What is the 7-day notice rule?

For an online trial, promo or one-off purchase that leads to future charges, Visa requires proof that the merchant notified the cardholder at least 7 days before each later charge, in addition to express agreement at checkout.

Is 13.5 the same as 13.3?

No. 13.3 is about the item itself; 13.5 is about the terms of the sale.

Visa · Chargeback reason codes

Visa 13.5 chargeback: Misrepresentation explained

Checked October 31, 2026

Visa reason code 13.5, Misrepresentation, means the cardholder says the terms of sale were misrepresented. It covers online trials, promotions and one-off purchases that led to future charges without clear notice. To win a trial case you must show both that the cardholder expressly agreed to future charges at the first purchase and that you notified them at least 7 days before each later charge. The bank has 120 days to file.

Category: Consumer dispute
Time limit for the bank to file: 120 days from processing or receipt (or 60 days after negotiations), max 540 days
Time limit to respond: Your processor's deadline (on Stripe usually 7–21 days); under Visa rules the acquirer files a Dispute Response within 30 days of the dispute processing date
Typical evidence: Express agreement to future charges at checkout plus a notice at least 7 days before each charge
Can it be prevented?: Yes: disclose every term before checkout and send renewal notices
Who usually wins: The merchant with express consent and the 7-day notices

What PlatformDTC does

For a "cancelled subscription" dispute, PlatformDTC's response states that no cancellation was recorded before the renewal, gives the subscription reference, and quotes the cancellation policy the customer saw at checkout. Before a first renewal it emails the customer the charge date, and it stops the subscription the moment any dispute opens. With "Answer a chargeback automatically" switched on, it sends the response to the bank for you before the deadline.

What it means

The cardholder says they were misled about what they were buying or the terms. Visa lists online trials, promos and one-off purchases without clear notice of future charges, and several high-risk services such as debt relief, tech support and investment platforms.

It does not cover quality-only complaints.

Why customers file it

A "free" trial that renews into a paid subscription the customer did not notice, or ads that promise more than the product delivers.

Evidence that wins

Under Visa rules every response can also show that you already refunded and the bank ignored it, that the dispute is invalid, or that the cardholder withdrew it.

For trials, promos and one-offs: proof the cardholder expressly agreed to future charges at the first purchase
Proof you notified the cardholder at least 7 days before each later charge
Checkout and ad screenshots and the accepted terms
Proof of use

How to prevent it

Show the renewal amount and frequency next to the buy button
Get an express agreement to future charges
Send a notice at least 7 days before each charge that follows a trial or promo

For developers

On Stripe the dispute object arrives with reason "product_unacceptable" 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.

Consumer Dispute (category 13) disputes have a Dispute Response stage: the acquirer answers within 30 days, then the issuer may pre-arbitrate within 30 days of that response.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 7-day notice rule?: For an online trial, promo or one-off purchase that leads to future charges, Visa requires proof that the merchant notified the cardholder at least 7 days before each later charge, in addition to express agreement at checkout.
Is 13.5 the same as 13.3?: No. 13.3 is about the item itself; 13.5 is about the terms of the sale.