Whether an online merchant ships defective merchandise, refuses to honor a cancellation button, or double-charges your card, federal law gives US credit cardholders powerful dispute rights.
Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA)
The FCBA protects consumers against billing errors, unauthorized charges (capping liability at $50, though most major networks offer $0 fraud liability), and charges for goods or services that were never delivered as agreed.
The FTC Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule
By federal regulation, online sellers must ship your order within the timeframe promised in their checkout (or within 30 days if no time is stated). If they delay without your consent, they must offer a prompt full refund.
"Single-use virtual credit card numbers make it mathematically impossible for a 'free trial' merchant to hit you with surprise recurring charges."
How to File a Winning Credit Card Chargeback Within 60 Days
1) Email the merchant first and save a screenshot of your cancellation or refund request; 2) Open a dispute inside your credit card issuer's portal within 60 days of the statement date attaching your documentation; 3) The issuer must withhold payment of the disputed amount (plus related interest) while investigating.
Using Virtual Card Numbers to Defeat 'Zombie Subscriptions'
Cards from issuers like Capital One and Citi (or services like Privacy.com) let you generate merchant-specific virtual card numbers with a $1 monthly limit—allowing you to lock or delete the card with one click if a free trial tries to bill you.
Official US Consumer Verification
Always verify financial rules, tax credits, and consumer protections directly through official US government portals (ConsumerFinance.gov, IRS.gov, FTC.gov, and AnnualCreditReport.com). Need to match platforms to your profile? Try our 2026 Interactive Eligibility Finder →