Chargeback Reason Codes

Created by Andy McCutcheon, Modified on Thu, 26 Mar at 10:24 AM by Andy McCutcheon

What are Chargeback reason codes and what do they mean?

When a cardholder disputes a transaction, their bank raises a chargeback and assigns it a reason code. This code briefly explains why the transaction is being challenged.

Each card network (such as Visa, Mastercard, or AMEX) defines its own reason codes and rules. These rules determine what evidence is required and how the chargeback must be handled.

Reason codes help identify the cause of a dispute and guide what information or documents are needed to respond. Because chargebacks are time-sensitive, each reason code also has strict deadlines set by the card networks. Meeting these deadlines is essential if you want to challenge a chargeback successfully.

Below is the full list of chargeback reason codes for the card schemes supported by Zai.

Chargeback Reason Codes

Visa

Fraud

10.1 = EMV-Liability Shift counterfeit Fraud
10.2 = Liability Shift Counterfeit Non-fraud
10.3 = Other Card Present Environment
10.4 = Other Card Absent Environment
10.5 = Visa Fraud Monitoring Program

Authorisation

11.1 = Card Recovery Bulletin
11.2 = Decline Authorization
11.3 = No Authorization

Processing Error

12.1 = Late Presentment
12.2 = Incorrect transaction code
12.3 = Incorrect currency
12.4 = Incorrect account number
12.5 = Incorrect Amount
12.6.1 = Duplicate processing
12.6.2 = Paid by other means
12.7 = Invalid data

Consumer Disputes

13.1 = Merchandise/Services not received
13.2 = Cancelled Recurring
13.3 = Not as described or Defective Merchandise/Service
13.4 = Counterfeit merchandise
13.5 = Misrepresentation
13.6 = Credit not processed
13.7 = Cancelled Merchandise/Services
13.8 = Original Credit Transaction not Accepted
13.9 = Non Receipt of Cash or Load of Transaction Value

MasterCard

Fraud

4088 = Authorisation Related Chargeback
4837 = No Cardholder Authorisation
4840 = Fraudulent multiple transaction
4863 = Transaction not recognised
4870 = Chip liability shift
4871 = Chip/Pin Liability Shift

Point of interaction error - 4834 subcategories

4831 = Incorrect transaction amount / Payment by other means
4834 = Duplicate processing
4842 = Late presentment I Late submission
4846 = Incorrect currency or transaction code

Cardholder Dispute Chargeback - 4853 Sub-categories

4841 = Cancelled Recurring Transaction
4853 = Goods or Services were either not as described or defective
4855 = Goods or Services not provided
4859 = No Show / Addendum dispute
4860 = Credit not processed

American Express

All reason codes

A01 = Charge amount exceeds authorisation amount
A02 = No valid authorisation
A08 = Authorization approval expired
C02 = Credit not processed
C04 = Goods/Services returned or refused
C05 = Goods/Services cancelled
C08 = Goods/Services not received or only partially received
C14 = Paid by other means
C18 = No show or CAR Deposit cancelled
C28 = Cancelled recurring billing
C31 = Goods or services not as described
C32 = Goods/Services damaged or defective
F10 = Missing imprint
F24 = No card member authorisation
F29 = Card not present
F30 = EMV - Counterfeit
F31 = EMV - Lost/Stolen/Non-received
R03 = Insufficient reply
R13 = No reply
M01 = Chargeback authorisation
P05 = Incorrect charge amount
P07 = Late submission
P08 = Duplicate charge
P22 = Non matching card number
M36 = See additional notes
M38 = Chargeback reversed