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How to dispute a credit card charge you did not make?

FCBA-style steps to dispute an unauthorized or unrecognized credit card charge: freeze the card, document, write the issuer, and track the investigation.

Reviewed September 2026.

A charge you did not make is usually unauthorized use or a billing error under Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) style rules for many open-end credit cards. Speed matters: freeze or cancel the card, pull the statement detail, then put the dispute in writing so the issuer’s clock starts. This guide is the step sequence. For the unauthorized-vs-billing-error table and first-48-hour triage, use Unauthorized card charges. For the broader FCBA window overview, see Disputing a credit card charge.

How do I lock the card and gather proof?

  1. In the Chase, Capital One, Citi, Amex, Discover, or credit-union app, freeze or cancel the card that posted the charge.
  2. Screenshot the transaction: merchant name, amount, date, and last four of the card.
  3. Check whether it is a pending preauthorization hold (hotel, gas, rental) versus a posted charge.
  4. Scan the rest of the statement for other unknowns in the same cycle.

If phishing or account takeover is likely, change passwords and review Credit freezes and fraud alerts.

How do I call and then put the dispute in writing?

Call the number on the back of the card (not a number from a text). Ask for a case or reference number. Many issuers start an investigation from the phone call, but FCBA billing-error rights for credit cards often depend on a written dispute that reaches the issuer within 60 days of the first statement that showed the error.

Your letter or secure-message should include:

  • Your name, account number (or truncated), and mailing address
  • The dollar amount and transaction date
  • Why you say you did not authorize it (stolen number, never shopped there, wrong amount)
  • A clear ask to reverse the charge and investigate
  • Copies (not originals) of receipts or police/report numbers if any

Send by certified mail or the issuer’s documented dispute portal so you keep a trail. Network chargeback clocks after the issuer opens the case are covered in Chargeback timeline.

What happens during the issuer investigation?

Issuers often give a provisional credit while they investigate, then confirm or reverse it. Keep paying unrelated balances so you do not trip a late fee or penalty APR on the rest of the account (Late fees and penalty APR). Do not ignore mail or app messages asking for more detail; missing a deadline can close the case against you.

Worked example

Sam sees a $187.42 charge at a electronics merchant he never used, posted on the statement that closed March 3. On March 5 he freezes the card and calls. On March 6 he uploads a written dispute through the app and notes case #482911. Provisional credit posts in a few days. Two weeks later the issuer confirms fraud and keeps the credit. Sam still reviews the next statement for any follow-on charges.

What should I do after the decision?

  • Won: Confirm the new card number is active only where you re-enter it; watch for recurring skims.
  • Lost: Ask for the denial reason in writing. You may still escalate with documentation or file a CFPB complaint if the process looked broken.
  • Identity theft pattern: Follow Rebuild after identity theft and freeze Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion files.

Debit cards more often follow Regulation E timelines, which differ from credit-card FCBA paths. Ask the bank which rule set applies.

Checklist

  1. Freeze or cancel the card the same day.
  2. Capture merchant, amount, date, and case number.
  3. File a written dispute within the issuer’s stated window (often tied to the 60-day FCBA clock).
  4. Keep paying undisputed balances.
  5. Re-check the next two statements for repeats.

Educational only. Not legal or personalized financial advice. Issuer procedures and federal timing rules vary.