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Chargebacks reasons

Ophelie Huguet avatar
Written by Ophelie Huguet
Updated this week

When heading to Reports > Finance > Chargebacks, you’ll be able to filter by reason and/or view the different chargeback reasons. The possible reasons that can come through are listed below:

Fraud

The "Fraud" reason can refer to several different things, depending the method of payments as listed below:

Code / Category

Scheme

What it tells you

Merchant focus for prevention / defence

10.4 / 10.5 / 83

Visa

Cardholder claims they didn’t authorise the transaction or card details were used fraudulently (CNP, lost/stolen, counterfeit).

Use SCA (3DS2), AVS/CVV checks, clear billing descriptor, and provide evidence of cardholder participation (e.g. logs, delivery proof).

4837 / 4849 / 4870 / 4871

Mastercard

Cardholder denies authorising the transaction, or EMV liability shift applies (chip not used, counterfeit).

Use chip + PIN or 3DS2, monitor fallback transactions, and keep strong delivery or participation evidence.

F29 / F30 / F31 / F24

American Express

Transaction reported as unauthorised, or Amex flagged counterfeit/lost/stolen card activity (often CNP fraud).

Use authentication tools, clear merchant name, monitor fraud signals, and retain proof of legitimate cardholder activity.

AC04 / AC06 / AM04

SEPA / Direct Debit

Payer claims debit unauthorised, or account closed/blocked/insufficient funds.

Verify mandates, perform pre-checks, retain signed mandates, and confirm account validity.

General “Fraud / Not Recognised”

All Schemes

Broad claim: cardholder doesn’t recognise or denies the charge.

Use clear billing name, transparent terms, SCA, and responsive customer communication.

If your chargeback code or reason is not appearing on the board, please reach out to support directly so we can look into it further.

Consumer dispute

The "Consumer dispute" reason can refer to various situations, as shown below:

Code / Category

Scheme

What it tells you

Merchant focus for prevention / defence

4853 / 4854

Visa

Cardholder disputes a transaction for a product/service not received or not as described

Keep proof of delivery, clear product descriptions, timely shipping updates

4863 / 4864

Mastercard

Cardholder claims the product was defective, not received, or subscription cancellation not honored

Track shipments, maintain return/refund records, customer communication logs

R10 / R11 / R12

American Express

Dispute over service quality, unauthorized charges, or refund issues

Document customer approvals, confirmations, and refund attempts

4855 / 4856

Visa

Cardholder claims merchant did not provide agreed service

Provide service logs, confirmation emails, evidence of fulfillment

4875 / 4876

Mastercard

Dispute for “duplicate processing” or “transaction error”

Reconcile transactions carefully, issue prompt refunds for errors

R13 / R14

American Express

Claim that subscription or recurring billing was not authorized

Maintain clear recurring billing consent, cancellation records

If your chargeback code or reason is not appearing on the table, please reach out to support directly so we can look into it further.

Processing errors

Below are the "Processing errors" reasons that may occur, depending on the payment method:

Code

Scheme

What it tells you

Merchant focus for prevention / defence

12.1

Visa

Transaction posted/presented after the allowed time frame

Ensure timely submission and settlement; keep clear timestamps of authorizations and captures

12.2

Visa

Transaction processed under the wrong transaction code (e.g., sale vs credit)

Verify transaction type before processing; reconcile POS and backend systems

12.3

Visa

Transaction currency is incorrect (DCC or display currency issues)

Confirm correct currency at checkout; ensure DCC processes correctly

12.4

Visa

Account number does not match the authorized account

Validate account numbers and cardholder details before processing

12.5

Visa

Amount processed differs from authorized amount

Match authorization and capture amounts; use automated reconciliation

12.6 / 12.6.1 / 12.6.2

Visa

Duplicate transaction or paid by other means

Monitor for duplicate submissions; maintain proof of payment and refunds

12.7

Visa

Incorrect/invalid data fields (e.g., MCC, country code)

Validate all transaction fields; implement automated data checks

483X (e.g., 4834)

Mastercard

Processing error at the point of interaction

Monitor POS procedures; maintain transaction logs

4507

American Express

Incorrect Transaction Amount Presented – cardholder claims amount charged was wrong or Non-matching Card Number: card number not assigned to a valid account or cardholder

Ensure correct checkout amount, capture full authorisation, keep invoice/proof of agreed amount or Verify card numbers before processing, use account verification tools, maintain logs

