If you recently logged into your Discover® account to find an unfamiliar or incorrect charge, you're probably a little worried. Now you're wondering how to dispute a credit card charge with Discover. It's important to protect yourself against credit card fraud, but if something happens, your credit card issuer usually has your back.
Credit card fraud is the most common form of identity theft, and you're rarely going to be liable for it. All of the best Discover credit cards come with a $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee. That means you aren't responsible for any unauthorized transactions on your Discover credit card.
Even if the transaction was authorized but you didn't get the item as stated or were charged incorrectly, Discover will still work with you. If you follow the steps below to dispute a credit card charge with Discover, your issue should be resolved quickly and easily.
How to dispute a credit card charge with Discover
The process of disputing a charge with Discover is fairly simple. If you think fraud has occurred, call 1-800-347-2683 immediately. Otherwise, follow the guide below.
1. Initiate a dispute online or by phone
To dispute a credit card charge with Discover online, log into your account and go to the "Activity and Statement" page under the "Activity" dropdown at the top of the page. From there, select the transaction or transactions you want to dispute and click "Dispute This Charge."
Alternatively, you can dispute a charge with Discover over the phone by calling their Customer Service line at 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683). Have information for the transaction handy, including the merchant name as it appears on your statement, the charge amount, and the reason you'd like to dispute it.
2. Upload or send any supporting documentation
Sending extra documentation into Discover can help your case. For example, if you're claiming that you were charged the wrong amount, send the receipt for the original purchase to Discover. If you were told you'd get a refund but never did, provide documentation of that promise.
You can easily upload these documents online by logging into your Discover account. Go to the "Disputes" page under the "Security" dropdown in the top navigation menu, and upload the documents under the "Upload Documents" section. You can also fax them to Discover at 1-224-813-5109. Be sure to include your name, dispute case number, and the last four digits of your account number.
Ratings Methodology
2024 Award Winner
Discover it® Cash Back
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Score:Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit ScoreFalling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
RewardsEarn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
1% - 5% Cashback
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome OfferN/A
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
We think this card has among the highest cash back potential for cards with no annual fee. The key is the Unlimited Cashback Match — Discover automatically matches all the cash back new cardholders have earned at the end of the first year. That cash back can seriously add up when you earn 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories (when you activate them, up to the quarterly maximum) and 1% on other purchases.
- Rotating bonus categories
- Sign-up bonus offer
- Great intro APR offer
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- No fixed bonus categories
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It's free, activate with the mobile app.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
What happens after you dispute a credit card charge with Discover
As soon as you dispute a credit card charge with Discover, Discover will start investigating the charge. Discover will have 90 days, by law, to resolve your dispute, but most disputes are resolved within 30-60 days. In the mean time, you'll receive a temporary credit to your account in the amount of the disputed transaction.
Once your dispute is resolved, you should get a letter or email explaining the outcome. If Discover decides that your dispute is valid, you'll get to keep the temporary credit issued on your statement. If not, the charge will be reapplied, and you'll be responsible for paying it off.
How does a credit card dispute with Discover work?
You can dispute a credit card charge with Discover and ask for a chargeback, if you believe the charge to be fraudulent. A chargeback is a reversal of the credit card transaction. If you authorized the charge but didn't get the product or service as agreed upon, or if the charge is incorrect, and the merchant is unwilling to budge, Discover can investigate your claims and act as an ally to you.
When you dispute a credit card charge with Discover, you won't need to pay the disputed transaction as long as it's under investigation. And you can continue using your Discover credit card as you normally would.
What you need to know before you dispute a credit card charge with Discover
If you're going to dispute a credit card charge with Discover, it's important to do it the right way so your problem can be resolved in a timely manner. Depending on the situation, you may want to ask for a refund from the merchant or for a chargeback from your credit card issuer. Here are some things you should know before you file a dispute.
What to do if you see a credit card transaction you don't recognize
If you don't remember making the transaction or the merchants are listed under unrecognizable names, give them a call. You should find their number listed on the transaction next to their name. You can also try searching for the name of the merchant to see what comes up. If you can't reach the merchant and still believe the charge to be fraudulent, you can dispute a credit card charge with Discover immediately by calling 1-800-347-2683.
What to do if you have a problem with the merchant
If you made an authorized purchase but now have an issue with the merchant, you should first try contacting that business to resolve the issue. They can often quickly refund you if they made a mistake, such as charging you twice for the same item, sending the wrong item, or otherwise not following through with their end of the transaction. Give the merchant at least 15 days to refund the transaction.
Charges you can't dispute
You can't dispute a credit card charge with Discover over an inconvenience with a merchant or poor service. If you got what you set out to purchase, you'll have to take up any dissatisfaction with the merchant. You also can't dispute a charge due to theft or damage that occurred after you received the product.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited® OnChase'sSecure Website. | Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | Up to $300 cash backEarn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash backEnjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases | Intro:0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular:20.49% - 29.24% Variable | Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited® OnChase'sSecure Website. |
Discover it® Cash Back | Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.N/A | 1% - 5% CashbackEarn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. | Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular:18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR | |
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | 75,000 Miles75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 2X-5X milesEarn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. | Intro: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular:19.99% - 29.99% (Variable) |
Still have questions?
Some other questions we've answered:
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By:Elizabeth Aldrich
Elizabeth is a personal finance writer specializing in credit cards, debt repayment, and small business. Her work has appeared on The Motley Fool, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, and Business Insider. She’s an avid credit card points collector and perpetual traveler currently living in Costa Rica.
Fact CheckedJamie Matthews
Jamie Matthews is alumni of Ohio State University and still calls Columbus, Ohio home. She is a finance editor with more than nine years of experience. When she isn't obsessing over grammar and punctuation, she enjoys baking, reading books, and being a proud dog mom.
