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Chargeback reason codes

Visa chargeback reason codes: what each one means and how to win

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Visa groups dispute reason codes into four categories: Fraud (10.x), Authorization (11.x), Processing Errors (12.x) and Consumer Disputes (13.x). Most give the cardholder's bank 120 days to file; Authorization codes and 12.7 give 75. Fraud and Authorization disputes go straight to pre-arbitration, while Processing Error and Consumer Dispute cases get a Dispute Response stage. Pick a code below for its evidence checklist and prevention steps.

CodeMeaning
10.1A counterfeit chip card was used in person at a terminal that did not read the chip.
10.2A lost or stolen PIN chip card was used in person without the PIN being checked.
10.3The cardholder denies an in-person purchase where the card number was typed in, not read.
10.4The cardholder says they did not make an online, phone or mail order purchase.
10.5Visa flagged the transaction under one of its fraud monitoring programs.
11.2The sale was completed even though the authorization was declined.
11.3No valid authorization was obtained, or the transaction was presented late.
12.2The transaction was processed with the wrong code, such as a credit processed as a sale.
12.3The transaction was processed in a different currency than the one shown to the cardholder.
12.4The charge was posted to a card number that does not match the cardholder's account.
12.5The cardholder was charged a different amount than they agreed to.
12.6The cardholder says they were charged twice, or already paid another way.
12.7The authorization carried invalid data, such as a merchant category code that does not match settlement.
13.1The cardholder says the goods or services never arrived.
13.2The cardholder says a subscription billed them after they cancelled or withdrew permission.
13.3The cardholder says the goods or services were not as described or were defective.
13.4The goods were identified as counterfeit by the brand owner, customs or an expert.
13.5The cardholder says the terms of sale were misrepresented, including trials that turned into charges.
13.6The cardholder has a refund receipt, but the refund never reached their card.
13.7The cardholder cancelled or returned the order and no refund was given.
13.8A pushed credit (Original Credit Transaction) was refused by the recipient or not allowed by law.
13.9An ATM dispensed no cash or only part of it. Applies to ATM operators only.

Codes that changed

Visa 12.1 Late Presentment no longer appears in Visa's rules; late presentment is now part of 11.3 No Authorization/Late Presentment. Visa 11.1 Card Recovery Bulletin is limited to disputes processed through 23 October 2026. Stripe still lists both, and shows Visa's single 12.6 condition as 12.6.1 Duplicate processing and 12.6.2 Paid by other means.

Since 24 October 2026, Visa counts the Compelling Evidence 3.0 history window for 10.4 from the dispute: earlier transactions must be more than 120 days before the dispute was submitted and no more than 365 days before the dispute processing date.

Rapid Dispute Resolution

Visa's rules define Rapid Dispute Resolution (RDR) as a pre-dispute service that lets merchants automate accepting liability for a disputed transaction. Verifi says RDR credits the cardholder before a chargeback is filed and that those cases do not count against Visa's dispute ratio. Visa's merchant guide warns not to also refund a case accepted through RDR, which would credit the cardholder twice.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a bank have to file a Visa chargeback?
For most codes 120 days from the transaction processing date (longer for goods expected later, up to 540 days). Authorization codes 11.2 and 11.3 and processing error 12.7 have 75 days.
How long do I have to answer?
Under Visa rules the acquirer has 30 days from the dispute processing date. Your processor's deadline is earlier: Stripe says usually 7 to 21 days.

Sources

Payments library