Chargeback Time Limits – Comparison by Card Network (Updated for 2025)

For many online business owners, chargebacks pose a serious problem. Not only are they a source of unnecessary revenue loss, but merchants must respond within strict deadlines if they are to stand any chance of recuperating their revenue. In fact, each card network has its own self-imposed chargeback time limit, and failure to adhere to these deadlines will lead to an automatic loss for the merchant.

This article examines the chargeback time limits imposed by the four most prominent US card networks, and how they differ across the following key stages of the dispute process:

• Chargeback Initiation Timeframe – The duration in which a cardholder can request a chargeback following a transaction.
• Merchant Response – The time window allocated for businesses to provide evidence to defend against chargebacks.
• Pre-Arbitration – The length of time an issuer has for reviewing and resubmitting evidence before final arbitration.
• Arbitration – The final stand for either the merchant or issuer seeking a decision ruled in their favor, coming at an additional cost for the losing side.

Visa Chargebacks

Visa allows cardholders to file a chargeback up to 120 days after a transaction occurs. Once a chargeback has been filed, a merchant has 30 days to respond to the claim. The issuing bank then has 30 days to respond with additional evidence. Finally, if either party wishes to take the claim to arbitration, 10 days are provided.

Mastercard Chargebacks

Mastercard implemented significant rule changes effective January 1, 2025, that affect all transactions processed after this date.

Mastercard’s chargeback time limit for cardholders ranges from 90-120 days depending on the dispute reason code. However, merchant response times now vary based on transaction type under 2025 rules:

• Digital goods and card-not-present transactions: 30 days merchant response
• Physical goods with proper delivery proof: 45 days merchant response
• Pre-arbitration: 18 days (reduced from previous 45 days)
• Final arbitration: 30 days

The new variable timing system requires merchants to immediately categorize each dispute to determine the correct response deadline. Transactions processed before January 1, 2025, still follow the legacy 45-day timeline.

 American Express Chargebacks

American Express chargeback time limits work differently from those of Visa and MasterCard. This is because Amex follows a closed-loop model, where the network is also the issuer, resulting in faster chargeback turnarounds. Amex allows customers 120 days after a transaction to file a chargeback, after which merchants are given 20 days to provide a response.

However, Amex still uses a ‘soft chargeback’ process called a retrieval request, where a customer can request information for an unrecognized transaction. For this, Amex stipulates a 20 days’ time limit to provide information. Amex does not engage in arbitration processes – their decision is final.

Discover Chargebacks

Like Amex, Discover operates according to a closed-loop model. Discover allocates 120 days for customers to submit a chargeback request, though they may accept claims filed outside this window on a case-by-case basis.

The merchant response process works as follows:

• Initial inquiry response: 20 days (if sent)
• Chargeback response: 30 days for evidence submission
• Arbitration filing: 10 days for final arbitration

Discover may send an initial inquiry before filing a chargeback, or skip directly to the chargeback process.

Summary of Timelines by Card Scheme

*Mastercard: 30 days for digital/CNP transactions, 45 days for physical goods with delivery proof (2025 rules)

What happens if a merchant misses the chargeback time limit deadline?

If the deadline is missed, the merchant’s case is thrown out –there are generally no appeals available. As a result, merchants must ensure they remain aware of how long they have to compile and submit their evidence before the deadline closes. This is where most businesses struggle, due to a lack of planning and preparation.

The Challenges of Chargeback Timelines

It’s clear to see how juggling mounting chargebacks with varying card network time limits can become overwhelming. Collecting and analyzing evidence, and writing responses is already incredibly time-consuming, without the added stress of regulatory variations that frustrate workflows and mandate different approaches for each dispute.

While these issues can prove distressing even during low volume periods, they can be financially devastating during chargeback surges. These rapid influxes of disputes may strike when least expected, overwhelming manual teams who struggle to provide adequate responses. The result? Deadlines are missed, and win-rates and revenue are lost. In worst-case scenarios these losses can amount to up to 25% of net revenue.

With Justt, Time Is on Your Side

Fortunately, some chargeback management solutions can turn chargeback timelines into a non-issue for merchants. Justt’s end-to-end automation handles everything from chargeback alerts and evidence collection to representment building and submission.

This smart technology not only means that chargebacks are handled instantly, with zero merchant intervention, but also that Justt’s experts can focus their efforts on keeping up to date with fast-changing card scheme regulations and timelines – you’ll never miss a chargeback deadline again.

Better still, Justt’s representments are the most informed and persuasive on the market. The platform’s AI-driven Dynamic Arguments feature transforms the most compelling evidence from +500 data sources into precision-tailored responses that address the minutia of every case. Meanwhile, rigorous A/B testing ensures that each response is informed by the millions that preceded it, so the system is always learning, and your response quality, win-rates, and revenue continue to rise.