Chargeback Reason Code Database
A chargeback reason code is the standardized code a card network assigns to a payment dispute to tell the merchant what the cardholder is claiming and what evidence answers it. This is a free reference of the 75 Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover reason codes merchants actually receive — each with its plain-English meaning, the representative response deadline, and the evidence that addresses it. ChargebackKit is the open, CC BY 4.0 licensed source for this dataset, available to download as CSV or JSON and published on Hugging Face and Kaggle.
- Reason codes
- 75
- Card networks
- 4
- Response windows
- 20–45d
- No signup
- Free
Of the 75 active chargeback reason codes across the four major networks, American Express carries the most — 24 — followed by Visa (22).
Look up any chargeback reason code
Search the raw code your processor handed you (like 10.4, 4853, C08, or UD) or the dispute type (fraud, not received, not as described, subscription, duplicate, credit not processed). Filter by network or dispute category. Every code links to a fuller page with the complete evidence list and the labels each processor uses.
Showing 75 of 75 reason codes
| Code | Network | What it means | Key evidence | Deadline | Winnability | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.4 Other Fraud — Card-Absent Environment | Visa | The cardholder says they did not authorize this card-not-present (online/phone) transaction. This is the most common e-commerce fraud chargeback. Fraud | AVS (address) and CVV2 match results from the authorization | ~30 days | Highly winnable | Detail |
| 10.3 Other Fraud — Card-Present Environment | Visa | The cardholder disputes an in-person (card-present) transaction as fraudulent, claiming they did not authorize it at the point of sale. Fraud | EMV chip read or contactless transaction record | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 10.1 EMV Liability Shift Counterfeit Fraud | Visa | A counterfeit card was used in person at a terminal that was not EMV chip-enabled, shifting fraud liability to the merchant. Fraud | Proof the terminal was EMV chip-enabled and the chip was read | ~30 days | Highly winnable | Detail |
| 10.2 EMV Liability Shift — Non-Counterfeit Fraud | Visa | A lost or stolen card was used in person at a terminal that was not EMV chip-enabled, shifting fraud liability from the issuer to the merchant. Fraud | Proof the terminal was EMV chip-enabled and the chip was read (not a magstripe fallback) | ~30 days | Highly winnable | Detail |
| 13.1 Merchandise / Services Not Received | Visa | The cardholder paid but says they never received the merchandise or service by the expected date. Consumer Dispute | Carrier tracking showing delivery to the cardholder address | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 13.2 Cancelled Recurring Transaction | Visa | The cardholder says they cancelled a subscription or recurring billing but were charged anyway. Consumer Dispute | Your cancellation policy and the terms the customer accepted at sign-up | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 13.3 Not as Described or Defective Merchandise | Visa | The cardholder received the item but claims it was defective or significantly different from how you described it. Consumer Dispute | Your product/service description exactly as shown at checkout | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 13.5 Misrepresentation | Visa | The cardholder claims the terms of the sale were misrepresented — common with free trials, hidden recurring charges, or undisclosed terms. Consumer Dispute | Screenshots of the offer terms exactly as the customer saw them | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 13.6 Credit Not Processed | Visa | The cardholder says you promised a refund or credit that never appeared on their statement. Consumer Dispute | Processor refund confirmation with transaction/reference ID | ~30 days | Often winnable | Detail |
| 13.7 Cancelled Merchandise / Services | Visa | The cardholder cancelled the order or returned the merchandise per policy but was still charged or not credited. Consumer Dispute | Your cancellation / return policy as accepted at purchase | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 12.5 Incorrect Amount | Visa | The cardholder was charged an amount different from what they authorized. Processing Error | The authorized amount vs. the settled amount with order detail | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 12.6.1 Duplicate Processing | Visa | The cardholder says a single transaction was processed more than once. Processing Error | Distinct order IDs, auth codes, and line items for each charge | ~30 days | Often winnable | Detail |
| 12.6.2 Paid by Other Means | Visa | The cardholder paid for the same merchandise or services using another payment method — such as cash, check, or a different card — so their Visa card was charged for a purchase already settled by other means. Processing Error | Proof the Visa charge corresponds to a distinct, unpaid order not covered by any other payment | ~30 days | Often winnable | Detail |
| 11.3 No Authorization | Visa | The transaction was completed without obtaining the required authorization approval. Authorization | Authorization approval code for the transaction | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 11.1 Card Recovery Bulletin | Visa | The transaction was authorized below the merchant floor limit (or without authorization) at a time the account was listed on the Card Recovery Bulletin / exception file, so a required check was skipped. Authorization | Authorization approval code obtained for the transaction | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 11.2 Declined Authorization | Visa | The transaction was completed after the authorization request was declined (or was processed without a fresh approval), so a charge went through that the issuer had not approved. Authorization | Authorization approval code showing the transaction was actually approved | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 12.1 Late Presentment | Visa | The transaction was submitted for settlement outside the timeframe the network allows after authorization, and the issuer was unable to recover funds from the account by the time