American Express · Chargeback reason codes
American Express M01 chargeback: Chargeback Authorization explained
Checked
American Express reason code M01, Chargeback Authorization, means the merchant itself told American Express to charge the transaction back, usually in reply to an inquiry. Because the merchant agreed, the only accepted response is proof that a credit was already processed, so the Cardmember is not refunded twice. Check inquiry replies carefully before authorizing a chargeback.
- Category
- Miscellaneous
- Time limit for the bank to file
- Usually 120 days from the network processing date
- Time limit to respond
- 20 days from the Amex chargeback or inquiry in the US (your processor's deadline may be earlier); no reply means a "No Reply" chargeback
- Typical evidence
- Proof a credit was already processed
- Can it be prevented?
- Yes: do not authorize chargebacks you mean to contest
- Who usually wins
- The Cardmember, since the merchant agreed
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC checks the dispute record and the processor before any refund, so a store never refunds an order that a chargeback has already taken, and an already-refunded order is answered with the refund date and reference.
What it means
You accepted liability when answering Amex, and Amex charged the transaction back.
Why customers file it
Choosing to accept a dispute in an inquiry response.
Evidence that wins
The only response is a credit already processed.
- Proof a credit was already processed
How to prevent it
- Only authorize a chargeback when you do not intend to contest it
For developers
On Stripe the dispute object arrives with reason "general" and the card network's own code in payment_method_details.card.network_reason_code; listen for charge.dispute.created and read evidence_details.due_by for the deadline.
American Express uses one letter plus two digits for US and Canada merchants; elsewhere it uses four-digit ISO codes, and each letter code sits under one.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I reverse an M01?
- Only by proving a credit was already processed.
- Why did I get an M01?
- Because the merchant authorized the chargeback, usually when replying to an inquiry.
Sources
Related
- R13 — The merchant did not answer an Amex inquiry in time.
- R03 — The merchant's reply to an Amex inquiry was illegible or incomplete.
- A01 — The amount charged was higher than the amount American Express approved.
- A02 — The charge was submitted although the authorization was declined, reversed or never obtained.
- A08 — The charge was submitted more than 7 days after approval, or with a different merchant category code.
- C02 — The Cardmember says a credit you owed them never reached their account.