How Do I Dispute a Credit Card Billing Error?

To dispute a billing error, you must send a written notice to the creditor at the specific address disclosed for billing inquiries.

This notice must be received no later than 60 days after the creditor transmitted the first periodic statement that reflects the alleged error.

Your written notice must accomplish the following:

• Enable the creditor to identify your name and account number.
• Indicate your belief that the statement contains a billing error and state the amount of the error.
• Set forth, to the extent possible, your reasons for believing a billing error exists, along with the type and date of the error.

While the dispute is pending resolution, you do not need to pay—and the creditor may not try to collect—any portion of any required payment that you believe is related to the disputed amount, including related finance or other charges. Furthermore, a creditor may not restrict or close your account solely because of your failure to pay the disputed amount before they send the required written explanation or clarification, though they may apply the disputed amount against your credit limit.

Upon receiving your billing error notice, the creditor must mail or deliver a written acknowledgment to you within 30 days, unless they have already completed the appropriate resolution procedures within that 30-day window.

The creditor must fully comply with the appropriate resolution procedures within two complete billing cycles, and in no event later than 90 days after receiving your notice.

The specific duties of the creditor depend on the outcome of their investigation:

• If the creditor determines a billing error occurred as asserted: They must correct the billing error, credit your account with the disputed amount and any related finance or other charges, and mail or deliver a correction notice to you.
• If the creditor determines no error occurred or that a different error occurred: After conducting a reasonable investigation, the creditor must mail or deliver an explanation setting forth the reasons for their belief that your alleged error is incorrect in whole or in part. If you request it, they must also furnish copies of documentary evidence of your indebtedness. If a different error actually occurred, they must correct it and credit your account with the disputed amount and related charges.

If you continue to make substantially the same allegation after the creditor has fully complied with these requirements, the creditor generally has no further responsibilities.