How long does chargeback take?
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In short: Most chargeback claims take 30 to 90 days from start to finish, though complex cases can run longer. You must usually raise a claim within 120 days of the transaction or expected delivery date, depending on the card scheme rules.
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Reviewed by Kaiser Khan
Chargeback is a card-scheme dispute process — not a legal right like Section 75 — that lets your bank reverse a payment if goods were not delivered, were not as described, or the merchant has failed to refund you. Once you raise a claim, the bank sends the dispute to the merchant's bank, which typically has around 30 to 45 days to respond under Visa and Mastercard timeframes.
Simple cases where the merchant does not contest the dispute may resolve within a few weeks. If the merchant supplies evidence, the case can go to arbitration and take 75 to 90 days or more. American Express runs its own process with similar deadlines. You usually have 120 days from the transaction date — or from when goods should have arrived — to start a claim, though some reason codes allow longer.
Chargeback works on debit and credit cards but not on bank transfers. It is separate from Section 75 protection, which applies to credit card purchases between £100 and £30,000. Keep emails, tracking numbers and photos as evidence, and complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service if your bank rejects a valid claim.
Primary source: gov.uk/complain-financial-service
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