Every major reason code for Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover — with win rates, required evidence, and filing time limits. Use the right code and you dramatically improve your odds of a successful dispute.
Visa reorganized its dispute framework in 2018 into four categories: Fraud (10.x), Authorization (11.x), Processing Errors (12.x), and Consumer Disputes (13.x). Visa's Compelling Evidence 3.0 (CE3.0), effective April 2023, raised the bar for 10.4 fraud disputes — merchants can now rebut with proof of prior undisputed transactions from the same device or browser. As a consumer, knowing this means stronger documentation helps you.
| Code | Name & Meaning | Required Evidence | Consumer Win Rate | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.4 |
Other Fraud — Card-Absent Environment
You did not authorize a transaction made without a physical card — online, phone, or mail order. The most common fraud code for e-commerce. Under CE3.0, merchants can fight back with device/browser/IP evidence of prior undisputed transactions. Tip: filing a police report significantly strengthens your claim.
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|
78% | 120 days |
| 10.5 |
Visa Fraud Monitoring Program
Applies when a merchant is enrolled in Visa's Fraud Monitoring Program (VFMP) due to sustained high fraud rates. Consumers rarely file under this code directly — it is typically issuer-initiated. Knowing a merchant is on VFMP can strengthen any fraud dispute against them by showing a pattern of bad behavior.
|
|
82% | 120 days |
| 11.1 |
Card Recovery Bulletin
A transaction was completed on a card that had been reported lost, stolen, or cancelled. The merchant should have declined it. Most useful when a recurring merchant keeps charging an old, cancelled card number instead of using your new one.
|
|
85% | 75 days |
| 12.6 |
Duplicate Processing
You were charged more than once for the exact same transaction. Could be a merchant processing error, a system glitch at checkout, or in rare cases intentional. One of the highest-win-rate codes because the evidence is clear-cut: two charges, one purchase.
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|
88% | 120 days |
| 13.1 |
Merchandise / Services Not Received
You paid for goods or services that were never delivered. Applies when a merchant fails to ship, a delivery goes missing, or services were promised but not rendered. You must demonstrate you tried to resolve with the merchant first, or that the merchant is unreachable/defunct.
|
|
85% | 120 days from expected delivery |
| 13.3 |
Not as Described or Defective Merchandise
The item you received was materially different from what was advertised, or was broken and not functional. "Materially different" is the key standard — minor cosmetic differences rarely qualify. You must have attempted to return the merchandise to the merchant before filing.
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|
62% | 120 days |
| 13.5 |
Misrepresentation
The merchant made false or misleading claims about goods, services, or transaction terms. Covers false advertising, hidden fees, undisclosed subscription traps, and deceptive checkout flows. The focus is on the merchant's dishonest representation — not just product quality. Particularly useful against dark-pattern subscription merchants.
|
|
65% | 120 days |
Mastercard uses a four-digit numeric system. Consumer dispute codes fall primarily in the 48xx range. The dispute lifecycle is: initial chargeback → second presentment (merchant rebuttal) → pre-arbitration → arbitration. Each stage has a strict deadline. Mastercard's process is somewhat more merchant-friendly than Amex or Discover, making documentation critical.
| Code | Name & Meaning | Required Evidence | Consumer Win Rate | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4853 |
Cardholder Dispute — Merchandise / Services
A broad code covering merchandise not as described, defective goods, services not rendered, and cancelled recurring transactions. It is the Mastercard equivalent of Visa's 13.x family. The merchant has 45 days to respond with a second presentment rebuttal package.
|
|
66% | 120 days |
| 4837 |
No Cardholder Authorization
You did not authorize the transaction. Mastercard's primary fraud code, equivalent to Visa 10.4. Covers stolen card use, account takeover, and unauthorized transactions by any third party. Note: charges made by a family member you permitted to use your account generally do not qualify under this code.
|
|
76% | 120 days |
| 4834 |
Duplicate Processing
The merchant submitted and processed the same transaction more than once. You were billed twice for a single purchase. Among the easiest disputes to win because the evidence is unambiguous — two charge records with one supporting receipt. Merchants typically can not credibly rebut a properly documented duplicate charge.
|
|
91% | 120 days |
| 4863 |
Cardholder Does Not Recognize
You see a charge on your statement but do not recognize the merchant name or transaction. This is often a stepping-stone code used before a full fraud claim. Issuers use 4863 when the cardholder is unsure whether a charge is fraudulent — it often escalates to 4837 after investigation. "Soft descriptor" confusion (where a parent company name appears instead of the brand) is a common trigger.
