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Fidella

Glossary

What is a chargeback?

A chargeback is a card issuer reversing a payment at the cardholder's request, usually over a dispute or suspected fraud. It is not a refund: a refund is something you choose, a chargeback is imposed on you. Recovery nets against future payouts.

An unavoidable part of taking card payments, and worth understanding before it happens rather than during.

Not a refund

A refund is a decision you make. A chargeback is a decision made about you, by the cardholder’s bank, often months later.

How recovery works

Chargeback debt is recovered by netting against future payouts. A merchant who is not being paid out has no netting source, which is a limitation Fidella records openly rather than papering over.

Reducing them

Clear descriptions of what a voucher entitles somebody to, honest expiry terms, and answering customers quickly. Most chargebacks start as a question nobody answered.