After you have paid
How to dispute a charge and report a company
If you paid and something was not right, you have two separate options: dispute the charge with your bank, and report what happened to public agencies. You can do both.
Plain answer: Disputing a charge is how you may get money back. Reporting is how you create a public record.
- Gather dates, amounts, receipts, and any cancellation confirmation.
- Dispute the charge with your card issuer in writing, promptly.
- Report the company to the FTC, the CFPB, and your state attorney general.
Dispute a charge with your bank
A dispute (also called a chargeback) goes to your card issuer, not the seller. It is a separate path from asking the company for a refund, and it has its own deadline.
- Collect the charge dates, amounts, the merchant name, and any proof, such as a cancellation confirmation.
- Contact your card issuer in writing. You can use the dispute template on the letters page.
- Ask the issuer to open a billing dispute and to confirm in writing. Keep copies of everything.
For the federal rules on disputing card charges, see the FTC guidance on disputing credit card charges.
Report what happened
Reporting helps agencies see patterns. It is free, and you can do it even if you are not seeking money back.
- Report to the Federal Trade Commission at the FTC report site.
- Submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for issues involving money, loans, or credit.
- Find your state attorney general or consumer protection office to report locally.
What reporting does and does not do
Reporting informs investigations and the public record. It does not, by itself, return your money or decide whether a company broke any rule. Treat disputing the charge and seeking a refund as the path to money back, and reporting as a separate civic step.
Common questions
How long do I have to dispute a credit card charge?
Under the federal Fair Credit Billing Act, you generally have 60 days from the date the statement with the charge was sent to dispute a billing error in writing. Card issuers may allow more, and rules differ for debit cards, so contact your bank promptly.
Can I dispute a charge I originally agreed to?
You can dispute charges you did not authorize, charges billed after you cancelled, and goods or services not delivered as described. Whether a dispute succeeds is decided by your card issuer based on the facts and evidence you provide.
Does reporting a company get my money back?
Usually not directly. Reports to the FTC, the CFPB, and your state attorney general inform investigations and the public record. Getting money back usually comes from the refund, return, or chargeback process. Reporting and seeking a refund are separate steps you can do at the same time.
Useful next pages
- Cancellation, refund, and dispute letter templates
- Cooling-off and refund deadlines
- Leaving an MLM: calm next steps
- If an MLM put you in debt: where to get help
Sources
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Regulator guidance
Disputing Credit Card Charges
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Consumer assistance resource
Report Fraud to the FTC
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Consumer assistance resource
Submit a Complaint
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Consumer assistance resource
State Consumer Protection Offices
Correction request
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