Credit Card Billing Guide

How to Dispute Credit Card Billing Errors Under the Fair Credit Billing Act

Q: How long do I have to dispute a credit card charge?

Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you generally have 60 days from the date your billing statement containing the error was sent to notify your card issuer in writing.

Q: Is there a minimum dollar amount to dispute a billing error?

No. For standard billing-error disputes under FCBA Section 1666 — like being charged for something you didn't buy, a math error, or an unauthorized charge — there is no statutory minimum amount. A separate FCBA provision (Section 1666i) that lets you withhold payment over a merchant dispute about defective goods or services does require the purchase to exceed $50 and generally be within your home state or 100 miles of your billing address, but that's a different right from a basic billing-error dispute.

Q: How long does the card issuer have to resolve my dispute?

The issuer must acknowledge your dispute in writing within 30 days and resolve it within two billing cycles, not to exceed 90 days from when they received your letter.

The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) is the federal law that gives you the right to dispute mistakes on a credit card statement — duplicate charges, charges for something you never received, math errors, or charges you never authorized — without paying for them while the dispute is being resolved.

60 Days

is your window to notify your card issuer in writing after the statement containing the error was sent — after that, your FCBA protections for that charge may no longer apply.

What Counts as a "Billing Error" Under the FCBA

A charge for something you didn't buy, or that someone else made without your permission.
A charge for goods or services you didn't accept, or that weren't delivered as agreed.
Math or computation errors on your statement.
A charge that doesn't match the amount you actually authorized.
Failure to properly credit a payment or return to your account.
A statement sent to the wrong address (if you gave the issuer your correct address in time).

Is There a Minimum Amount to Dispute?

No — and this is a common point of confusion. For a standard billing-error dispute like the ones listed above, the FCBA sets no minimum dollar amount. That's different from a separate, narrower FCBA right that lets you withhold payment specifically over a dispute about defective goods or services with a merchant — that provision does require the purchase to be over $50 and generally within your home state or 100 miles of your billing address. If you're just disputing an error on your bill (not a quality complaint about something you bought), that $50/100-mile rule doesn't apply to you.

Billing Error Dispute

Wrong charge, duplicate, math error, unauthorized charge. No minimum dollar amount. 60-day window to notify the issuer in writing.

Quality/Defect Claim

You paid for something and it was defective or undelivered. Must exceed $50 and generally be within your home state or 100 miles — a different, narrower FCBA right.

Step-by-Step: How to File a Dispute

Write it down. Phone calls can start the process, but the FCBA's protections kick in from a written notice — a letter or the issuer's online dispute form, sent to the address designated for billing inquiries (not the address you mail payments to).
Include the essentials: your name and account number, the dollar amount and date of the disputed charge, and a clear explanation of why you believe it's an error.
Send it within 60 days of the statement date that first showed the error.
Keep a copy of your letter and proof of when you sent it.
Don't pay the disputed amount while it's under investigation — but do keep paying the rest of your bill as normal.

What happens next: Your issuer generally must acknowledge your dispute in writing within 30 days, and resolve it within two billing cycles — no more than 90 days from when they got your letter. During that window, they can't report the disputed amount as delinquent or close your account solely because you disputed it.

Not legal advice. This guide summarizes general FCBA protections as reported across consumer-finance and legal-reference sources; specific facts, your card agreement, and state law can affect your situation. Consult your card issuer's dispute process or a licensed attorney for advice on your specific case.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to dispute a credit card charge?

Generally 60 days from the date your billing statement containing the error was sent, to notify your issuer in writing.

Is there a minimum dollar amount to dispute a billing error?

No, for a standard billing-error dispute. A separate, narrower FCBA provision about withholding payment over defective goods or services does require the purchase to exceed $50 and be within your home state or 100 miles — but that's a different right.

How long does the card issuer have to resolve my dispute?

They must acknowledge it in writing within 30 days and resolve it within two billing cycles, up to 90 days total from receiving your letter.

Check Your Statement for Errors First

BillVerify scans your credit card statement for duplicate charges, math errors, and anything that doesn't add up — free to start, no card required.

Audit My Bill Free →