How to Resolve a Credit Card Dispute

In this brave new world of Internet commerce, credit card disputes arise more often than ever. If you become involved in such a dispute, you should resolve it quickly, reasonably and to the satisfaction of everyone involved.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Use reputable services when shopping with a credit card. This applies not only to the seller whose goods or services you are purchasing but also to the organization--such as eBay or Amazon--under whose umbrellas you are making the purchase. Low rent and fly-by-night operations abound, both on the Internet and elsewhere, and above-the-board businesses are much easier to deal with when you have a credit card dispute.

2. Read the fine print. All of that little text at the bottom of the order form is there for a reason: it spells out (among other things) the merchant's policy toward refunds, returns, dissatisfied customers and sales disputes. Be sure you know what is entailed before making any purchase.

3. Keep good records of all your credit card purchases. This includes not only saving the receipts but also noting when you used the credit card and the things you bought with it. Documentation and evidence serve you very well in a credit card dispute and can go a long way toward making your case.

4. Check the purchase carefully and make sure that you know when and where it was made. Sometimes, merchants use different names to list purchases you made on your credit card statement. If you have a clear idea of all your purchases and when you made them, you can identify them more easily and avoid a possible dispute.

5. Watch out for fraud: scamsters and thieves who get hold of your credit card number can run up all kinds of charges on them. Report missing or stolen cards immediately, and watch your statements for any unrecognizable charges. If one arises, resolve it as quickly as possible; the more you wait, the more difficult it can be.

6. Follow any listed procedure in asking for a refund or return. This includes acting before an expiration date on return policies, listing any given reasons for the return and specifying how you want your return sent to you (either through a new product or a refund of the money).

7. Present your case clearly and calmly, using facts and evidence rather than loud tones. The more you have prepared and kept documentation, the easier it will be to resolve the dispute. Keeping a calm and focused tone will make the merchant more inclined to help settle things amicably.

8. Contact your credit card issuer and ask for a chargeback. If all else fails and you cannot resolve the situation with the seller, you can get a chargeback through the credit card company. These may take time and can get sticky, but if you have ample documentation, then the process favors you.

Tips & Warnings

• Knowledge and foresight are your best friends when it comes time to resolve a credit card dispute. It can help you avoid a long and messy conflict that might otherwise have been avoided. It's much easier to prevent any disputes before they arise, rather than trying to deal with them when they do.

[jull14]

on 6/25/2009 I found this article to be very interesting and helpful at the same time, we need more articles like this to help people all over, thanks for sharing. Excellent