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How to Dispute a Credit Card Billing Error

To dispute a credit-card billing error, send written notice to your card issuer's billing-inquiries address within 60 days of the first statement showing the error; the issuer must acknowledge it within 30 days and resolve it within 90 days.

The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) gives you a formal process to fix billing errors on credit cards and other revolving credit — duplicate charges, charges for things you returned or never received, wrong amounts, and math mistakes. The key is acting in writing and within the deadline.

Step by step

  1. Confirm it is a billing error

    The FCBA covers unauthorized charges, charges with the wrong date or amount, math mistakes, charges for goods you did not accept or that were not delivered as agreed, and payments or credits the issuer failed to post.

  2. Write to the issuer within 60 days

    Send a written dispute to the address the issuer lists for billing inquiries (not the payment address) so it arrives within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was sent to you. Include your name, address, account number, and a description of the error.

  3. Keep proof and copies

    Send the letter by certified mail with a return receipt for proof, include copies (not originals) of supporting receipts, and keep a copy of your dispute letter.

  4. Withhold only the disputed amount

    While the issuer investigates, you may withhold payment on the disputed amount and related finance charges, but you must still pay the part of the bill that is not in question.

  5. Wait for the issuer's response

    The issuer must acknowledge your dispute in writing within 30 days (unless it is already resolved) and must resolve it within 90 days — during which it cannot report the disputed amount as delinquent or take collection action.

Key facts

  • You must send written notice of a billing error so it reaches the issuer within 60 days after the first statement containing the error was sent to you. (U.S. Federal Trade Commission)

  • The issuer must acknowledge your dispute in writing within 30 days and resolve it within 90 days (about two billing cycles). (U.S. Federal Trade Commission)

  • Your liability for unauthorized charges is limited by federal law to $50. (U.S. Federal Trade Commission)

  • If the issuer does not follow the FCBA settlement procedure, it forfeits up to $50 of the disputed amount even if the bill turns out to be correct. (U.S. Federal Trade Commission)

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Consumer protections vary by situation and by state.

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