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The Daily Insight Hub

Can I sue for unauthorized credit card charges?

Author

Daniel Santos

Updated on February 02, 2026

Complaints. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the FCBA for most creditors except banks. If you think a creditor has violated the FCBA, file a complaint with the FTC. You also can sue a creditor who violates the FCBA.

Can you go to jail for unauthorized charges?

What is the average sentence for credit card fraud offences? A credit card fraud case that goes to court and results in a conviction will typically get a prison sentence of four or five years, and more for severe cases.

What happens to unauthorized credit card charges?

If the issuer determines that a transaction is fraudulent, it must credit your account for the amount disputed and remove any charges resulting from the transaction. If the issuer determines the transaction is correct, you’re responsible for paying the disputed amount and any charges resulting from it.

How do banks investigate unauthorized credit card transactions?

A: Most payment card fraud investigations are actually handled by the cardholder’s issuing bank, rather than a card network like Visa or Mastercard. Generally speaking, after a customer makes a complaint, the bank will gather any relevant information and examine the transaction details closely.

Are you liable for unauthorized debit card charges?

With ATM or debit cards, you must act quickly in order to avoid full liability for unauthorized charges when your card is lost or stolen. Under the federal Electronic Fund Transfer Act, your liability is: $0 if you report the loss or theft of the card immediately and before any unauthorized charges are made.

What is considered an unauthorized charge?

An unauthorized transaction is any transaction that you didn’t make and you didn’t permit anyone else to make. Unauthorized transactions could be made by someone you don’t know, who finds or steals your card or your account information. In either case, you would have to dispute the transactions with your card issuer.

What can I do about unauthorized transactions?

Follow these six steps if you find an unauthorized charge on your account.

  1. Contact Your Bank.
  2. Contact the Vendor.
  3. Dispute the Charge With Your Bank or Credit Card Company.
  4. File a Fraud or Police Report.
  5. Switch Your Bank Drafts to Your New Account or Card.
  6. Monitor Your Account and Credit Closely.

What to do if you get an unauthorized credit card charge?

You can try to contact your card issuer and dispute the purchase, which may work. “Credit card payments are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), which allows you to dispute billing errors, which can include unauthorized charges, and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor investigates,” Adler says.

How to report credit card fraud to the police?

Reporting the fraud should be done over the phone for immediate service and through a letter in the mail to ensure the company is aware of the problem and to provide proof that the fraud is reported. Report the fraud to the local police department. Credit card fraud is a crime.

How are credit card companies supposed to prevent fraud?

Credit card companies and merchants put many measures in place to prevent credit card fraud, and they’ll investigate fraud when it happens. Generally, you won’t be responsible for any unauthorized charges if you report the card stolen or dispute unauthorized transactions right away. The Two Types of Credit Card Fraud

Can a credit card company withhold payment for unauthorized charges?

“Credit card payments are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), which allows you to dispute billing errors, which can include unauthorized charges, and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor investigates,” Adler says. There’s no guideline in the FCBA that explicitly states that kids’ charges are fraud — it’s a gray area.