Can I dispute a charge?

Issuers must follow rules for promptly correcting billing errors. You'll get a statement outlining these rules when you open an account and at least once a year. In fact, many issuers include a summary of these rights on your bills. If you find a mistake on your bill, you can dispute the charge and withhold payment on that amount while the charge is being investigated. The error might be a charge for the wrong amount, for something you didn't accept, or for an item that wasn't delivered as agreed. Of course, you still have to pay any part of the bill that's not in dispute, including finance and other charges. You can dispute charges for unsatisfactory goods or services. To do so, you must have made the purchase in your home state or within 100 miles of your current billing address, and the charge must be for more than $50. (These limitations don't apply if the seller also is the card issuer or if a special business relationship exists between the seller and the card issuer.) and you must first make a good faith effort to resolve the dispute with the seller, although there are no special procedures are required to do so. If you dispute a charge:

• Write to the creditor at the address indicated on your statement for "billing inquiries." Include your name, account number, the type, date, and amount of the error and the reason why you believe the bill contains an error.

• Your letter reach the creditor within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was mailed to you.

• The creditor must acknowledge your complaint in writing within 30 days of receipt, unless the problem has been resolved. At the latest, the dispute must be resolved within two billing cycles, but not more than 90 days.
  

Source: Federal Trade Commission

Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud

Credit and charge card fraud costs cardholders and issuers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. For example:

• Someone may use your card number without your knowledge.

• A thief may go through trash to find discarded receipts or carbons, , and then uses your account numbers illegally.

• A dishonest clerk may make an extra imprint from your credit or charge card and uses it to make personal charges.

• You respond to a mailing asking you to call a long distance number for a free trip or bargain-priced travel package. You're told you must join a travel club first and you're asked for your account number so you can be billed. The catch! Charges you didn't make are added to your bill, and you never get your trip.

It's not always possible to prevent credit or charge card fraud from happening. But there are a few steps you can take to make it more difficult for a crook to capture your card or card numbers and minimize the possibility. Here are some tips to help protect yourself from credit and charge card fraud:

•  Sign your cards as soon as they arrive.

• Carry your cards separately from your wallet, in a zippered compartment, a business card holder, or another small pouch.

• Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.

• Keep an eye on your card during the transaction, and get it back as quickly as possible.

• Void incorrect receipts.

• Destroy carbons.

• Save receipts to compare with billing statements.

• Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly, just as you would your checking account.

• Report any questionable charges promptly and in writing to the card issuer.

• Notify card companies in advance of a change in address.

• Don’t lend your card(s) to anyone.

• Don’t leave cards or receipts lying around.

• Don’t sign a blank receipt. When you sign a receipt, draw a line through any blank spaces above the total.

• Don’t write your account number on a postcard or the outside of an envelope.

• Don’t give out your account number over the phone unless you're making the call to a company you know is reputable. If you have questions about a company, check it out with your local consumer protection office or Better Business Bureau.

• Report Losses, Fraud and Unauthorized Charges. If you lose your credit or charge cards or if you realize they've been lost or stolen, immediately call the issuer(s). Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies. By law, once you report the loss or theft, you have no further responsibility for unauthorized charges. In any event, your maximum liability under federal law is $50 per card.rmation.