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How to dispute a debit card charge you didn't make

Use the free tool — Bank Fee Refund

First, check two simple things

Before you dispute anything, look closely at the charge. Is it a subscription you forgot about? Is it a merchant billing under a different name than the store you remember? Many "mystery" charges turn out to be one of these. If you now recognize it, you don't need to dispute it.

If it's really not yours: the 60-day rule

This is a Regulation E error, not a fee you're asking the bank to waive as a courtesy. You have 60 days from the date of the statement showing the charge to notify your bank (Regulation E, 12 C.F.R. 1005.11 — CFPB). Report it in writing, not just by phone, so you have a record.

After you notify the bank, it generally must investigate within 10 business days. If it needs more time, up to 45 days, it generally must give you a provisional credit in the meantime, per the same CFPB source.

Your liability if it was fraud

If the charge was an unauthorized debit-card transaction, your maximum liability is $50 — but only if you report it within 2 business days of learning about it (CFPB — lost or stolen debit card). Reporting later can mean more liability, so act quickly.

If it was fraud, ask your bank for a new card number so it can't happen again.

What to say and send

• Call the bank first, and note the date, time, and who you spoke with.
• Follow up in writing — a letter or secure message — describing the charge, the date, and that you did not authorize it.
• Ask for a provisional credit if the investigation will take longer than 10 business days.
• If you're not satisfied, you can file a complaint with the CFPB, which gets a written response from the bank, usually within 15 days.

If someone else has access to your account

If a caregiver or family member has access to your account, ask your bank about setting up a trusted contact and account alerts, so you see charges as they happen.

What this is not

This is not legal or financial advice. A Regulation E dispute is a right with real deadlines, but this page can be wrong about your specific situation. Confirm the deadlines and your case with the CFPB pages linked here, or with a professional.

What to do next

Paste the line from your statement — the charge, the amount, the date — into the free tool. It reads your own numbers and tells you whether this looks like a fee you can ask back, a Regulation E error you must report in writing, or both. Nothing is saved.

Bank Fee Refund explains bank fees and Regulation E in plain language; it can be wrong, and it is not legal or financial advice. Fee waivers are at the bank's discretion. Deadlines are from federal regulation as published by the CFPB — confirm before relying on them. Nothing you paste is stored.