Mastercard · Chargeback reason codes
Mastercard 4831 chargeback: Transaction Amount Differs (legacy code)
Checked
Mastercard reason code 4831, Transaction Amount Differs, is a legacy code for a charge that does not match the amount the cardholder agreed to, or a cardholder debited more than once. Mastercard's current guide no longer lists 4831; these claims fall under 4834 Point-of-Interaction Error, with 90 days for the issuer to file. Answer with your explanation and proof that the amount charged was correct.
- Category
- Point-of-Interaction Error (legacy code)
- Time limit for the bank to file
- 90 days (under 4834)
- Time limit to respond
- Your processor's deadline (on Stripe usually 7–21 days); Mastercard gives the acquirer 45 days from the chargeback for a second presentment
- Typical evidence
- Order record proving the amount; separate records for each charge
- Can it be prevented?
- Yes: show the final total before payment
- Who usually wins
- The merchant when the order record matches the charge
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC records the exact items, discounts, shipping, tax and total the shopper approved on each order, and emails subscribers before a renewal whose price differs from their last charge. 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
Mastercard's current Chargeback Guide no longer lists 4831; its summary of changes records a standard that eliminates legacy chargeback codes. Stripe still shows the code on some disputes. Amount-differs and debited-twice claims are part of 4834.
Why customers file it
A total that changed after checkout, a surcharge or currency conversion, or a renewal at a new price.
Evidence that wins
Any second presentment can also show that a refund was already issued, or that the chargeback was invalid (late, a duplicate, or missing the required documents).
- Your explanation and proof the amount was correct
- Where the final amount was shown before payment
- For a "charged twice" claim: separate receipts or orders
How to prevent it
- Show the final amount and currency before payment
- Tell subscribers about a price change before renewal
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.
The acquirer answers with a second presentment within 45 days; the Central Site Business Date of the chargeback counts as day zero. For cardholder disputes the issuer may then file pre-arbitration within 30 days, and the acquirer has 30 days to accept or reject it.
Frequently asked questions
- Is 4831 still a Mastercard code?
- Not in the current Chargeback Guide; transaction-amount-differs claims are handled under 4834.
- How long does the bank have?
- 90 days for an amount-differs claim under 4834.
Sources
Related
- 4834 — A processing error at the point of sale: charged twice, wrong amount, currency conversion or surcharge.
- 4863 — Legacy code: the cardholder does not recognize the transaction and suspects fraud.
- 4837 — The cardholder says they did not authorize the purchase. Mastercard's main fraud chargeback.
- 4853 — The umbrella cardholder dispute: not received, not as described, refund missing, cancelled subscription.
- 4808 — A required authorization was missing, expired or declined, or the charge cleared too late.
- 4870 — A counterfeit copy of a chip card was used at a terminal that did not read the chip.