it cleared. Processing Error | Authorization date and settlement date showing the transaction was presented on time | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 12.4 Incorrect Account Number | Visa | The transaction was processed against the wrong card account number — either because a different account than the one that participated in the sale was charged, or because the account number was recorded incorrectly. Processing Error | Authorization records confirming the account number submitted matches the card that participated in the sale | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 10.5 Visa Fraud Monitoring Program | Visa | The transaction was flagged under the Visa Fraud Monitoring Program (VFMP), which lets issuers dispute card-absent transactions on accounts the program has identified for excessive fraud activity. Fraud | AVS (address) and CVV2 match results from the authorization | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 13.4 Counterfeit Merchandise | Visa | The cardholder claims the merchandise they received was counterfeit, and that a regulatory or governmental authority identified or seized it as counterfeit. Consumer Dispute | Proof of authenticity or licensing for the merchandise (supplier invoices, brand authorization) | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 13.8 Original Credit Transaction Not Accepted | Visa | The cardholder declines an Original Credit Transaction (a push payment/credit to their card) — for example because it is prohibited in their jurisdiction or they did not want to accept the funds. Consumer Dispute | Records of the Original Credit Transaction and the cardholder agreement to receive it | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 13.9 Non-Receipt of Cash or Load Transaction Value | Visa | The cardholder says they did not receive the cash they requested at a terminal (such as an ATM or cash-back transaction) or the value they expected from loading a prepaid account. Consumer Dispute | Terminal / ATM dispense records and journal logs for the transaction | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 4837 No Cardholder Authorization | Mastercard | The cardholder claims they did not authorize or participate in the transaction — Mastercard’s primary fraud chargeback. Fraud | AVS and CVC2 match results from the authorization | ~45 days | Highly winnable | Detail |
| 4853 Cardholder Dispute (Goods/Services Not as Described or Defective) | Mastercard | A broad consumer-dispute code: goods or services not received, not as described, defective, or a cancelled recurring charge. Consumer Dispute | The product/service description the customer accepted | ~45 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 4855 Goods or Services Not Provided | Mastercard | The cardholder paid but says the merchandise or service was never delivered or rendered. Consumer Dispute | Carrier tracking showing delivery to the cardholder | ~45 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 4834 Point-of-Interaction Error (Duplicate / Incorrect Amount) | Mastercard | A processing error — the cardholder was charged more than once or for an incorrect amount. Processing Error | Distinct order IDs and auth codes for each charge | ~45 days | Often winnable | Detail |
| 4841 Cancelled Recurring or Digital Goods Transaction | Mastercard | The cardholder cancelled a recurring billing or digital subscription but was charged again. Consumer Dispute | Renewal terms and cancellation policy accepted at sign-up | ~45 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 4808 Authorization-Related Chargeback | Mastercard | The transaction lacked a valid authorization, or the authorization was declined or expired. Authorization | Valid authorization approval code for the transaction | ~45 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 4863 Cardholder Does Not Recognize | Mastercard | The cardholder does not recognize the transaction on their statement (often a billing-descriptor confusion rather than true fraud). Fraud | Clear billing-descriptor records matching your business name | ~45 days | Highly winnable | Detail |
| 4870 Chip Liability Shift — Counterfeit Fraud | Mastercard | A counterfeit card was used in a card-present transaction that was not processed via the EMV chip (for example a magstripe fallback on a chip-capable card), shifting counterfeit-fraud liability to the merchant. Mastercard's lost-or-stolen chip-liability variant is the separate code 4871. Fraud | Proof the terminal was EMV-certified and the chip was read (not a magstripe fallback) | ~45 days | Highly winnable | Detail |
| 4871 Chip Liability Shift — Lost / Stolen / Never Received Fraud | Mastercard | Fraud occurred on a lost, stolen, or never-received card in a card-present transaction that was not completed with chip-and-PIN, shifting liability to the merchant. Fraud | Records that the terminal was EMV chip-and-PIN certified and the chip was read | ~45 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 4812 Account Number Not on File | Mastercard | The transaction was processed against a card account number that did not exist on the issuer’s file at the time of the transaction. Authorization | Authorization approval code and the account number as submitted | ~45 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 4850 Installment Billing Dispute | Mastercard | In participating countries, the cardholder disputes an installment charge — for example claiming the installment plan was not what they agreed to, or that an installment was billed incorrectly. Consumer Dispute | The installment plan terms the cardholder accepted at purchase | ~45 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 4842 Late Presentment | Mastercard | The transaction was submitted for settlement after Mastercard's required timeframe, and the issuer could not recover funds from the account by the time it arrived. Processing Error | Authorization date and settlement date confirming the transaction was presented within the allowed window | ~45 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 4831 Transaction Amount Differs | Mastercard | The transaction amount that settled differs from the amount on the receipt or from what the cardholder authorized — for example if an unauthorized adjustment, tip, or fee was added after the sale. Processing Error | Itemized receipt or invoice showing the amount the cardholder agreed to at the time of sale | ~45 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| 4860 Credit Not Processed | Mastercard | The cardholder expected a credit or refund that was never applied to their account. Consumer Dispute | Processor refund confirmation with transaction reference ID | ~45 days | Often winnable | Detail |