4512

American Express

Multiple Processing / Duplicate Charge – same transaction submitted more than once

Prevent duplicate submissions, monitor capture workflows, maintain audit trail of transactions

4523

American Express

Invalid / Incorrect Card Number – unassigned card number used

Verify card numbers, use validation tools, maintain proof of card verification

4530

American Express

Currency Discrepancy – cardholder charged in a different currency than agreed

Display currency clearly, provide DCC disclosure, capture shopper consent, include currency on receipt

4536

American Express

Late Presentment / Late Submission – transaction not captured on time

Ensure timely capture/settlement, monitor workflow latency, use alerts or autoresubmit features

4752

American Express

Credit / Debit Presentment Error – cardholder debited instead of credited

Monitor transaction types, ensure correct posting, provide reversal proof as needed

4758

American Express

Expired / Not Yet Valid Card – transaction processed with expired card

Check card validity dates before processing, refuse expired cards, maintain logs of validation

If your chargeback code or reason is not appearing on the table, please reach out to support directly so we can look into it further.

Request for information

This tab lists the most common "Request for Information" (RFI) reason codes per scheme:

Code

Scheme

What it tells you (Cardholder Claim)

Merchant focus for prevention / defence

004

American Express

Goods/Services not received

Maintain proof of delivery, track shipments, retain customer acknowledgment

021

American Express

Goods/Services were canceled/expired or unsuccessful cancellation attempt

Track cancellations, provide proof of cancellation, document expiry policies

024

American Express

Damaged or defective goods received

Maintain condition records, quality checks, return/replacement logs

059

American Express

Repair/Replacement request of damaged/defective goods

Track repair/replacement requests, provide confirmation to cardholder

061

American Express

Referenced credit should have been submitted as a charge

Verify transaction type, issue proper charge documentation

062

American Express

Referenced charge should have been submitted as a credit

Ensure proper credit processing, maintain audit trail

063

American Express

Mismatch of requested and received goods

Maintain packing/shipping records, confirm order details

127

American Express

Unrecognizable charge. Credit/Explanation requested

Provide itemized receipt or transaction proof

154

American Express

Goods/services were canceled and/or refused

Track cancellations, provide proof of refusal or policy acknowledgement

155

American Express

Credit for goods/services that were not received, requested

Track delivery and refunds, provide proof of issuance of credit

158

American Express

Credit for returned goods requested

Maintain return logs and confirmation of credit issuance

169

American Express

Credit for a charge submitted in an invalid currency requested

Verify currency before charging, provide proof of correct currency processing

170

American Express

Credit for a canceled lodging reservation or car deposit requested

Maintain booking and cancellation records, provide confirmation of credit

173

American Express

Duplicate billing

Monitor for duplicate charges, reconcile accounts

175

American Express

Credit not yet received

Track refunds and credits, maintain proof of processing

176

American Express

Referenced card not present or charge(s) not recognized by C/M

Provide signed receipt, proof of transaction, and delivery evidence

177

American Express

Unauthorized charge

Maintain proof of authorization, signature, or cardholder approval

193

American Express

Fraudulent charge

Maintain fraud detection records, respond with evidence of legitimate transaction

680

American Express

Mismatch in submitted charge amount and agreed amount

Retain proof of agreed pricing, invoices, or quotes

684

American Express

Charge was paid by another form of payment

Track payment methods and proof of settlement

691

American Express

Support and itemization requested

Provide itemized receipts, invoices, or supporting documentation

693

American Express

Charge for damages/thef

10201

EFTPOS

Cardholder does not recognize the merchant; trading name differs from statement

Ensure trading/receipt name matches statement, provide receipts clearly showing merchant identity

10301

EFTPOS

Duplicate transaction – cardholder acknowledges purchase but transaction processed more than once

Monitor for duplicate submissions, reconcile transactions

10302

EFTPOS

Incorrectly charged transaction – cardholder acknowledges purchase but charged incorrectly

Ensure correct amount is charged, keep proof of agreed pricing

10305

EFTPOS

Paid by other means – initial transaction declined, cardholder paid via cash/other card, but initial still debited

Track failed transaction flows, issue reversals promptly, reconcile multiple payment methods

