Everything You Need to Know about a Chargeback

Have you noticed a strange purchase on your credit card? Did you order something online and didn’t get it? Did you pay for a certain item and got a different one instead? Did someone steal your card and used it to buy a yacht?

Don’t worry! You can get your money back and we’re here to tell you how.

What is a chargeback and why would you need it?

A chargeback is basically a money return to a payer of a transaction. It exists mainly for Cyber Crime Protection. There are several situations in which you might need a chargeback:

• If you fallen victim of a true fraud. Which means an unauthorised charge was made on your credit card by a scammer or an identity thief.
• A merchant error. This type of chargeback happens when the merchant made a mistake such as shipping product to the wrong address or shipping the wrong item.

Did this happen to you? Don’t freak out, we can help! Reach us at [email protected]

Who participates in the chargeback process?

Have a look at the flow diagram below to get an overall understanding of the chargeback process:

1. The cardholder / the customer

They are not necessarily the same individual. The cardholder is the real owner of the card used in the transaction. whereas the customer in the person who made the purchase.

2. The merchant

The individual or the company that sold an item or a service to the customer.

3. The issuing bank (also known simply as an issuer)

A bank that issues the branded credit card to the cardholder.

4. The acquiring bank (also known simply as an acquirer)

The merchant’s bank. It basically processes the credit card payments and allows the merchant to get those payments from the issuer within an association.

5. The credit card network

The association that provides a communication system between the merchant and an issuer to complete a transaction. The four dominant credit card networks in the U.S are Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Discover.

Is there a time limit?

The short answer is yes.

Well, if you, as card holders, want to file a dispute- you have generally 120 days to do so after the transaction has been made.

You should know that the merchants don’t have the same privilege. They must deal with a shorter turnaround window (usually 30 days).

Even though it seems unfair, those limitations benefit all the parties involved in the process. They are here to make sure that disputed transactions get settled fast and the money goes to the correct party.

Running out of time? Don’t know where to start? Contact us at [email protected]

What about non- refundable charges?

Can you, as card holders, file a chargeback on your credit card deposit? Yes, you can. However, it’s not that easy to win the dispute.

All you need is, of course, a valid claim. For example:

• If you never authorised a non-refundable payment.
• If the merchant is unable to provide the product or service connected to that deposit.
• If you were promised a refund for that payment and the merchant refuses to do so.
• The amount of money you paid for the deposit was eventually higher than the charge for the products or services provided.

In case of a non-refundable deposit- it’s not easy to get your money back. However, it is not impossible.

Something happened and it is beyond your control? COVID? a hurricane? Check the company’s refund policy. You might get your deposit back.

Do you have any questions? Don’t hesitate to ask us at [email protected]