Credit Card Chargebacks: How to Get a Disputed Charge Reversed
Updated 15 May 2026
A chargeback is a formal reversal of a charge, initiated through your card issuer rather than the merchant directly — the right tool when a merchant won't refund you for something legitimately wrong with the transaction.
When a chargeback applies
Common valid grounds include goods or services never received, a merchant charging the wrong amount, a duplicate charge, or a transaction you genuinely didn't authorize. It's meant for a real dispute with the transaction, not simple buyer's remorse on a purchase that was delivered as described.
Try the merchant first, but not for too long
Most issuers expect you to have attempted resolution with the merchant first, but chargeback requests are time-limited (commonly within around 120 days of the transaction, varying by network and reason) — don't let a slow merchant run out the clock on your ability to dispute it.
How to file one
Raise the dispute through your issuer's app, net banking, or helpline, with the transaction reference, the merchant's name, and a clear description of what went wrong; keep any supporting evidence (order confirmation, delivery tracking, correspondence with the merchant). The issuer investigates with the merchant's bank and typically resolves it within a few weeks, crediting your account if the dispute is upheld.