The Fair Credit Billing Act and Regulation Z protect consumers disputing qualifying credit card billing errors. These are federal protections, available to California consumers and others nationwide—not a guarantee that every denied chargeback violates the law.
Written notice generally must reach the issuer within 60 days after it sent the first statement showing the error. Do not wait for our review to preserve a deadline.
Follow your statement’s billing-error instructions—not just the payment address. Identify your account, the disputed amount, and why it is an error. Keep proof of delivery.
Save all responses and supporting evidence. Tell us what the issuer considered, what it ignored, and whether it explained its decision.
We evaluate the notice, investigation, and response to determine whether legal remedies may be available. This is an intake investigation, not an announcement of a filed lawsuit.
Include the card issuer, disputed amount, statement date, when and how you disputed it, and the issuer’s response. Do not include sensitive account credentials or full card numbers.
Or call us directly:
(650) 781-8000For a qualifying billing error and timely notice, Regulation Z requires a reasonable investigation. A denial alone does not prove a violation. We review your notice, supporting evidence, and the issuer's explanation to assess whether it followed the law.
Your written notice generally must reach the issuer's designated billing-inquiries address within 60 days after it sent the first statement showing the error. Include your name, account identification, disputed amount, and explanation. An app dispute or phone call may not preserve all statutory rights; follow the issuer's billing-error instructions.
The issuer generally must acknowledge your written notice within 30 days after receiving it, unless it resolves the dispute within that period. It must resolve the dispute within two complete billing cycles after receipt, and never later than 90 days.
No. Qualifying errors include unauthorized charges, certain accounting errors, and goods or services not accepted or not delivered as agreed. A complaint solely about quality generally is not a billing error under this rule. Merchant chargebacks and other claims may involve different rights; debit card disputes follow different rules.
For a qualifying dispute under the statutory process, you may withhold the disputed amount and related charges during the investigation. You still must pay undisputed amounts as required. Seek advice before withholding payment if you are unsure whether your notice or dispute qualifies.
Sources: Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R. § 1026.13 and its official interpretations. General information, not legal advice; submitting an inquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship.