Billing Error Dispute Letter (FCBA) + Template
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If a charge on your credit card statement is wrong, unauthorized, or for something you never received, the Fair Credit Billing Act gives you the right to dispute it in writing, and the card issuer has to respond on a set timeline. This page gives you a dispute letter that uses those rights correctly, a filled example, and a free .docx you can edit and send, with no signup. This is general information, not legal advice.
The letter works because it names the law and hits the details issuers act on: the 60-day window, the right address, and the amount you are withholding while they investigate. Get those right and your dispute is hard to brush off.
What counts as a billing error
Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, a billing error on a credit card includes:
- A charge you did not make or authorize.
- A charge for goods or services you never received, or that were not delivered as agreed.
- A charge for the wrong amount.
- A math error, or a payment or credit the issuer failed to post.
- A charge with a date or description you asked them to clarify and they did not.
The Act covers credit cards and other open-end credit. A dispute over a debit card charge follows different rules, so contact your bank directly for those.
Your rights under the Fair Credit Billing Act
Three rights matter most when you write the letter:
- You have 60 days. Send your written dispute within 60 days of the date the first statement showing the error was sent to you. The clock runs from the statement date, not from when you received it or noticed the charge.
- You can withhold the disputed amount. While the issuer investigates, you may withhold payment on the amount in dispute. You still have to pay the rest of your balance.
- The issuer is on a clock too. They must acknowledge your letter and resolve the dispute within set timeframes, covered below.
How to write and send it
Your letter needs four things: your name and account number, a clear statement that you believe the bill contains an error, the specific charge (amount, date, merchant), and the reason it is wrong. Two details decide whether it lands:
- Send it to the right address. Use the address your statement lists for billing inquiries or disputes, not the address you send payments to. A dispute mailed to the payment address may never reach the right desk.
- Send it certified mail, return receipt requested. That gives you proof of the date you sent it, which matters for the 60-day window. Keep a copy of the letter and everything you enclose.
Enclose a copy of the statement with the charge marked, and any proof you have: an order confirmation, tracking that shows non-delivery, or a receipt showing the agreed amount.
Dispute letter to fill in
Copy the account number and the disputed amount straight off the statement, digit for digit. The law asks your notice to identify you, the account, and the amount, so a figure that does not match gives the issuer room to log the letter as a general query instead.
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Date]
[Card Issuer Name]
Billing Inquiries
[Address listed on your statement for billing disputes or inquiries]
[City, State ZIP]
Re: Billing error on account [your account number]
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to dispute a billing error on my account. My statement dated [statement date] lists a charge of $[amount] made on [transaction date] to [merchant name]. This charge is an error because [I did not authorize it / the goods or services were never delivered as agreed / the amount is wrong: I was charged $[X] but agreed to $[Y]].
Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, I am disputing this charge in writing within 60 days of the statement date. I am withholding payment of the disputed $[amount] while you investigate, and I have paid the rest of the balance.
Please investigate, correct the error, and send me a corrected statement. I have enclosed a copy of the statement with the charge marked, and [any supporting documents]. Please acknowledge this letter within 30 days and resolve the dispute within two billing cycles, as the Act requires.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Your Name]
Enclosures: copy of statement, [receipt or order confirmation]
A filled example
Rosa was billed for a keyboard that never arrived. Her letter names the charge, the reason, the law, and the exact amount she is withholding.
482 Oakhurst Lane
Columbus, OH 43201
18 July 2026
Northgate Bank
Billing Inquiries
P.O. Box 90210
Wilmington, DE 19850
Re: Billing error on account 4000-1234-5678-9010
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to dispute a billing error on my account. My statement dated 5 July 2026 lists a charge of $149.99 made on 28 June 2026 to BrightTech Online. This charge is an error because the item, a wireless keyboard, was never delivered. The tracking shows the parcel was returned to the sender, and I have received no refund.
Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, I am disputing this charge in writing within 60 days of the statement date. I am withholding payment of the disputed $149.99 while you investigate, and I have paid the rest of my balance in full.
Please investigate, correct the error, and send me a corrected statement. I have enclosed a copy of the statement with the charge circled, the order confirmation, and the tracking record. Please acknowledge this letter within 30 days and resolve the dispute within two billing cycles, as the Act requires.
Sincerely,
Rosa Delgado
Enclosures: statement copy, order confirmation, tracking record
What happens after you send it
The issuer must acknowledge your letter in writing within 30 days of receiving it, unless they fix the problem first. They then have two billing cycles, and no more than 90 days, to investigate and either correct the error or explain in writing why they believe the bill is right. While the amount is in dispute, they cannot try to collect it or report it as late to the credit bureaus. If they find the charge was an error, they remove it and any related fees or interest.
If the dispute is denied
If the issuer says the bill is correct, ask for the explanation in writing and for copies of what they relied on. You can still refuse to pay, but they may then report the amount as delinquent, so weigh that. You can escalate a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and for a charge over goods never delivered you can ask your issuer about a chargeback. For a service you want to end rather than a charge to dispute, use a cancellation letter; for a wider grievance, a complaint letter.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to dispute a credit card billing error?
Sixty days from the date the first statement showing the error was sent to you. The window runs from the statement date, not from when you received it or spotted the charge, so act quickly.
Do I have to pay the disputed charge while it is investigated?
No. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act you may withhold payment of the disputed amount while the issuer investigates. You still have to pay the rest of your balance.
Where do I send a billing error dispute letter?
To the address your statement lists for billing inquiries or disputes, not the payment address. Send it certified mail, return receipt requested, so you have proof of the date.
How long does the card issuer have to respond?
They must acknowledge your letter within 30 days and resolve the dispute within two billing cycles, no more than 90 days, by correcting the error or explaining why the bill is right.
Does this cover debit card charges?
No. The Fair Credit Billing Act covers credit cards and other open-end credit. Debit card disputes follow different rules; contact your bank directly and act fast, because those timeframes are shorter.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission, disputing credit card charges and billing errors (consumer.ftc.gov).
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Regulation Z, 12 CFR 1026.13, billing error resolution.
This page is general information about the Fair Credit Billing Act, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, consult a qualified professional.