A reader who works in the chargeback section of a major credit card company has just about had enough with people tossing around 'chargeback! chargeback!' as the solution to every customer service problem. While it is a great tool, you gotta make sure you use it right. To help you do that, here's our credit card company insider's guide to the top 10 reasons why your chargeback will get rejected.
A chargeback is when you ask your credit or debt card provider to reverse a payment. This might be because the retailer went out of business, or you didn't get the goods or service you paid for. If you've not been able to get a refund from the retailer, you can make a chargeback claim through your credit or debit card provider. Invoking the chargeback procedure If you suspect your card has been used fraudulently, if the goods and services you bought with your card are faulty or if they do not materialise, then you should contact the bank who has provided you with your Visa debit card within 120 days, requesting they initiate the chargeback process. Chargebacks: this happens after the fraudsters have already topped their account. They then request a chargeback from their banking or credit card provider, which means getting refunded at the online gambling provider's expense. Chargebacks are possible because of the contract between the card issuer (or merchant acquirer) and the card scheme. They are not a right or protection given directly to the card holder. The exact grounds on which a chargeback may be attempted will vary, depending on the card scheme. Comment by: Arnold On: September 09, 2010 Um, Andrew is 100% correct. Chargebacks can be done routinely. Almost always, it falls in favor of the customer. This is primarily because the vendor does not want to expose themselves once a chargeback inquiry takes place, and doesn't have much to stand on anyway.
10. LYING
Remember, the merchant does have a chance to rebut these things. If you tell us that you ordered widget A but received widget B but have no proof, and the merchant sends proof that you actually ordered widget B, you'll probably be getting rebilled!
9. THE CHARGE IS TOO OLD
Please, please check your statement every month. We work within very limited timeframes, and, technically, you are required to notify us of a dispute (in writing! Just calling in doesn't obligate us to do anything), within 60 days of the statement date the charge appears on. Visa gives some extensions: non-receipt and quality. With quality, you have to show you've been working with the merchant consistently to resolve the problem. MasterCard pretty much only gives extensions on non-receipt.
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8. NOT GETTING A SECOND OPINION LETTER FOR CHARGEBACKS OVER $100
If you're disputing the quality of something over $100.00 or so, it pays to get a second opinion letter. Within reason, of course. If you're disputing the quality of a repair, on the other hand, you pretty much have to have one. These need to be on a merchant's letterhead and have actual details about your dispute. 'Car still broken,' will get you started, but if the merchant sends a rebuttal it's probably not going to fly.
7. YOU BOUGHT IT IN FRANCE
The lovely consumer protections we enjoy in the U.S. do not follow you across our borders. If you buy something overseas, the burden is on you to return the item and prove it the merchant accepted the return before we can do anything. International quality disputes? Forget it. Strangely enough, this is the one category that MasterCard is better in as it does not differentiate between domestic and foreign merchants.
6. TRYING TO CHARGEBACK A DIRTY HOTEL ROOM AFTER YOU STAYED IN IT
If you go to a hotel and the room is filthy, leave within 20 minutes and get proof of your checkout, if possible. If you stay the night, you accept the room.
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5. NO PROOF YOU MADE THE RETURN BY MAIL
When you return something by mail, GET PROOF OF RETURN. This can not be emphasized enough. Tracking numbers work best, return receipts work as well. When you return something you have the same burden of proof to show the merchant gets it back as they do to show you have it in the first place.
8. NOT GETTING A SECOND OPINION LETTER FOR CHARGEBACKS OVER $100
If you're disputing the quality of something over $100.00 or so, it pays to get a second opinion letter. Within reason, of course. If you're disputing the quality of a repair, on the other hand, you pretty much have to have one. These need to be on a merchant's letterhead and have actual details about your dispute. 'Car still broken,' will get you started, but if the merchant sends a rebuttal it's probably not going to fly.
7. YOU BOUGHT IT IN FRANCE
The lovely consumer protections we enjoy in the U.S. do not follow you across our borders. If you buy something overseas, the burden is on you to return the item and prove it the merchant accepted the return before we can do anything. International quality disputes? Forget it. Strangely enough, this is the one category that MasterCard is better in as it does not differentiate between domestic and foreign merchants.