10401

EFTPOS

No-dispense or partial dispense of cash from self-service terminal

Track terminal cash dispensing, maintain terminal logs, reconcile discrepancies

10402

EFTPOS

Non-delivery or partial delivery of goods

Maintain delivery logs, provide proof of shipment or service completion

10403

EFTPOS

Cashout transaction – non-dispense or partial dispense

Track cashout transactions, reconcile terminal records

10404

EFTPOS

Goods/services not received – refund not received

Track refunds and returns, provide proof of credit issuance

10501

EFTPOS

Goods/services not as described, including damaged in transit

Maintain records of condition, shipping, and returns

20201

EFTPOS

Split transaction – used to avoid authorization limit

Monitor split transaction patterns, enforce authorization rules

20202

EFTPOS

Unauthorized transactions – chip fallback or mobile/contactless/digital

Ensure chip/contactless transactions comply with rules, monitor suspicious activity

20203

EFTPOS

Delayed, incorrect, or incomplete purchase/reversal/advice

Ensure timely submission of reversals, monitor processing logs

20204

EFTPOS

Invalid fallback – transaction not compliant with EFTPOS rules

Ensure terminal and network compliance, track exceptions

30101

EFTPOS

Card not present – fraud

Maintain fraud detection and authorization records

30201

EFTPOS

Card not present – duplicate transaction

Monitor duplicate submissions, reconcile card-not-present transactions

30202

EFTPOS

Card not present – consumer does not recognize merchant

Ensure merchant identity matches statements, provide clear receipts

30203

EFTPOS

Card not present – incorrectly charged

Ensure correct amount and transaction details, provide proof of agreement

30204

EFTPOS

Card not present – paid by other means

Track payment method discrepancies, reconcile alternate payments

30205

EFTPOS

Card not present – money transfer not credited or incorrect

Maintain transfer records, provide proof of recipient credit

30401

EFTPOS

Card not present – non-delivery or partial delivery

Maintain delivery/service proof, reconcile disputes

30402

EFTPOS

Card not present – refund not received

Track refunds, provide proof of credit issuance

30403

EFTPOS

Card not present – canceled delivery but money still debited

Track cancellations, provide evidence of credit or reversal

30501

EFTPOS

Card not present – goods/services not as described

Maintain shipment/service records, ensure accurate descriptions

30601

EFTPOS

Card not present – canceled recurring transaction but money debited

Track recurring payments, provide proof of cancellation

If your chargeback code or reason is not appearing on the table, please reach out to support directly so we can look into it further.

Authorisation error

This tab lists the most common "Authorisation error" reason codes per scheme:

Code

Scheme

What it tells you (Cardholder Claim)

Merchant focus for prevention / defence

11.3

Visa

No Authorization - valid authorization was required but not obtained, or authorization requested after transaction.

Always obtain valid authorization before completing the transaction; don’t charge if decline.

11.2

Visa

Declined Authorization - transaction processed despite authorization decline or pickup.

Do not proceed with a transaction if the authorization response is declined/pickup.

4808

Mastercard

Authorization‑Related Chargeback - no authorisation, forced transaction, authorization after date.

Confirm valid pre‑auth, ensure capture within allowed timeframe, prevent overrides or late authorisations.

A01

American Express

Charge amount exceeds authorization amount - merchant charged more than originally approved.

Don’t exceed authorized amount; ensure any added fees/gratuities are within the authorization or obtain a new authorization.

A02

American Express

No valid authorization - no approval was obtained before processing the transaction.

Always obtain a valid authorization before completing the transaction; don’t proceed on a declined or missing authorization.

A08

American Express

Authorization approval expired - merchant delayed the capture so long that the authorization is no longer valid.

Capture/settle within the timeframe defined by your merchant agreement; monitor authorization validity and expiry.

If your chargeback code or reason is not appearing on the table, please reach out to support directly so we can look into it further.

Adjustment

The "Adjustment" reason refers to disputes where the cardholder or bank claims there was an issue related to the transaction amount or fees. This could involve scenarios like:

  • Incorrect amounts charged

  • Fees or additional charges that the cardholder disputes

  • Other modifications to the original transaction value

This reason is used when the dispute centers around an adjustment made to the original payment, rather than a clear-cut fraud or service issue.

Other

The "Other" reason serves as a general category for chargebacks that do not fit into any of the specific predefined categories like fraud or processing errors. It covers unique or uncommon dispute reasons that are not otherwise classified. When a chargeback is marked as “Other,” it typically requires further investigation to understand the specific dispute details.

If you need more clarification, please reach out to support directly so we can look into it further.

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