How do I dispute an unauthorized charge with Chase?
How to dispute an unauthorized charge with Chase, the deadlines that run against the bank under the FCBA and Regulation E, and how to escalate to the CFPB.
Regulator
CFPB
Key legislation
Fair Credit Billing Act and Electronic Fund Transfer Act
Dispute path
Letter first, deadline tracked. If they go quiet, escalation to CFPB is prepped and ready.
Dispute it in writing, and do it against the statement rather than against the day the money left. For a credit card, the Fair Credit Billing Act gives you 60 days from the statement showing the charge to dispute a billing error in writing — and once you do, Chase must acknowledge it within 30 days, resolve it within two billing cycles, and cannot report the disputed amount as delinquent while it investigates.
For a debit card or an electronic transfer, a different rule applies: the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and Regulation E give you 60 days from the statement to report an unauthorized transaction, and the bank generally has to investigate and provisionally credit your account while it does. Note the practical difference between the two — with a credit card the money has not left your account yet, so you are withholding payment; with a debit card it already has, so you are asking for it back. That is why a credit card is the safer instrument for anything risky.
A phone call does not start either clock. Put it in writing, keep proof of sending, and if the outcome is wrong or slow, file a CFPB complaint. It is free, it goes straight to the bank, and the bank is expected to respond substantively — typically within 15 days.
Frequently asked questions
Is calling the bank enough?
No, and this is the mistake that costs people the dispute. The statutory protections attach to a written dispute. Call if you want the card frozen quickly, then follow up in writing the same day and keep proof of sending.
How long do I actually have?
Generally 60 days from the statement that showed the charge, for both credit and debit. That is often longer than people assume, because the clock runs from the statement rather than the transaction — but it is a hard limit, so do not sit on it.
Do I have to pay the disputed amount while it is investigated?
For a credit card billing dispute, no — you can withhold the disputed amount, and the bank cannot report it delinquent or charge interest on it while the investigation runs. You still have to pay the rest of the balance.
What if the bank says the transaction was authorized?
Ask for the evidence they relied on, in writing. Then file a CFPB complaint attaching your original written dispute and their response. A documented paper trail is what makes that complaint work.
What if it was fraud rather than a merchant dispute?
Say so explicitly and separately — the two are handled differently. Fraud means you did not authorize the transaction at all; a merchant dispute means you authorized it but did not get what you paid for. Using the wrong word routes your claim into the wrong process.
What if Chase just ignores my letter?
Silence is not a dead end, it is a deadline breach. Chase is expected to respond to a formal complaint within 30 days. Build your letter with us and we track that deadline for you: a countdown check-in two weeks in, and if they miss the deadline, your escalation to the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) arrives pre-filled and ready to lodge. Escalating is free.
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screwtheman.com is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The content on this page is for general information on consumer rights, legislation, and dispute pathways. For complex legal matters, consult a qualified lawyer or the relevant regulator.