You have up to 60 days from when you see the charge on your statement to dispute it

The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) sets a hard deadline: 60 calendar days from the date the charge appears on your credit card statement. This is a federal rule that applies to all credit cards issued by U.S. banks. If you miss that window, the card issuer can refuse to investigate the charge, and you lose your right to dispute it through this process.

The clock starts when you receive your statement — not when the charge was made. A purchase from three months ago might still be within the 60-day window if it only appeared on your statement last week. This matters because some charges take weeks to post, especially if a merchant batches transactions or if there's a delay in processing.

You do not need to wait until the charge fully posts or until you have collected all your evidence before you start the dispute. In fact, starting early gives you more time to gather documentation and reduces the risk of accidentally missing the deadline.

Key Takeaways

  • The 60-day window starts from the date the charge appears on your statement, not the date you made the purchase.
  • Once 60 days pass, your card issuer can refuse to investigate, even if the charge is fraudulent or wrong.
  • You can dispute a charge before your statement arrives by contacting your card issuer directly with the transaction details.
  • The card issuer must acknowledge your dispute within 30 days and complete the investigation within two billing cycles (usually 30 to 90 days total).
  • Disputing a charge does not hurt your credit score, and the issuer must remove the charge from your account while investigating.

What counts as the start date for your 60 days

Your statement date is what matters, not the transaction date. If you made a purchase on January 5 but it did not appear on your statement until January 28, your 60 days begin on January 28. This is why checking your statement as soon as it arrives is important — it tells you exactly when the clock started.

If you notice a charge before your statement arrives (for example, by checking your account online), you can still contact your card issuer to start a dispute. Many issuers will begin investigating immediately, even though the formal 60-day window has not technically started yet. This is a courtesy, not a requirement, so do not rely on it — always verify that your dispute was received and documented.

How to dispute within the 60-day window

Contact your card issuer by phone, mail, or through your online account. The fastest method is usually a phone call to the customer service number on the back of your card. Have your statement and the transaction details in front of you: the date, the amount, the merchant name, and a brief description of why you are disputing it (unauthorized charge, wrong amount, never received the item, duplicate charge, and so on).

If you call, ask the representative to confirm that your dispute has been recorded and get a reference number. Write down the date, time, and name of the person you spoke with. If you dispute by mail, send a letter to the address listed on your statement for billing inquiries — not the payment address. Include your account number, the transaction details, and a clear explanation of the dispute. Keep a copy for your records.

Some card issuers also allow disputes through their mobile app or website. This creates a written record automatically, which is useful, but follow up with a phone call to confirm the dispute was received if the app does not give you a confirmation number.

What happens after you file a dispute

Your card issuer must acknowledge receipt of your dispute within 30 days. During this time, the charge is typically removed from your account or marked as disputed, so you do not have to pay it while the investigation is underway. Your credit score is not affected by the dispute itself.

The issuer then has up to two billing cycles (usually 30 to 90 days, depending on your billing schedule) to investigate. They will contact the merchant, request documentation, and determine whether the charge was authorized and correct. You may be asked to provide additional information — for example, a receipt, a shipping confirmation, or a written explanation of why you believe the charge is wrong.

Once the investigation is complete, the issuer will notify you in writing of the outcome. If the dispute is upheld, the charge is permanently removed and you owe nothing. If the dispute is denied, the charge goes back on your account, and you are responsible for paying it.

What happens if you miss the 60-day deadline

After 60 days, you lose the right to dispute under the FCBA. Your card issuer can refuse to investigate, and you have no federal protection requiring them to reverse the charge. This does not mean you are completely without options — you can still contact the merchant directly, request a chargeback through your bank, or pursue other remedies — but the formal dispute process is closed.

If you discover a fraudulent charge after the 60-day window has closed, contact your card issuer immediately anyway. Some issuers will investigate fraud claims outside the formal window as a courtesy, especially if the charge is clearly unauthorized. There is no harm in asking, and you may still recover the money.

Disputes for charges that have not posted yet

If you notice a pending charge on your account that you want to dispute, you can contact your card issuer before it officially posts to your statement. Pending charges are not yet part of your statement, so technically the 60-day window has not started. However, the issuer may still investigate or reverse the charge if you report it early.

The risk of waiting for a pending charge to post is that you lose time. If the charge posts and you do not notice it for a few weeks, you could be closer to the 60-day deadline. If you see a pending charge you do not recognize, report it immediately rather than waiting for the statement.

Disputes for recurring charges and subscriptions

If you are disputing a recurring charge (a subscription, membership, or automatic payment), the same 60-day rule applies to each individual charge. You have 60 days from when each charge appears on your statement to dispute it. If you want to stop the recurring charge entirely, you may also need to cancel the subscription or authorization separately — disputing one charge does not automatically cancel future ones.

If a merchant continues to charge you after you have cancelled a subscription, each unauthorized charge is a separate dispute. Document the cancellation (save confirmation emails or screenshots) so you can prove to your card issuer that you did not authorize the charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I dispute a charge after 60 days if it was fraud?

The FCBA's 60-day window applies to all disputes, including fraud. However, contact your card issuer anyway — many will investigate fraud claims outside the formal window. You also have the right to report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission and to your state's attorney general, which may lead to action against the merchant even if your card issuer cannot reverse the charge.

Does disputing a charge hurt my credit score?

No. Disputing a charge does not appear on your credit report and does not affect your score. The dispute is between you and your card issuer; credit bureaus do not see it unless the issuer reports the account as delinquent, which should not happen if you are disputing in good faith.

What if the merchant says I authorized the charge?

If you dispute an unauthorized charge, your card issuer will ask the merchant for proof of authorization — typically a signed receipt or a record of your consent. If the merchant cannot provide it, the dispute is usually upheld in your favor. If they do provide proof and you still believe the charge is wrong, you can provide your own evidence (like a cancellation email) to support your case.

How long does it take to get my money back after a dispute is approved?

Once the dispute is upheld, the charge is removed from your account immediately. If you were charged interest or fees related to the disputed charge, ask the issuer to remove those as well. The timeline depends on your card issuer, but the credit should appear within one to two billing cycles.

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

The FCBA covers billing errors and unauthorized charges, not buyer's remorse. If you authorized the purchase but now regret it, your dispute will likely be denied. Instead, contact the merchant directly to request a refund or return. If the merchant refuses and you believe they violated a contract or misrepresented the product, you may have other legal options, but the credit card dispute process is not the right tool.