"A billing error on your credit card? The Fair Credit Billing Act can help. "

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT BILLING ERRORS?

The Federal Fair Credit Billing Act covers billing errors.

Examples of billing error are:

A charge for something you didn’t buy
A bill for an amount different from the actual amount you charged
A charge for something that you did not accept when it was delivered
A charge for something that was not delivered according to agreement
Math errors
Payments not credited to your account
A charge by someone who does not have permission to use your credit card

If you think your credit card bill has an error, take the following steps:

(1) Write to the credit card company within 60 days after the statement date on the bill with the error. Use the address for “billing inquiries” listed on the bill.
(see sample letter below).

Tell the company

Your name and account number,
That you believe the bill contains an error, and why you believe it’s wrong, and
The date and amount of the error (the “disputed amount”).

(2) Pay all the other parts of the bill. You do not have to pay the “disputed amount” or any minimum payments or finance charges that apply to it.

If there is an error, you will not have to pay any finance charges on the disputed amount. Your account must be corrected.
If there is no error, the credit card company must send you an explanation and a statement of the amount you owe. The amount will include any finance charges or other charges that accumulated while you were questioning the bill.

And - most important - keep copies of everything.

Sample Dispute Letter

Date
Your Name
Your Address
City, State, Zip Code
Your Account Number

Name of Credit Card Issuer
Billing Inquiries
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Sir or Madam

I am writing to dispute a billing error in the amount of $______on my account. The amount is inaccurate because the merchandise I ordered was not delivered. I ordered the merchandise on (date).

The merchant promised to deliver the merchandise to me on (date) , and the merchandise was not delivered. (In addition, when I ordered the merchandise, the merchant did not tell me that it would charge before shipping.)

I am requesting that the error be corrected, that any finance and other charges related to the disputed amount be credited to my account, and that I receive an accurate statement.

Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence to describe any enclosed information, such as sales slips, payment records, documentation of shipment or delivery dates) supporting my position and experience. Please correct the billing error promptly.

Sincerely

Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing.)

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