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Econsumer.gov is an initiative of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network.

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Contact the payment card provider

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If your order didn’t arrive and the company won’t refund your money, you may want to dispute the charge with your credit card issuer or payment provider. The consumer protections for debit cards may be far less from the protections for credit cards.

  • Contact the seller. If you have a problem with the quality of the item, contact the seller first, before you contact the payment card provider. You could also contact the seller at the same time as contacting the payment provider to try to resolve the issue.

  • Contact the credit card or payment provider right away. Card providers usually have time limits for reporting or disputing a charge. Contact the provider as soon as you know there’s a problem, so you don’t run out of time to exercise your legal protections.

  • Contact the card company’s customer service number. Start by calling customer service to report the problem. Find the telephone number on your monthly statement or on the back of your card. Keep a record of who you spoke with and when. Follow up promptly with a letter.

  • Submit your dispute online. Some card companies may let you submit your dispute online or via their App. Follow up with a letter after submitting the report online.

  • Contact a complaint agency. If those steps don’t work, you may also want to contact your local or national consumer protection authority, or consumer organization.

Econsumer.gov is an initiative of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN). ICPEN is a network of governmental organizations in the enforcement of fair trade practice laws and other consumer protection activities.Learn More.

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