How to Chargeback a Subscription: Complete Guide (2026)

When to File a Chargeback (vs. Asking for a Refund)

A chargeback should be your second option, not your first. Always try contacting the company directly first — it's faster and doesn't burn bridges. But if the company refuses, ignores you, or made cancellation impossible, a chargeback is your nuclear option.

File a chargeback when:

• The company won't give you a refund after you asked
• You were charged after canceling and have proof of cancellation
• The company makes it impossible to cancel (endless phone trees, broken links, required calls)
• You never authorized the charge (someone else signed up, or you didn't agree to recurring billing)
• The service was misrepresented (what you got wasn't what was advertised)
• Free trial auto-renewed without clear disclosure
• The company no longer exists and you can't reach anyone

Ask for a refund first when:

• You simply forgot to cancel (many companies offer goodwill refunds)
• You want to keep using the service in the future
• The charge is recent and within the company's refund window

Need help getting a refund? See our complete refund guide with copy-paste email templates and phone scripts.

Before You File: Build Your Case

Banks approve chargebacks based on evidence. The more you have, the more likely you'll win.

Gather this evidence:

• Screenshots of cancellation attempts — broken cancel buttons, error messages, confusing navigation
• Cancellation confirmation emails — proves you canceled before the charge
• Chat/email transcripts — especially if the company refused a refund
• Terms of service changes — if they changed pricing or billing without notice
• Your bank statement — highlighting the disputed charge(s)
• Timeline of events — when you signed up, when you tried to cancel, when you were charged

Pro tip: Use JustCancel to scan your bank statement and identifyall your active subscriptions. You might have more unwanted charges than you think.

Credit Card Chargebacks (Your Strongest Option)

Credit cards give you the strongest chargeback rights under the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA).

Your rights:

• 60-day window from the statement date to dispute
• $50 max liability for unauthorized charges (most banks make it $0)
• Provisional credit — many banks credit you immediately while investigating
• Burden of proof shifts — the merchant must prove the charge was valid

Reason codes that win:

• Services not received — you paid but didn't get what was promised
• Canceled recurring billing — you canceled but were charged anyway
• Not as described — the service didn't match what was advertised
• Unauthorized transaction — you never agreed to the charge

Debit Card Chargebacks (Different Rules)

Debit cards are protected under Regulation E (Electronic Fund Transfer Act), which is weaker than credit card protections.

Key differences:

• Money leaves your account immediately — with credit cards, you're disputing a bill, not losing cash
• Liability depends on timing:
  • Report within 2 days: $50 max liability
  • Report within 60 days: $500 max liability
  • After 60 days: unlimited liability
• Investigation takes up to 45 days (10 business days for provisional credit)
• Harder to win for "authorized" charges you regret

Bottom line: If you have both a credit and debit card, always use your credit card for subscriptions. See our guide on stopping recurring payments on debit cards.

Bank-by-Bank Instructions

Chase

• Online: Log into chase.com → Recent Activity → Click the charge → "Dispute transaction"
• App: Open Chase app → Account → Tap the charge → "Something's wrong"
• Phone: Call 1-800-432-3117
• Timeline: Provisional credit in 1-2 business days; investigation up to 90 days

Bank of America

• Online: Log into bankofamerica.com → Accounts → Click the charge → "Dispute this transaction"
• App: Open BofA app → Tap the charge → "Dispute"
• Phone: Call 1-800-732-9194
• Timeline: Provisional credit in 5-10 business days

Wells Fargo

• Online: Log into wellsfargo.com → Account Activity → Select the charge → "Dispute"
• Phone: Call 1-800-869-3557
• Timeline: Provisional credit in 10 business days

Capital One

• Online: Log into capitalone.com → Activity → Click the charge → "Report a problem"
• App: Open Capital One app → Tap the charge → "I need help with this transaction"
• Phone: Call 1-800-227-4825
• Timeline: Provisional credit often same day

Citi

• Online: Log into citibank.com → Account Details → Select charge → "Dispute"
• Phone: Call 1-800-950-5114
• Timeline: Provisional credit in 1-3 business days

Discover

• Online: Log into discover.com → Activity → Click charge → "Dispute charge"
• Phone: Call 1-800-347-2683
• Timeline: Provisional credit in 1-2 business days; known for consumer-friendly dispute resolution

American Express

• Online: Log into americanexpress.com → Statements & Activity → Click charge → "Dispute this charge"
• App: Open Amex app → Tap charge → "It's not right"
• Phone: Call the number on the back of your card
• Timeline: Provisional credit often immediate; Amex has strong buyer protection

Apple Card (Goldman Sachs)

• App: Open Wallet → Apple Card → Tap charge → "Report an Issue" → "Dispute Charge"
• Message: Text via Apple Messages in the Wallet app
• Timeline: Provisional credit in 1-2 business days

What Happens After You File

1. Bank issues provisional credit — you get the money back temporarily (1-10 days)
2. Bank contacts the merchant — the company has 30-45 days to respond
3. Merchant responds (or doesn't) — if they don't respond, you win automatically
4. Bank reviews evidence — compares your claim against the merchant's response
5. Final decision — if you win, the credit is permanent. If you lose, the charge goes back on your account

Total timeline: 30-90 days typically. Some complex cases take up to 120 days.

How to Maximize Your Win Rate

• Contact the company first. Banks want to see you tried to resolve it directly. Even a quick email counts.
• File quickly. The closer to the charge date, the stronger your case.
• Be specific. "I was charged after canceling on [date]" beats "I didn't want this charge."
• Attach evidence. Screenshots, emails, cancellation confirmations — everything helps.
• Know your reason code. "Canceled recurring billing" and "services not received" have the highest win rates.
• Follow up. If you haven't heard back in 30 days, call your bank for a status update.
• Don't file too many. Banks flag accounts with excessive chargebacks. Use them only when legitimate.

Risks and Downsides

• Account closure. The merchant may permanently ban your account.
• Collections. Some companies send disputed amounts to collections (rare, but happens with gyms and cable companies).
• Bank flags. Too many chargebacks can make your bank suspicious of your account.
• Merchant blacklists. Some companies share chargeback data — you might be unable to sign up again.

For most subscription chargebacks, the risks are minimal. The company already has your money for a service you don't want — getting it back is your right.

Prevent Future Unwanted Charges

The best chargeback is one you never have to file. Here's how to stay ahead:

• Scan your bank statement regularly. JustCancel analyzes your statement and shows every active subscription with direct cancel links. $5 once, no recurring fee. Find out what you're really paying for.
• Use virtual cards. Services like Privacy.com let you set spending limits or freeze cards for specific subscriptions. See our virtual cards guide.
• Set calendar reminders before free trials end. Most trials auto-convert 3-7 days before the trial period ends. Learn more in our free trial trap guide.
• Cancel immediately after signing up for free trials — most services let you keep access until the trial ends.
• Use credit cards, not debit. Stronger chargeback protections, no immediate cash loss.