Chargeback Rebuttal LettersHow to Write Succinct, Winning Dispute Responses That Will Help You Recover Revenue

What is a Chargeback Rebuttal Letter? Here’s Everything Merchants Need to Know

Cardholders have the right to dispute any charge they feel is incorrect or unfair. This is guaranteed by both card network rules, as well as federal law.

Sometimes, however, the payment in question is perfectly valid. According to Visa, first-party misuse of the process can account for up to 75% of all chargebacks. When a cardholder disputes a valid charge, the best course of action for merchants is to respond via a process called representment. A key component of this is the credit card chargeback rebuttal letter. 

You’ll need a strong rebuttal letter if you hope to get the chargeback reversed. Here, we’ll explain what you letter must include, and offer key tips and templates to successfully challenge a payment card chargeback.

What Are Chargeback Rebuttal Letters?

Chargeback Rebuttal Letter

[noun]/charj • bak • rə • bəd • l • led • ər/

A chargeback rebuttal letter is a well-written synopsis of a chargeback case that explains why the claim is invalid. This situation-specific letter is an integral component of a dispute response package, which also includes compelling evidence to support your case.

The chargeback process was created to protect consumers. More and more, however, cardholders are using the system to dispute valid transactions, a process called first-party misuse, or more commonly, friendly fraud.

In some cases, friendly fraud can be an innocent mistake. The cardholder didn’t understand the process and assumed that a chargeback was the same thing as a refund. Other times, a customer may deliberately abuse the process to engage in “cyber shoplifting.” The good news is that, in either case, it’s possible to undo some of the damage done through the representment process.

Learn more about chargeback representment

You can think of representment like a court case. The issuing bank is the jury, and the rebuttal letter outlines the case you’re making to the jury, arguing why you’re innocent of the charge against you. The rebuttal letter is a written statement that’s meant to give context for the evidence you submit. It explains, in simple and direct terms, how the evidence disproves the cardholder’s claim.

Crafting a rebuttal letter will be necessary to challenge a chargeback. While you should never try to contest a valid chargeback, experts recommend contesting all illegitimate claims, regardless of the cardholder’s motivation.

Why Do I Need a Chargeback Rebuttal Letter?

Let’s say a cardholder disputes a charge on their monthly statement. The issuing bank must first review and approve the claim based on a set of allowable chargeback reasons. The chargeback is then forwarded to your acquiring bank, who debits your account and notifies you.

At one point, the information would’ve come to you in the form of a Chargeback Debit Advice Letter. However, this practice has fallen out of favor with many institutions.

When you receive your notification, you have two options:

• Accept the chargeback
• Challenge the chargeback through representment

If you choose not to fight, you’ll lose the revenue from the sale, any merchandise shipped, and overhead costs like shipping and interchange. You’ll also be hit with a chargeback fee.

If you decide to challenge the chargeback, you’ll need to create a dispute response package. To make things more confusing, the response package is sometimes simply called a rebuttal.

The cornerstone of your response package will be your chargeback rebuttal letter. It should clearly state why the cardholder’s claim is unwarranted, and offer evidence to support your case. Think of it as a cover letter containing an overview of the important information the reader will find in your response.

What Should My Chargeback Rebuttal Include?

To write effective chargeback rebuttal letters, it helps to understand everything that should be included in your dispute rebuttal package. If you received a Chargeback Advice letter, it may give you case-specific requirements. Generally speaking, though, some or all of the following information will typically be needed:

• The chargeback reason code
• The transaction amount and the chargeback amount
• The action(s) already completed by the acquirer
• The deadline for submitting representment documents
• The adjustment date
• The case number assigned to the chargeback
• The cardholder number (or credit card number) used for the transaction
• The 23 digit identification (or reference) number assigned by the card network

That's a lot of information, and the list is not definitive. What’s necessary to contest a given chargeback will vary based on many factors, including the card network, the bank, or the reason code. Your chargeback advice letter or other notice from your acquirer will usually lay out all the required documentation.