| 4840 Fraudulent Processing of Transactions | Mastercard | The issuer believes the merchant processed transactions in a fraudulent manner — for example by splitting a single purchase into multiple smaller charges to stay below authorization thresholds, or by processing a transaction after a decline. Fraud | Authorization approval code for each transaction, showing no charge was force-posted after a decline | ~45 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| F29 Card Not Present Fraud | American Express | The cardholder disputes a card-not-present transaction as fraudulent — Amex’s primary online fraud code. Fraud | AVS and CID match results from the authorization | ~20 days | Highly winnable | Detail |
| C08 Goods/Services Not Received or Only Partially Received | American Express | The cardholder paid but says they did not receive the goods or services, or received only part of the order. Consumer Dispute | Carrier tracking with delivery confirmation | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| C31 Goods/Services Not as Described | American Express | The cardholder received the item but says it was materially different from what was described. Consumer Dispute | The product description the customer accepted at checkout | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| C32 Goods/Services Damaged or Defective | American Express | The cardholder received the goods or services but claims they arrived physically damaged or were functionally defective. Consumer Dispute | Pre-shipment photos or QA records showing the item was in acceptable condition before leaving your facility | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| C02 Credit Not Processed | American Express | The cardholder expected a credit or refund that was not processed. Consumer Dispute | Processor refund confirmation and reference ID | ~20 days | Often winnable | Detail |
| C04 Goods/Services Returned or Refused | American Express | The cardmember returned merchandise or refused delivery and claims a credit was not applied to their account. Consumer Dispute | Your return and refund policy accepted at purchase | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| C05 Goods/Services Cancelled | American Express | The cardholder cancelled the order or service but was charged or not refunded. Consumer Dispute | Cancellation policy accepted at purchase | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| P05 Incorrect Charge Amount | American Express | The amount charged differs from the amount the cardholder authorized. Processing Error | Authorized vs. settled amount with itemized detail | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| P08 Duplicate Charge | American Express | The cardholder says they were charged more than once for a single purchase. Processing Error | Distinct order IDs and auth codes for each charge | ~20 days | Often winnable | Detail |
| F10 Missing Imprint | American Express | The cardholder disputes a transaction as fraudulent and Amex says no card imprint or equivalent record exists proving the card was present. Fraud | Transaction record showing the card was read (chip, swipe, or contactless) | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| F14 Multiple ROCs | American Express | The merchant submitted more than one Record of Charge (ROC) for the cardholder, and the cardholder denies participating in the additional charge records — saying they authorized one transaction, not the extra ones. Fraud | A signed receipt or Record of Charge for the specific disputed charge | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| F24 No Cardmember Authorization | American Express | The cardholder acknowledges other purchases with you but says they did not authorize this specific transaction. Fraud | AVS and CID match results from the authorization | ~20 days | Highly winnable | Detail |
| F30 EMV Counterfeit Fraud | American Express | The cardholder denies a card-present transaction in which a counterfeit chip card was used, and the chip was not properly processed. Fraud | Proof the terminal was EMV chip-enabled and the chip was read | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| F31 EMV Lost / Stolen / Non-Received Fraud | American Express | The cardholder denies a card-present transaction made with a lost, stolen, or never-received chip card that was not properly processed via the EMV chip. Fraud | Proof the terminal was EMV chip-and-PIN certified and the chip was read | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| A01 Charge Amount Exceeds Authorization Amount | American Express | The amount you billed was higher than the amount Amex authorized for the transaction. Authorization | Authorization approval amount vs. the amount billed | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| A02 No Valid Authorization | American Express | You did not obtain a valid authorization — the charge was declined or the card had expired when the transaction was processed. Authorization | Authorization approval code obtained at the time of sale | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| A08 Authorization Approval Expired | American Express | You submitted the transaction after the authorization approval had already expired. Authorization | Authorization date and the settlement date showing the charge was timely | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| C14 Paid by Other Means | American Express | The cardholder says they were billed on their Amex card for a purchase they already paid for by another method. Consumer Dispute | Records showing the Amex charge corresponds to a distinct, unpaid purchase | ~20 days | Often winnable | Detail |
