How to Dispute a Fraudulent Credit Card Charge in Ohio

We Midwesterners pay our bills and mind our business. However, we don’t like being charged for things that we did not receive, did not authorize or worse yet, rejected because what was sold to us is different than what was delivered.

Sleazy merchants abound here in the Midwest. Thanks to the internet, its easy to get taken advantage of by merchants from around the world. In Ohio, many consumers have issues with charges on their credit card statements. So what should you do if there is a charge on your credit card statement that you either did not authorize or relates to goods or services that you did not receive?

Answer – Dispute the credit card charge.

In Ohio, here is how you dispute a charge with your credit card company.

The process is very straight forward. The problem, as always, is in the details.

Send a dispute, in writing to the bank. Be sure to identify yourself, the charge and state the problem with the charge. Do this in writing only. You only have 60 days from the date that the charge first appears on your credit card account, to make your dispute. You can also make the dispute online or over the phone, so long as you follow up in writing. Without a writing, the bank has no duty to investigate your dispute. This is what the law requires.

Wait no longer than 14 days for an acknowledgement from the credit card company of your dispute. The company must send you an acknowledgment. If it fails to do so, call the bank and ask them to mail or email you the dispute. You must get something in writing. This is for your protection. Once the bank gets your dispute, it has 60 days to investigate. During that time, the bank cannot collect the charge or any interest or fees related to it.

Keep an eye out for the bank’s decision on your dispute. You should wait no longer than 2 billing cycles to get its decision. If you don’t get a decision, call the bank. We have frequently seen banks misinform people that they have rendered decisions without notifying the victims. Its your job to be vigilant.

And when the bank denies your dispute…

If your bank denies your objection to the charge, you have a right to an explanation of how they arrived at their decision. Moreover, you have a right to demand that they turn over all documents that they reviewed in their investigation into your dispute.

Most importantly, you have a right to sue the bank to credit your account, but you only have 1 year within which to file that lawsuit. Be aware, that this is not a lawsuit that you should bring by yourself, no matter how little is in dispute. The bank will most likely either a. demand arbitration which most people have very little experience with; or 2. Have their lawyers respond to your dispute and get your case dismissed.

The best reason not file this lawsuit yourself is because we will file and handle your lawsuit at no out of pocket charge to you. Under the law, we can collect our fees and costs from the bank.

Let us handle your credit card dispute at no out of pocket charge.

Its far easier to just let us handle your credit card dispute from the beginning. We will write the correct letter, send it and make sure you get a confirmation. If (when) the bank declines your dispute, we will sue it right away, at no out of pocket charge to you.

Call us to today for free no obligation consultation

If you have a charge on your credit card account that is not yours, call us at (216) 358-0591 or email us at gary@crlam.com for a free, no obligation consultation.

How to dispute a Credit Card Charge

Send a written dispute letter to the credit card company. Usually, you can use the credit card statement you have with it. Note – your dispute must be received by the credit card company within 60 days from the date of the credit card statement.

They Must Acknowledge it

The credit card company must acknowledge receipt of your dispute within 30 days of receiving it. Do not pay the charge or any related interest while its in dispute.

They Must Investigate

The credit card company must investigate your dispute. They cannot simply take the merchant’s word. They must review documents that show your individual liability for the charge.

They Must Give you results of the investigation.

If the credit card company finds the merchant is in error, they must credit you for the charge and any related interest. If they find against you, they must explain why. You have a right to ask for documentation showing your liability.

What if they find against you?

You can sue the credit card company and the merchant for the errant or bogus charges. You can get actual and statutory damages along with costs and attorneys fees if you are successful.

Questions?

Call us for a free, no obligation consultation. We can handle your credit card dispute for you. If they don’t see things our way and we litigate, we will not charge you anything out of pocket.

Call us to today for free no obligation consultation

If you have a charge on your credit card account that is not yours, call us at (216) 358-0591 or email us at gary@crlam.com for a free, no obligation consultation.