Credit card chargeback time frames by network
Each card network sets its own deadlines for filing, answering and appealing. Here are the main time limits for Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
- Network
- Time limits
- Published
Why chargeback time frames matter
The credit card chargeback time frame decides who wins and who loses. Each stage of a dispute has a deadline set by the card network's rules. Miss one and the case can end against you, no matter how good your proof is. This page covers the main deadlines for Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
How long cardholders have to file
The filing window depends on the network and the reason for the dispute.
An American Express cardholder has up to 120 days from the transaction date to dispute a charge. For goods not received, returns or cancellations, the cardholder can have longer.
Mastercard generally gives the issuer 90 calendar days from the transaction to charge back when required authorization was not obtained.
Visa's rules say the time limit for an issuer to start a dispute is set by each dispute condition. For example, Visa gives the issuer 120 calendar days from the Transaction Processing Date to file a dispute under condition 10.4.
How long merchants have to respond
Your answer window also depends on the network.
A merchant has 20 days to respond to an Inquiry or Chargeback from American Express with supporting documents. Those 20 days start once American Express contacts you. Always answer an Inquiry by its reply due date. If you do not, you can get a No reply or Insufficient reply Chargeback.
Visa says the merchant's time to respond is the time on the acquirer's request, and it may vary by acquirer. Visa's rules say a side that does not respond in time closes the dispute cycle and is responsible for the amount.
Visa chargeback time frames
Visa splits its deadlines by dispute category.
In processing error and consumer disputes, Visa gives the acquirer 30 calendar days from the Dispute Processing Date to send a Dispute Response. In fraud and authorization disputes, the acquirer gets 30 calendar days from the Dispute Processing Date. It uses that time to try pre-arbitration.
In processing error and consumer disputes, the issuer can try pre-arbitration. It has 30 calendar days from the Dispute Response Processing Date. The acquirer then has 30 calendar days from that attempt to respond. In fraud and authorization disputes, the issuer gets 30 calendar days to respond. The clock starts at the pre-arbitration attempt.
After that, the issuer can file for arbitration. It has 10 calendar days from the pre-arbitration response. In fraud and authorization disputes, the acquirer can also file. It has 10 calendar days. For the full flow, see the Visa chargeback process.
Mastercard chargeback time frames
Mastercard generally gives the acquirer 45 calendar days from the chargeback to send a second presentment. That is the merchant's formal answer. Learn more in what is representment.
The issuer must wait at least eight calendar days for promised second presentment papers. Only then can it file pre-arbitration. It then has 30 calendar days from the second presentment to file that case. Mastercard accepts a pre-arbitration case for the acquirer on its own after 30 calendar days from the submit date.
If the acquirer rejects pre-arbitration, the issuer can file an arbitration case. It has 15 calendar days to do so. ATM and Maestro disputes work differently. The issuer gets 45 calendar days from the second presentment to file arbitration. A party must get its appeal to Mastercard within 45 calendar days of the ruling. See Mastercard chargeback time limits for detail.
American Express chargeback time frames
American Express keeps it simple. The cardholder has up to 120 days from the transaction date to dispute. The merchant then has 20 days to answer an Inquiry or Chargeback. The clock starts when American Express makes contact. Send supporting documents. For more, see Amex chargeback time limits.
What happens when deadlines are missed
Miss a deadline and the case usually ends against you. Under Visa's rules, a side that does not respond in time closes the dispute cycle and owes the amount. With American Express, answer an Inquiry late or with too little proof. You can then get a No reply or Insufficient reply Chargeback. Mastercard ignores second presentment papers that arrive late once a case is filed. If the banks cannot agree, the case moves to chargeback arbitration.
Managing chargeback timelines
Check your processor's portal often, since notice dates start the clock. Log every deadline the day a notice arrives. Answer early, not on the last day. Keep copies of everything you send, because later rounds of chargeback disputes may ask for them again.