Use DoNotPay for a Successful Chargeback

If you ordered a new phone online and never received it, you would probably want your money back. The same thing would happen if the item arrived damaged or if some parts were missing. In this scenario, you would probably reach out to the merchant and complain, but what happens if you never get any response or the response is just No?

In situations like this, you can count on chargebacks as the ultimate weapon of consumer protection. With DoNotPay, the world’s first AI Consumer Champion, chargebacks have never been easier!

What Is a Chargeback?

A chargeback is a return of the paid amount to your bank account as a result of a successful dispute. In the United States, chargebacks are available for credit card holders, and they are defined by Regulation Z of the Truth in Lending Act. Debit card holders also have a right to reverse payments, as covered by Regulation E of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.

Technically speaking, chargebacks are similar to refunds. The main difference is that a refund is requested from and provided by a merchant. A chargeback is a forced refund requested by a cardholder from their bank.

The benefits of chargebacks include:

• Customers feel more secure—Since the merchants have to deal with chargeback fees if your dispute is found valid, they will be more motivated to offer high-quality products and reliable service
• Merchants are more transparent—If a merchant wants to avoid chargebacks, they will try their best to keep away from hidden charges and unreliable delivery
• Additional protection from fraud—Even the strongest financial institutions can suffer from data breaches. Chargebacks allow fraud victims to get their money back in case of unauthorized transactions

When Can I Use a Chargeback?

When they encounter an issue with a purchased product or service, most people contact the merchant first. The problem usually gets solved when the merchant offers a replacement or a refund to the customer.

A problem arises when a refund is not an option or when the merchant chooses to ignore your complaints, and you have no other choice than to dispute the charges with your bank. Some other situations where chargebacks might be necessary include:

• Undelivered packages—If you order an item and it never arrives, but the tracking info claims it’s been delivered
• Faulty and damaged products—If a product you ordered doesn’t work or match the description, or some parts are missing
• Incorrect charges—If the price of the item doesn’t match the amount you were charged
• Fraud or unauthorized charges—If a charge on your bank statement looks suspicious or unfamiliar
• Canceled service charges—If you stopped using certain service or subscription, but your account still gets charged
• Missing refunds—If a merchant promised you a refund, but you’ve been waiting for too long

How Does a Chargeback Work?

The process for requesting a chargeback depends a lot on your bank and credit/debit card issuer. The most common methods to initiate a dispute are over the phone, by mail and online. DoNotPay is an excellent choice if you want the most convenient experience. The number of steps and the procedure can differ from case to case, but here’s what an average chargeback request looks like:

1. The customer files a chargeback with their bank, submitting all relevant documents to support their claim
2. The bank that issued the customer’s card reviews the claim and decides whether it’s valid
3. If the claim is valid, it is forwarded to the card network like Visa, American Express, MasterCard, or Discover, while the customer usually receives temporary account credit
4. The card network might request from the customer’s bank to pay or forward the dispute to the merchant’s bank, which can contact the merchant
5. The merchant chooses to dispute or accept the chargeback, which can lead to more back-and-forth communication until the problem gets resolved
6. The card network finalizes the process by deciding who must accept the charges, and if the customer’s request is successful, they are given their money back

While this procedure describes how most chargebacks work when it comes to banks, you might also want to learn more about PayPal chargebacks and PayPal chargeback protection.

How Long Does a Credit Card Chargeback Take?

Chargebacks take some time. As the process involves several financial institutions and communication between them, it tends to get stretched out. Most cases are resolved within 45 days after you file your dispute, but it can go up to 120 days or even several months, depending on how complex the circumstances are.

While there’s not much you can do to speed up the process once you submit your dispute, you should be aware of time constraints for initiating chargebacks and merchant’s responses because they are different for various credit card types. In this table, you can check the chargeback time limits for the most popular credit card companies:

DoNotPay Can Help When You Need a Chargeback

DoNotPay, the world’s first AI Consumer Champion, makes requesting chargebacks easy and convenient. You don’t have to wait forever to reach your bank’s customer support or bother with envelopes, stamps, and paperwork for snail mail. If you need to initiate a chargeback, the solution is right at your fingertips with DoNotPay.

Create your profile on DoNotPay’s website in your web browser and follow these simple instructions:

1. When you log in, choose File a Chargeback from our homepage
2. Provide the details of the bank you’re using
3. Specify the merchant and provide information about the transaction you want to dispute
4. Wrap everything up by answering several questions for identity confirmation

After this short and easy questionnaire, DoNotPay’s virtual team will send a dispute request to your bank. DoNotPay can provide additional support for your chargeback, including a letter with Visa and MasterCard regulations relevant to your case.

After you click Sign and Submit, you can relax and wait for your money to show up. In the meantime, you can learn how to fix some other bureaucratic issues with DoNotPay’s help.

See What Else DoNotPay Can Do For You!

DoNotPay can help you with all kinds of refunds and chargebacks. Our app can assist with Amazon refunds for shopaholics, PlayStation Store refunds for gamers, Amtrak and plane tickets refunds for travelers, and so much more.

Did you know that a lot of people turn to chargebacks when they forget to cancel an unwanted subscription or service? While chargebacks are always an option, with DoNotPay’s virtual credit cards, you can stop businesses from charging you after the free trial period expires.

And that’s not all! If you’ve ever had to deal with cyberstalking, a robocall epidemic, or paying medical bills, DoNotPay has something to offer. Intrigued? Start exploring our impressive portfolio by creating your profile on DoNotPay’s website in your web browser. Other things DoNotPay can help you with include:

• Solving problems with credit cards
• Fighting speeding tickets
• Getting refunds for delayed or canceled flights
• Getting refunds from other companies
• Skipping the phone queue when getting in touch with customer service reps
• Getting revenge on robocalls
• Suing people and companies in small claims court
• Arranging a DMV appointment fast and easy
• Getting rid of unwanted subscriptions or memberships
• Dealing with traffic tickets
• Challenging parking tickets
• Dealing with bills you are unable to pay
• Protecting yourself from stalking and harassment