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|
58% | 120 days |
| 4807 |
Warning Bulletin File
A transaction was processed against a card listed in Mastercard's warning bulletin — meaning a card flagged as lost, stolen, or compromised. The merchant should have refused the transaction. Most relevant when a cancelled card is still being charged by a subscription merchant that has your old card details on file.
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|
87% | 90 days |
| 4808 |
Required / Requested Authorization Not Obtained
The merchant processed the transaction without obtaining proper authorization from the card network. Includes transactions where authorization was declined but the merchant proceeded anyway, or where no authorization was sought. Useful when a merchant processed a "forced" transaction after your card was declined at the terminal.
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|
79% | 90 days |
American Express acts as both card network and issuer for most of its cards, giving it unique authority in disputes. Amex cardholders have historically had strong protections. Amex uses alphanumeric codes — a letter prefix indicates the category. The process is typically faster than Visa or Mastercard: initial resolution often arrives in 3–5 business days. File disputes through the Amex app for the fastest experience and a clean paper trail.
| Code | Name & Meaning | Required Evidence | Consumer Win Rate | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C08 |
Goods / Services Not Received or Only Partially Received
You paid but never received the goods or services — or received only part of what you paid for. The most commonly filed Amex dispute code. You must show a good-faith attempt to resolve with the merchant directly before filing.
|
|
83% | 120 days |
| C31 |
Goods / Services Damaged or Defective
You received the item but it was broken, damaged on arrival, or non-functional. Amex requires proof of the defect and documentation of your return attempt or replacement request. Photographic evidence carries significant weight in Amex C31 disputes.
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|
68% | 120 days |
| UA02 |
Fraud — Card Present Transaction
An unauthorized in-person transaction was made using your physical card or a counterfeit copy. Applies when your card data was used at a point-of-sale terminal without your knowledge — the classic card-skimming scenario. One of the highest win-rate codes because card-present fraud is very difficult for merchants to defend.
|
|
89% | 120 days |
| C14 |
Paid by Other Means
You were charged on your Amex but had already paid for the same goods or services by another method — cash, check, another card, PayPal, or bank transfer. One of the highest win-rate codes because the evidence is straightforward and the merchant has almost no viable rebuttal once dual-payment is documented.
|
|
92% | 120 days |
| C05 |
Goods / Services Cancelled
You cancelled an order or subscription according to the merchant's own cancellation policy but were charged anyway. Key requirement: you must have followed the merchant's stated cancellation process. If the merchant had no clear process, document every cancellation attempt you made.
|
|
77% | 120 days |
| R41 |
Cancelled Recurring Transaction
A merchant continued billing you on a subscription or recurring basis after you cancelled. Distinct from C05 in that R41 specifically covers recurring billing arrangements that continued post-cancellation. Particularly powerful if you have written cancellation confirmation and the merchant charged you multiple times after cancellation.
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|
81% | 120 days |
Discover, like Amex, serves as both card network and issuer. Discover uses short alphabetical codes. Discover cardholders have strong dispute rights and the process is generally consumer-friendly. Discover's dispute team is accessible and typically responsive. Their 180-day filing window — 60 days longer than Visa and Mastercard — is a significant advantage consumers often overlook.
| Code | Name & Meaning | Required Evidence | Consumer Win Rate | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RG |
Non-Receipt of Goods / Services
You paid for an item or service that was never delivered. Discover's equivalent of Visa 13.1 and Amex C08. Applies to physical goods, digital downloads, and services. You should first attempt resolution with the merchant, but Discover will accept filings where the merchant is unresponsive or has gone out of business.
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|
84% | 180 days |
| NF |
Non-Fulfillment
Originally designed for cash advance transactions where the cash was not provided, NF applies broadly when a financial product, gift card, or prepaid service was promised but not delivered. Applicable in fintech, gift card, and prepaid card scenarios where the service was paid for but not fulfilled.
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|
80% | 180 days |
| UA |
Unauthorized Transaction / Fraud
You did not authorize the transaction. Discover's primary fraud code, covering both card-present and card-absent fraud. Discover's zero-liability policy means provisional credit is typically applied immediately while the investigation proceeds. You face $0 liability for unauthorized transactions on Discover cards.
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90% | 180 days |
| IN |
Invalid Card Number
A charge was processed against an invalid, expired, or cancelled card number. Often occurs when a subscription merchant retains your old card number after you received a replacement. The merchant should have been notified of the card change through Discover's account updater service but processed the charge anyway.
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|
86% | 180 days |
| DP |
Duplicate Processing
You were billed twice for the same transaction. Discover resolves these quickly because the evidence is unambiguous. If the merchant's second presentment claims the two charges are for different transactions, request itemized receipts for each charge. Merchants rarely succeed in rebutting a well-documented duplicate charge claim.
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90% | 180 days |