6. TRYING TO CHARGEBACK A DIRTY HOTEL ROOM AFTER YOU STAYED IN IT
If you go to a hotel and the room is filthy, leave within 20 minutes and get proof of your checkout, if possible. If you stay the night, you accept the room.
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5. NO PROOF YOU MADE THE RETURN BY MAIL
When you return something by mail, GET PROOF OF RETURN. This can not be emphasized enough. Tracking numbers work best, return receipts work as well. When you return something you have the same burden of proof to show the merchant gets it back as they do to show you have it in the first place.
4. FORGETTING THE DATE IT HAPPENED
When asked for dates, please provide them and be as specific as possible. It doesn't have to be exact, but if you called around the middle of the month, April 15, 2009 is better than April 2009, especially since we're going to have to call you to get a more specific range and do the same thing anyway. 'Don't remember' is not a valid option.
3. NOT GIVING THE MERCHANT A CHANCE TO FIX THE PROBLEM
Get in touch with them before you get in touch with us. Believe it or not, most merchants are actually on the up and up! If the merchant offers to try to fix whatever problem you have without charging more, you have to give them the chance. If you're from New York and got your car repaired in Florida, you get back home and the repair isn't working right, still have to give them a chance.
2. DISPUTING THINGS FOR THE WRONG REASON
It makes things more difficult and makes it more likely that you will lose. Don't dispute things as 'unauthorized' unless you never gave the merchant your credit card number. Don't dispute things as 'non-receipt' if the merchant did do something but you didn't get the results you wanted.
1. USING MASTERCARD
With Mastercard (MC) the burden of proof lies on you. If you buy something face-to-face, get home and realize that it's not as described, you're out of luck entirely as you had a chance to examine the merchandise. Also, with MC it's entirely up to you to know the merchant's cancellation/return policy, even if they don't disclose it. They didn't tell you that you couldn't cancel after three days? Too bad. Seriously, just use a Visa. It's easier for everyone.
(Photo: frankieleon)
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared on Consumerist.
Chargeback Your Winnings
This is the most common and intuitive reason for your card being charged back. The best online casino Australia options offer the choice to instantly deposit with your credit card, and some also let you withdraw your winnings onto your credit card. This would come in the form of a chargeback. Say you owe the credit card company $1,000, and win $500 at the casino and withdraw it as a chargeback. You would then only owe the credit card company $500. It is important to point out that some credit card companies will actually charge you a fee if you chargeback over your available line of credit, so double check that or make sure you owe more (or as much) as your chargeback winnings.
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Stolen Credit Card Information
All reputable sites that take your credit card information have encryption technology and other security measures in place to ensure your safety. However, it is still possible for your credit card information to be compromised and used elsewhere. In some cases, it can be used to deposit and play at a casino, though this is relatively rare, as the person who stole it would have a tough time withdrawing to a different account name or address than the one used for the billing on the credit card. If this happens, though, just contact your financial institution, and they'll refund your money and send you a new card.
Underage Gambler
If you are under the age of 18, it is illegal for you to gambler in Australia, but beyond that, all the most reputable online casinos practice what is known as Responsible Gaming. Part of the initiative is not allowing anyone under the age of 18 the opportunity to gamble. If you are a parent and your child uses your card to play at a casino, you could have the grounds to receive a chargeback, as it would make it evident that the online casino didn't have the proper blockers in place to prevent it from happening.
Problem Gambler
Some online casinos will chargeback your deposit if you exhibit problem gambling, and this kind of goes back to the Responsible Gaming initiative. You can get yourself fully or temporarily blocked from a casino, and if you try to deposit with them, they should have you IP address blocked. However, if they fail to block you after you request it, you would have reasonable grounds to request a chargeback, since you specifically said that you were a problem gambler and to not let you access the deposit option.
Fraudulent Chargeback Requests
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Your financial institution will almost certainly side with you and refund your money if you tell them you don't recognize the charges, but the casino itself will blacklist you. And beyond that, it's pretty safe to say that you only would get one go at that if you're doing it fraudulently. However, honestly, if you deposit too much and lose it all, it might be worth it if your morals align with that as an option.
