed receipt or a record of your consent. If the merchant cannot provide clear proof, the issuer is more likely to rule in your favor. If the merchant provides a signed receipt or a record of your online consent, the issuer will likely find against you unless you can show the signature was forged or the transaction was fraudulent.

Do I have to pay the disputed charge while the investigation is happening?

No. While a dispute is under investigation, you do not have to pay the disputed amount. It cannot be reported as late to credit bureaus. You must still pay the rest of your bill on time. Once the investigation ends, you owe the amount if the issuer finds against you.

What happens if my card issuer takes too long to investigate?

By law, the issuer must complete the investigation within 60 days of receiving your dispute. If they miss this deadline, they must credit the disputed amount to your account while they continue investigating. If the investigation is still not complete after 90 days total, the credit becomes permanent and you keep the money.