Discover Chargeback Reason Codes

Updated July 2026

Discover chargeback reason codes are two-letter abbreviations — UD, RG, AP, RM — that identify what a cardmember is disputing. Because Discover is a closed-loop network (both the card issuer and the network), it uses its own code set and dispute rules, separate from Visa and Mastercard. For merchants, the key practical difference is the code format: where Visa uses decimal codes like 10.4 and Mastercard uses four-digit codes like 4837, Discover uses short letter codes. The response deadline is 30 days — the same as Visa.

How the Discover dispute process works

When a cardmember disputes a charge, Discover sends the merchant a chargeback notice through the acquiring bank or processor. The notice identifies the reason code, the dispute amount, and a response deadline. Merchants submit evidence through their processor — Stripe, Square, Shopify Payments, or a direct acquirer — before that date.

Discover handles disputes as the network and as the card issuer, meaning it has access to both sides of the transaction. Match your evidence to the specific code rather than sending a generic packet.

Check your processor dashboard for the exact deadline. The 30-day window is measured from the chargeback date, but your processor may show a shorter internal cut-off. Submit well before the date shown on your dispute screen.

Common Discover chargeback reason codes

These are the codes most merchants encounter. Verify the exact code and its current requirements in your processor dashboard, since Discover updates its dispute rules over time. For per-code evidence details, see the reason code library.

Code	What the cardmember is claiming	Evidence that answers it
UD	Did not authorize or recognize the transaction	AVS/CID match, device and IP records, delivery confirmation, clear billing descriptor
AA	Does not recognize the charge on their statement	Merchant name on billing descriptor, order details tying the charge to the cardmember
UA	Transaction was fraudulent or unauthorized (sub-variants: UA01 card present, UA02 card not present, UA05/UA06 chip)	For UA02: AVS/CID match, device/IP evidence. For UA01/UA05/UA06: EMV chip or PIN acceptance records
RG	Did not receive the goods or services	Carrier tracking with delivery confirmation, or timestamped access/download logs for digital goods
RM	Received goods or services that were not as described	Product listing as shown at checkout, proof the delivered item matched, return policy and any resolution offered
AP	Cancelled a recurring or subscription charge	Subscription terms accepted at sign-up, no-cancellation-received records, login or usage activity during the billed period
CD	Expected a credit or refund that did not post	Refund confirmation and settlement date, or the accepted policy showing no refund was owed
DP	Transaction was charged more than once	Distinct order IDs and authorization codes proving each charge was a separate purchase; refund any genuine duplicate first

For per-code detail, see the reason code library — including UD, RG, AP, and UA.

The 30-day deadline: respond promptly

Discover gives merchants 30 days to respond — the same window as Visa and shorter than Mastercard's 45 days. The deadline is strict. Missing it means the dispute resolves against you regardless of your evidence.

Start gathering documents as soon as the notice arrives. For a side-by-side comparison of every network's timeline, see the chargeback response deadlines guide.

Your processor may show a shorter cut-off. Stripe, Square, and Shopify Payments each add processing time before your response reaches Discover. Respond at least a few days before the date shown in your processor dashboard.

How to respond to a Discover reason code

Match your evidence to the specific code. A UD fraud dispute needs authentication data; an RG non-receipt dispute needs delivery proof. Sending the wrong evidence wastes your one chance to respond.

Identify the exact code

The reason code in your processor dashboard determines what evidence to gather. UD and UA are fraud disputes; RG is non-delivery; RM is quality or description; AP is a recurring billing dispute.

For UA, check the sub-variant

UA splits into UA01 (card-present), UA02 (card-not-present), and UA05/UA06 (chip-transaction). Each calls for different evidence: chip-and-PIN records for card-present; authentication and delivery data for card-not-present.

Write a focused rebuttal

A short cover letter that references the reason code, maps each exhibit to the cardmember's claim, and asks for reversal reads better than a long, general argument. See the rebuttal letter guide for structure and tips.

Submit before the deadline

Upload your complete evidence through your processor's dispute portal. You cannot add documents after submission, so include everything the code requires the first time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to respond to a Discover chargeback?↓

Discover gives merchants 30 days to respond, measured from the chargeback date. That is the same window as Visa and shorter than Mastercard's 45 days. Your processor may show a shorter internal cut-off — submit well before that date.

What is Discover reason code UD?↓

Discover UD (“Unauthorized / Disputed”) is the primary fraud and unrecognized-transaction code. Submit AVS and CID match data, device and IP records tied to the cardmember, delivery confirmation, and a clear billing descriptor that identifies your business.

How are Discover reason codes different from Visa and Mastercard?↓

Discover uses two-letter codes (UD, RG, RM, AP) rather than Visa's decimal codes (10.4, 13.1) or Mastercard's four-digit codes (4837, 4853). Like American Express, Discover is a closed-loop network — it both issues the cards and runs the network — and uses its own dispute rules and code set.

What is Discover reason code UA?↓

Discover UA is the fraud code for unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. Sub-variants identify the environment: UA01 (card-present), UA02 (card-not-present), and UA05/UA06 (chip transactions). Card-not-present disputes need authentication data; card-present and chip disputes need EMV chip or PIN acceptance records.

What are the most common Discover chargeback reason codes?↓

For online merchants, the most common Discover reason codes are UD (unauthorized or unrecognized), RG (goods or services not received), RM (quality or not as described), AP (recurring payments), and AA (does not recognize). Each calls for evidence specific to that claim.

Build a Code-Specific Evidence Pack

ChargebackKit assembles your evidence into an organized pack — rebuttal letter, labeled exhibits, and submission checklist — matched to your specific Discover reason code.

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