How to Do a Credit Card Chargeback
A chargeback is the nuclear option, but only if you use it correctly. The five-step process and the deadlines that decide whether you win.
The merchant will not refund you. You have called three times. Each rep promised a callback that did not happen. You have a charge on your statement for something defective, undelivered, or not as described, and the company is treating your complaint like it does not exist.<br/><br/>The chargeback is your last formal lever and the most powerful one — your card issuer can pull the money back from the merchant directly. But it has rules and deadlines, and it works only if you have done the prerequisite steps. Here is the process that wins.
The five steps in the order they have to happen.
Try the merchant in writing first, on the record
Card networks require you to attempt resolution with the merchant before disputing — and your issuer will ask. Send one clear written request: what you bought, when, the problem, what you want (refund, replacement, or fix), and a deadline (10 to 14 days). Send by email or merchant portal so you have a paper trail. If they refuse or ignore you, that document becomes evidence in the chargeback.
Document everything before you file
You will need: the original receipt or order confirmation, the charge as it appears on your statement, photos of the defect or proof of non-delivery, copies of all communication with the merchant, and any return tracking numbers. If you do not have it now, get it now. Issuers decide chargebacks largely on the documentation. A clean evidence package wins disputes that a verbal description loses.
File the dispute through your issuer, not over the phone
Most issuers have a dispute portal in their app or website. Use it. Phone disputes get logged inconsistently and can disappear. Online forms create a record. You will be asked to choose a reason code — pick the most accurate one (defective merchandise, services not received, unrecognized charge). Pick wrong and the issuer may deny the dispute on a technicality. Read the options carefully.
Watch the deadlines
You generally have 60 days from the statement date for most disputes, longer for some categories. Services-not-rendered claims usually count from the expected delivery or service date. The clock does not stop while you wait for the merchant — if you spend 80 days arguing with the company, you may have lost your chargeback right entirely. Start the merchant attempt early so you are still inside the dispute window if it fails.
Respond promptly if the merchant rebuts
When you file, the merchant gets a chance to respond. They may submit evidence claiming the charge was valid. If your issuer asks you for more information after the merchant rebuts, respond within the deadline they give you (usually 10 to 30 days) — silence is treated as conceding. Address each of the merchant’s points specifically with documentation. Most disputes are won at this rebuttal stage by people who showed up with evidence.
Build the full chargeback case in minutes.
Complaint Escalation Writer pulls together the merchant letter, evidence checklist, dispute reason code, and rebuttal-ready documentation as part of a 5-stage campaign.