Does disputing a charge affect credit score?

No, it does not. The only way your credit score could drop is if you refuse to pay a charge that you disagree with and, say, abandon your credit card. Then it could put what you owe into collections. But simply calling or writing a letter to disagree with a charge? Your credit score is safe.

What happens if a dispute is denied?

The charge goes back onto your credit card. You can argue the point. You could choose to not pay it — and if you send a letter within 10 days, your credit card company has to include some notation in your credit report that you didn’t feel you were obligated to pay the debt.

How long do you have to dispute a credit card charge?

You have 60 days from the moment the charge appears on your credit card. If you notice the charge on Day 61 or beyond that, you can call your credit card company and ask if they’ll refund you your money. Legally, however, they aren’t obligated to do anything.

What are typical reasons somebody might dispute a credit card charge?

Lots of reasons. You think you were owed a refund that you didn’t get. Maybe you think the credit card's interest you’re being charged is incorrect, which could mean you’re overpaying on a lot of things. You might think a retailer charged you for something you never bought. You may believe you were charged twice for an item.

What should you do if you get a credit card charge returned and then realize the charge was accurate?

Honesty is the best policy. You should consider contacting your credit card company. The money actually came out of the bank account of the business that you were patronizing. And, there’s a name for what you’re describing — friendly fraud. It happens a lot, where customers think a charge is an error, and they demand they get their money back, but actually, they did owe the money.

How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge

Name: How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge
Item: How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge
Author: Geoff Williams

Did you find something odd or unfamiliar on your credit card statement? If there’s a charge you believe shouldn’t be on there, learn about your disputing options before you pay the bill.

ByGeoff Williams

Edited byKatrina Raenell

Quality Verified

Updated: March 21, 2024

ByGeoff Williams

Edited byKatrina Raenell

Quality Verified

Updated: March 21, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

About Geoff Williams

Geoff Williams has been a personal finance journalist since around the time of the Great Recession of 2008. He's been writing professionally since the 1990s about a variety of topics, including personal finance, credit cards and loans.

Williams is also the author of several books, including "Washed Away: How the Great Flood of 1913, America's Most Widespread Natural Disaster, Terrorized a Nation and Changed It Forever" and "C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race: The True Story of the 1928 Coast-to-Coast Run Across America."

Born in Columbus, Williams now lives in Loveland, Ohio, with his two teenage daughters.

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