As we mentioned, however, the key element of your dispute response is your rebuttal letter itself.

How to Write a Chargeback Rebuttal Letter

Now that we’ve covered the rebuttal package, let’s look at what the letter itself should contain. The goal here is to provide all the data necessary to prove your case, presented in the clearest, most easily understood format. That includes:

When you’re crafting your credit card chargeback rebuttal letter, focus on the Three Cs: Concise, Clear, and Compelling. We cannot stress this enough.

Write as much as you need to be easily understood, but make every word relevant. You want the bank to understand your position and rule in your favor. Anything that does not advance those goals should be edited out.

Sample Letters & Chargeback Rebuttal Templates

Looking for an example of a rebuttal letter? We’ve got one. Before we start looking at an example of a rebuttal letter, though, it’s important to understand that using generic form letters is a bad idea.

Our chargeback rebuttal letter template illustrates the general format to follow, and some of the elements that should always be included. Each representment case is unique, though, and should be treated as a distinct incident. You should customize the letter to fit the specifics of the case:

Download this sample Chargeback Rebuttal Letter

The credit card chargeback rebuttal letter is one of the first things a bank agent will look at after receiving your case. If a quick scan of your letter looks like something they have seen already in prior cases, they may not give it as much consideration as you’d like. 

Your letter should be concise and simple, yet still unique enough so that investigators give it the diligence it demands.

Where Does Compelling Evidence Fit In?

Building a case for even one chargeback can be incredibly time consuming. You can’t just say the customer’s dispute is invalid; the bank will want evidence to back up your claim. In most cases, the only one who can produce this evidence is you.

The documentation required for a given chargeback will depend on the reason code. In theory, the reason code will pinpoint why the cardholder is disputing the transaction. In reality, however, the true cause of a chargeback may be anything from a misunderstanding, to buyer's remorse, or even deliberate cardholder abuse.

Nevertheless, the reason code represents what the bank considers the reason for the chargeback. So, for the purposes of representing the case, your evidence must directly address whatever reason code accompanied the initial dispute.

Like other parts of the chargeback progress, the rules for evidence differ between card networks. Examples of what might be considered compelling evidence include:

• Sales receipt or order form
• Proof of delivery
• Cardhold signatures
• Customer email address, phone number, or IP address
• Photos or other documents suggesting the customer is satisfied with the purchase
• Proof the purchase was made by an authorized member of the cardholder's household
• Verification that the customer accepted Terms and Conditions

While this list represents several commonly requested items, it is hardly exhaustive. You’ll need to be very familiar with the chargeback regulations of all the major card networks to know what you’ll need to include. 

Learn more about compelling evidence

Tips for Writing a Chargeback Rebuttal Letter

While strong evidence will ultimately be what decides your case, your rebuttal letter underlines and clarifies how the facts support your challenge. Here are some things to remember when crafting a rebuttal letter:

We’ve mentioned this repeatedly, but it’s worth stating again: your letter will probably be the first thing the bank agent looks at when reviewing the case. Strive for a good first impression. 

Rebuttal Letters: Part of a Larger Picture

The chargeback representment process itself is complicated, hard to understand, and subject to ongoing updates and revisions. The particulars for required evidence vary by card network and can change with no notice, so you must keep up with all changes and updates to card network rulesets.

Plus, individual parties — banks, card networks, processors, etc. — all have different guidelines and timelines. This makes your chargeback dispute response even more complex.

Sending wrong, incomplete, or misleading information with your chargeback rebuttal letter can do more harm than good. Even outsourcing the task can be risky if you partner with the wrong service provider. Some firms will address only the most obvious claims, while others simply send automated details that can damage your reputation with the issuer.

The right professional assistance ensures a higher net win rate without damaging your reputation or increasing risk. Chargebacks911® offers award-winning assistance with representment, rebuttal letter writing, and other post-transactional fraud needs. To find out more, contact us today.