American Express · Chargeback reason codes
American Express P05 chargeback: Incorrect Transaction Amount Presented
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American Express reason code P05, Incorrect Transaction Amount Presented, means the amount charged differs from the amount on the Cardmember's receipt or the amount agreed. Answer with an itemised receipt, and if the Cardmember denies agreeing to a changed amount, proof the amount was not changed or that they agreed. A handwritten amount on the Cardmember's copy wins over yours.
- Category
- Processing error
- 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
- Itemised receipt; proof the Cardmember agreed to any change
- Can it be prevented?
- Yes: charge exactly the amount shown at checkout
- Who usually wins
- The merchant whose itemised receipt matches the charge
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC keeps the itemised order the shopper approved, with discounts, shipping, tax and total, and emails subscribers before a renewal at a different price. PlatformDTC answers this kind of dispute with its standard evidence pack built from the order: customer name, email, IP address, billing and shipping address, items bought, carrier, tracking and ship date, the refund policy, and any refund already issued. With "Answer a chargeback automatically" switched on, it sends the response to the bank for you before the deadline.
What it means
The Cardmember says the charge does not match the receipt. Delayed charges from rental, cruise and lodging are excluded.
Why customers file it
Totals changed after checkout, added fees, or price changes on renewals.
Evidence that wins
For every Amex code, a credit that directly offsets the disputed charge is also an accepted response.
- An itemised receipt
- Proof the amount was not changed, or that the Cardmember agreed to the change
How to prevent it
- Show the final total before payment
- Notify subscribers before a price change
For developers
On Stripe the dispute object arrives with reason "credit_not_processed" 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
- Whose receipt wins?
- Under the Merchant Rules, a handwritten amount on the Cardmember's copy takes precedence.
- What evidence does Amex want?
- An itemised receipt, plus proof of agreement if the amount changed.
Sources
Related
- A01 — The amount charged was higher than the amount American Express approved.
- P08 — The same charge was processed more than once.
- P22 — The charge was submitted with a card number that does not match the Cardmember's account.
- P23 — The charge was submitted in a different currency from the one the Cardmember agreed to.
- M01 — The merchant itself told Amex to charge the transaction back, in reply to an inquiry.
- R13 — The merchant did not answer an Amex inquiry in time.
- R03 — The merchant's reply to an Amex inquiry was illegible or incomplete.