The Federal Deadline for Disputing Charges

You have 60 days from the date the charge appears on your statement to dispute it with your card issuer. This is the window set by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), a federal rule that applies to all credit cards issued in the United States. The 60 days starts when the statement containing the charge is mailed or made available to you — not when you discover the charge is wrong.

If you miss this deadline, you lose the right to dispute the charge through the formal chargeback process. Your card issuer is no longer required to investigate or reverse it. Some issuers may still help you after 60 days, but they are not legally obligated to do so, and the outcome is less certain.

The clock matters because card companies use it to manage their own liability. Once 60 days pass, they can assume the charge was legitimate and close the case. Starting a dispute early — ideally within the first week or two — gives you the strongest position and the most time for the issuer to gather evidence.

Key Takeaways

  • The federal deadline to dispute a charge is 60 days from the date your statement is issued, not from when you notice the error.
  • After 60 days, your card issuer has no legal obligation to investigate or reverse the charge, even if it was fraudulent.
  • Disputing early — within days of spotting the charge — gives the issuer more time to investigate and increases the likelihood of a reversal.
  • The 60-day window applies to billing errors, unauthorized charges, and charges for goods or services you never received.
  • Some card issuers offer fraud protection that may cover you beyond 60 days, but this depends on the card and the type of dispute.

What Counts as the Statement Date

Your statement date is when your card issuer closes your billing cycle and sends or posts your statement — not when you open the email or receive the paper in the mail. Most issuers post statements online the same day they mail them. If your statement is mailed on the 15th, your 60-day window begins on the 15th, even if you don't see it until the 17th.

Check your statement carefully as soon as it arrives. If you wait weeks to review charges, you are using up your 60-day window without knowing it. Many card issuers send email alerts when a statement is ready, so you can set a calendar reminder to review it within a few days of that alert.

How to Start a Dispute Within the Deadline

Contact your card issuer as soon as you spot a charge you want to dispute. You can call the customer service number on the back of your card, log into your online account and file a dispute through the portal, or send a written letter to the address listed on your statement. Written disputes create a paper trail, but phone and online disputes are faster and most issuers will follow up with written confirmation.

When you dispute, be specific: give the transaction date, the merchant name, the amount, and a clear reason why you are disputing it. Say whether the charge was unauthorized (you did not make it), the merchant charged the wrong amount, or you never received the goods or service. The issuer will document your dispute and assign it a reference number. Write down this number and the date and time you filed the dispute.

Your issuer must acknowledge receipt of your dispute within 30 days and begin an investigation. They will typically freeze the disputed amount in your account during the investigation, so you won't have to pay it while they look into it.

What Happens After You File a Dispute

Once you file, your card issuer has up to 45 days to investigate and decide whether to reverse the charge. During this time, they will contact the merchant, ask for proof that the charge was legitimate, and review your account for patterns. If the merchant cannot provide proof of the transaction or your authorization, the issuer will usually reverse the charge and credit your account.

If the merchant provides proof — a receipt with your signature, a delivery confirmation, or evidence you used the card in person — the issuer may deny your dispute and hold you responsible for the charge. You will be notified in writing of the outcome and the reason for the decision.

In some cases, the investigation takes longer than 45 days. If it does, the issuer must credit the disputed amount to your account temporarily while they continue investigating. This temporary credit lasts until the investigation concludes, which can take up to 90 days total from the date you filed.

Disputes for Unauthorized and Fraudulent Charges

If someone else used your card without permission, the 60-day rule still applies, but your liability is limited. Under federal law, you are responsible for no more than $50 of unauthorized charges on a credit card. Most major issuers waive even this $50 if you report the fraud promptly and did not contribute to the unauthorized use.

Report unauthorized charges immediately — do not wait until your statement arrives. Call your card issuer's fraud line (the number is on the back of your card or your statement) and tell them the card has been compromised. They will cancel the card and issue a replacement. Any charges made after you report the fraud are the issuer's responsibility, not yours.

If you discover unauthorized charges on an old statement, you still have 60 days from that statement date to dispute them. However, the longer you wait to report fraud, the harder it may be to prove you did not authorize the charges, especially if the merchant has evidence of delivery or use.

Disputes for Goods and Services Never Received

If you were charged for something you ordered but never received, the 60-day deadline applies. You must dispute the charge within 60 days of the statement showing the charge. Before you dispute, try contacting the merchant directly — they may have a tracking number showing the item is on its way, or they may refund you without going through your card issuer.

If the merchant does not respond or refuses to help, file a dispute with your card issuer. Provide proof that you ordered the item (a confirmation email, order number, or receipt) and evidence that you did not receive it (tracking information showing it was not delivered, or a statement from the merchant that they have no record of sending it). The issuer will investigate and typically reverse the charge if the merchant cannot prove delivery.

What Happens If You Miss the 60-Day Deadline

If you file a dispute after 60 days have passed since your statement date, your card issuer can refuse to investigate. They are not required by federal law to help you. However, some issuers have their own policies that extend the window beyond 60 days, especially for fraud or if you can show you had a good reason for the delay.

If you miss the deadline, your other options are limited. You can try negotiating directly with the merchant for a refund or credit. You can file a complaint with your state's attorney general or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), though these agencies cannot force a refund — they can only investigate whether the issuer violated the law. You can also pursue a small claims lawsuit against the merchant if the amount is large enough to justify the cost and effort.

The best protection is to review your statements as soon as they arrive and dispute any charge you do not recognize within the first week or two. This gives you a comfortable margin before the 60-day deadline and the issuer the most time to investigate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 60-day deadline apply to debit cards?

No. Debit cards are covered by different federal rules (Regulation E) that give you 60 days to report unauthorized charges, but the process and protections are different. For debit cards, you must report fraud within two business days to limit your liability to $50; after that, you may be liable for up to $500. Contact your bank's fraud line immediately if you spot unauthorized debit card charges.

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

Not through the chargeback process. The 60-day dispute window covers billing errors, unauthorized charges, and goods or services you did not receive — not buyer's remorse. If you want to return something you bought, contact the merchant directly and ask about their return policy. If the merchant refuses and you cannot resolve it, you have no legal recourse through your card issuer.

What if my card issuer ignores my dispute after I file it?

If your issuer does not acknowledge your dispute within 30 days or does not complete the investigation within 45 days, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov. The CFPB can investigate whether the issuer violated the Fair Credit Billing Act. Keep copies of all correspondence with your issuer, including the dispute reference number and dates you contacted them.

Can I dispute the same charge twice?

No. Once your issuer has investigated and made a decision on a dispute, you cannot file another dispute for the same charge. If you disagree with the outcome, your recourse is to file a complaint with the CFPB or pursue legal action, not to re-dispute the charge with your card issuer.

Does the 60-day deadline apply if I dispute through my card's mobile app?

Yes. The deadline is based on your statement date, not on how you file the dispute. Filing through the app, online portal, phone, or mail all start the same 60-day clock. Use whichever method is fastest for you, but make sure you get a confirmation number and keep a record of when you filed.