| C18 “No Show” or CARDeposit Cancelled | American Express | The cardholder says a lodging or reservation was cancelled, or that an expected credit for a CARDeposit charge was not received. Consumer Dispute | Your cancellation / no-show policy as accepted at booking | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| C28 Cancelled Recurring Billing | American Express | The cardholder says they cancelled a recurring or subscription charge but were billed anyway. Consumer Dispute | Subscription terms and recurring-billing disclosure accepted at sign-up | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| M10 Vehicle Rental — Capital Damages | American Express | The cardholder disputes a charge you billed for capital damages to a rented vehicle. Consumer Dispute | Rental agreement and the damage-liability terms the cardholder accepted | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| M49 Vehicle Rental — Theft or Loss of Use | American Express | The cardholder disputes a charge you billed for theft of, or loss of use of, a rented vehicle. Consumer Dispute | Rental agreement and the theft / loss-of-use terms the cardholder accepted | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| R03 Insufficient Reply | American Express | Amex requested more information about a transaction and you replied, but the documentation provided was not sufficient to resolve the inquiry. Inquiry / Documentation | The complete transaction record Amex requested (receipt, order, delivery proof) | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| R13 No Reply | American Express | Amex sent an inquiry about a transaction and did not receive a response within the required time, so the dispute proceeded by default. Inquiry / Documentation | The complete transaction record Amex originally requested | ~20 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| UD Unauthorized / Disputed (Cardmember Does Not Recognize) | Discover | The Discover cardmember disputes the transaction as unauthorized or unrecognized. Fraud | AVS and CID match results | ~30 days | Highly winnable | Detail |
| RG Non-Receipt of Goods or Services | Discover | The Discover cardmember paid but says they never received the goods or services. Consumer Dispute | Carrier tracking with delivery confirmation | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| RM Quality of Goods or Services (Not as Described) | Discover | The cardmember received the item but says its quality or description was misrepresented. Consumer Dispute | Accurate product/service description accepted at checkout | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| CD Credit Not Processed | Discover | The cardmember expected a credit or refund that was never processed. Consumer Dispute | Refund confirmation and reference ID | ~30 days | Often winnable | Detail |
| DP Duplicate Processing | Discover | The cardmember says a single transaction was processed more than once. Processing Error | Distinct order IDs and auth codes for each charge | ~30 days | Often winnable | Detail |
| AP Recurring Payments | Discover | The Discover cardmember disputes a recurring or subscription charge, typically claiming they cancelled or did not authorize the ongoing billing. Consumer Dispute | Subscription terms and recurring billing disclosure accepted at sign-up | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| AA Does Not Recognize | Discover | The Discover cardmember does not recognize the transaction on their statement — a recognition dispute that often resolves once the merchant and purchase are identified. Fraud | A clear billing descriptor and the merchant name shown to the cardmember | ~30 days | Highly winnable | Detail |
| NA No Authorization | Discover | The transaction was processed without obtaining a valid authorization — for example after a decline, or by bypassing the authorization request. Authorization | Authorization approval code obtained at the time of sale | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| IC Illegible Sales Data | Discover | The sales data or receipt the merchant provided was illegible, so the transaction details could not be read to resolve the dispute. Inquiry / Documentation | A clear, legible copy of the sales receipt or transaction record | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| UA Fraud — Cardmember Does Not Recognize / Unauthorized | Discover | The Discover cardmember claims the transaction was fraudulent or unauthorized — the merchant-facing fraud dispute code, with sub-variants for card-present (UA01), card-not-present (UA02), and chip-liability-shift transactions (UA05 counterfeit, UA06 lost/stolen). Each sub-code has its own evidence requirements; see the dedicated page for your specific sub-code. Fraud | AVS and CID match results from the authorization | ~30 days | Highly winnable | Detail |
| UA01 Fraud — Card Present Transaction | Discover | A card-present (in-person) transaction is disputed as fraudulent; the Discover cardmember denies participating in the physical purchase at the point of sale. Fraud | EMV chip read or contactless transaction record showing the card was physically present | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
| UA02 Fraud — Card Not Present Transaction | Discover | A card-not-present (online or phone) transaction is disputed as fraudulent; the Discover cardmember says they did not authorize the charge. Fraud | AVS (address) and CID match results from the authorization | ~30 days | Highly winnable | Detail |
| UA05 Fraud — Chip Card Counterfeit Transaction | Discover | A counterfeit chip card was used in a card-present transaction that was not processed via the EMV chip — for example a magstripe fallback on a chip-capable card — shifting counterfeit-fraud liability to the merchant. Fraud | Proof the terminal was EMV chip-enabled and the chip was read (not a magstripe fallback) | ~30 days | Highly winnable | Detail |
| UA06 Fraud — Chip and PIN Transaction | Discover | Fraud occurred on a lost, stolen, or never-received chip card in a card-present transaction that was not completed with chip-and-PIN, shifting liability to the merchant. Fraud | Records that the terminal was EMV chip-and-PIN certified and the chip was read | ~30 days | Strong evidence needed | Detail |
Deadlines are representative issuer-set windows from the network dispute frameworks; your processor dashboard shows the exact date for your case. Tap any code for the full meaning, the complete evidence list ordered strongest-first, and the processor labels.
