How to File a BofA Credit Card Dispute
You saw a charge you do not know, or a merchant charge that went wrong. Here is how to dispute it with Bank of America, from first call to final answer.
You open your Bank of America statement and find a charge you never made. Or a store kept your payment and sent nothing in return. A BofA credit card dispute covers both problems. This guide goes step by step, from the first move to the final decision. For a wider view of the process, see our guide to a bank of america charge dispute.
Key takeaways
- Call the merchant first. Bank of America recommends the call because the seller might sort things out more quickly.
- Wait for the charge to post. Bank of America only takes disputes on posted charges, because pending charges may still change.
- File within 60 days. Bank of America says most credit card charges must be disputed within 60 days of the statement date.
- Disputing online is the easiest and fastest way, in Bank of America's words. Writing and phoning are options too.
When you should dispute a charge with Bank of America
A dispute fits two broad cases. The first is a charge that is a complete mystery to you. The other is a charge you know, but that went wrong. You were billed twice, or the goods never came, or the shop charged the wrong amount.
Not every odd line on a statement is fraud. Bank of America says plenty of the charges people contest turn out to be ones they simply forgot about. The name that shows up on your bill may look nothing like the shop you bought from. So look before you leap.
Before you file: check for charges you don't recognize
Start inside your own house. Before you dispute a charge you do not recognize, ask any authorized users on your account if they made it. Someone else with a card on the account, a spouse or a teenager, may have spent the money and kept quiet. One quick message can spare you the entire process.
Step 1: Try the merchant first
Pick up the phone before you file anything. Bank of America suggests calling the merchant first, since the merchant may fix the problem faster.
Step 2: Check that the charge has posted
Now check the charge itself. Bank of America only takes disputes on posted charges, because pending charges may still change. A charge still marked pending might vanish without help, or the settled amount might not match what you first saw. If it is still pending, watch it. File when it posts.
Step 3: File the dispute online, by mail or by phone
You have three ways in. Bank of America says disputing online is the easiest and fastest way, but writing and phoning work as well. Choose whichever route fits you.
Our page on how to bank of america dispute credit card charge goes deeper on each route.
What proof to gather before you file
Gather your papers before you start, not after. What helps depends on the case.
- For a charge that is not yours: state that clearly, and write down the date and the sum.
- For goods that never came: keep the order form, any shipping emails, and any tracking number.
- For a subscription you ended: hold on to any emails that prove you ended it.
- For a refund that never arrived: keep the merchant's promise, in an email or a screenshot.
Bank of America may ask for more information as it works.
The 60-day window for disputing a charge
The clock matters. Bank of America says most credit card charges must be disputed within 60 days of the statement date. That is the statement, not the day you bought the thing. So when a statement lands, read it that week rather than at the end of the month. Our page on how long do i have to dispute credit card charge covers the timing rules in more depth.
What happens to your payment while a dispute is open
You may not have to pay the disputed amount while you wait. If you have a payment scheduled, Bank of America may lower it so you do not pay the disputed amount. The remaining balance still falls on you. Keep up with the amounts you are not contesting.
What happens after you file: the investigation
Bank of America looks into the charge with the merchant and its bank, then contacts you with the results. It handles credit card disputes under billing error rules set by federal law. Those rules shape what it must do and when.
Your job during this stretch is to answer the phone and the mail. Bank of America asks you to answer its requests for more information within 12 business days.
What if Bank of America finds the charge was posted in error
This is the good ending. If Bank of America finds the charge was posted in error, it corrects your account. The disputed amount gets removed. Check the next statement to be sure the fix landed.
What if you're found responsible for the charge
The other ending is possible too. The investigation can come back saying the charge stands. Read the results letter closely. If it points to an appeal or a next step, that is your window to act.
Special cases: refunds that never arrived and canceled subscriptions
Two cases need extra care.
A shop says it will refund you, then never does. If a merchant promised a refund and gave none or only part of it, you may want to dispute the charge. The promise is your proof, so keep it.
A subscription you canceled keeps billing. Hold onto any emails that prove you ended the subscription before you file a dispute over its charges.
How Bank of America's process compares with other issuers
The broad strokes are the same across cards, but the details shift. Depending on the card issuer, you may be able to open a dispute by phone, in its app, by email or in writing. The exact steps to dispute a charge can be different at each card issuer. If you carry cards from other banks, check the rules each one publishes. Our guide to dispute credit card charge amex shows how one other issuer handles the same job.
FAQ
Can I dispute a pending charge with Bank of America?
No. Bank of America only takes disputes on posted charges, because pending charges may still change. Wait for it to post.
How long do I have to dispute a charge?
Bank of America says most credit card charges must be disputed within 60 days of the statement date.
Do I still have to pay the disputed amount?
If you have a payment scheduled, Bank of America may lower it so you do not pay the disputed amount.
What proof do I need?
It depends on the case. Order forms, shipping emails, cancel confirmations, or a merchant's refund promise in writing.
What if I don't recognize a charge?
Ask any authorized users on your account first. Bank of America says many disputed charges are real charges that people do not recognize or remember.
What happens after I file?
Bank of America looks into the charge with the merchant and its bank, then contacts you with the results. Answer its requests within 12 business days.