Chargeback Time Scales

ValleyDude99

Just short of one month ago I initiated a chargeback process with my bank. So far the other side has not responded. I spoke with the bank by phone today but the person wasn't sure whether the process works off calendar days or working days and what happens if after 30 days the other side still doesn't respond. Can anyone answer these questions for me please?

eskbanker

It's typically 45 calendar days for Visa/Mastercard, but Amex is 20.  If the other side doesn't respond, the bank will normally consider the matter closed and either issue your refund or let you keep it if you'd already received it provisionally, although there have been tales of banks reopening cases beyond that.

Even if the other side doesn't respond to the chargeback, there's nothing stopping them from pursuing you afterwards for what they consider to be a valid debt, i.e. chargeback isn't a definitive legal resolution to a dispute as such.

ValleyDude99

eskbanker said:

It's typically 45 calendar days for Visa/Mastercard, but Amex is 20.  If the other side doesn't respond, the bank will normally consider the matter closed and either issue your refund or let you keep it if you'd already received it provisionally, although there have been tales of banks reopening cases beyond that.

Even if the other side doesn't respond to the chargeback, there's nothing stopping them from pursuing you afterwards for what they consider to be a valid debt, i.e. chargeback isn't a definitive legal resolution to a dispute as such.

Many thanks. As I say the person I spoke to wasn't sure how exactly it worked themselves. They did say however the timescale is 30 days for Visa debit cards which is what I was also told when I began the process. Thankfully I'm drawing near the end of that time scale now. Fingers crossed my efforts are successful and remain that way.

born_again

Visa is defiantly 45 days. (calendar) for retailer to respond. But it can take longer to filter into banks system. As it's logged on a visa system, but depending on how busy bank are. It can take a while to be picked up.

Over covid it was taking up to 2 months to be picked up & worked due to the sheer number of chargebacks.