Which networks and code families are covered?
Visa
22
codes in this database
Mastercard
15
codes in this database
American Express
24
codes in this database
Discover
14
codes in this database
Where this data comes from
The ChargebackKit Chargeback Reason Code Database is the open, structured reference for the codes merchants receive across Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Each entry is drawn from the card networks’ own published dispute documentation and includes the plain-English meaning, representative response deadline, and required evidence for that code. It is licensed CC BY 4.0 — free to cite or republish with attribution — and is available as a downloadable CSV and JSON, and mirrored on Hugging Face and Kaggle.
Only codes a merchant can still receive today are included. Codes the networks have retired or consolidated (such as Mastercard 4831, now issued as 4834) are intentionally excluded so merchants are never pointed at evidence requirements that no longer apply.
| Network | Primary source document | What it defines |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | Visa Core Rules and Visa Product and Service Rules; Visa Dispute Resolution (Visa Claims Resolution) documentation | Defines the Visa dispute categories (10.x Fraud, 11.x Authorization, 12.x Processing Errors, 13.x Consumer Disputes) and merchant response framework. |
| Mastercard | Mastercard Chargeback Guide | Defines the Mastercard message reason codes (4837, 4853, 4855, 4834, 4841, 4808, 4863, 4870, 4871, 4812, 4850, …) and the second-presentment requirements. |
| American Express | American Express Merchant Reference Guide and Dispute (Chargeback) documentation | Defines the Amex dispute codes (F-series fraud, A-series authorization, C-series cardmember disputes, P-series processing errors, M-series, and R-series inquiry codes) and inquiry/chargeback handling. |
| Discover | Discover Network Dispute Rules and Reason Code documentation | Defines the Discover dispute reason codes (UD, AA, NA, UA, RG, RM, IC, CD, DP, AP, …) and the merchant representment process. |
Reason-code meanings and evidence requirements are sourced from card-network documentation and may change as the networks revise their rules. Always confirm the exact deadline and dispute label in your own processor dashboard.
This dataset is also published on Hugging Face and Kaggle.
Chargeback reason codes: frequently asked questions
What is a chargeback reason code?↓
How many chargeback reason codes are there?↓
Why are some older reason codes not in this database?↓
How do I find out what my chargeback reason code means?↓
How long do I have to respond to a chargeback?↓
Do reason codes determine whether I win the chargeback?↓
Why do processors show a different label than the network reason code?↓
Related references and guides
Visa 13.1: Merchandise / Services Not Received
The most-disputed Visa consumer code, with the full evidence playbook.
Mastercard 4853: Cardholder Dispute
The broad Mastercard not-as-described / defective code explained.
American Express chargeback reason codes
How Amex's F, C, and P series differ and what each one requires.
Chargeback response deadlines
Why deadlines vary by issuer and processor, and how to never miss one.
Reason code lookup tool
Pick your code and get the evidence checklist and deadline in one screen.
Free response letters and evidence checklists
Download a dispute response letter and checklist for your category.
Found your code? Build the response.
Run the free 60-second readiness check, or have ChargebackKit assemble your evidence into a submission-ready, labeled PDF pack mapped to your reason code for $19. The issuer decides every dispute — we make sure your evidence is complete and correctly formatted.
Updated June 2026. This reference is provided free for merchants and is not legal or financial advice.