A chargeback is a transaction disputed by your customer or their card issuer and takes extra payment processing time and cost. Elavon helps streamline the process of tracking and managing chargebacks through our expansive chargeback department. Here are a few tips to help you manage and avoid chargebacks.

There are many reasons for chargebacks, but the most common are returned merchandise, terminated services, delivery disputes, transaction errors or fraud. It is important to carefully track and manage the chargebacks you receive, take steps to avoid future chargebacks and know your representment rights.

To avoid chargebacks, act promptly if contacted directly by the cardholder to resolve a dispute. By working directly with the cardholder, you can avoid costly fees and processing costs as well as promote goodwill with your customer. While it may not be possible to entirely eliminate all chargebacks, you can reduce their occurrence by timely resolving issues and disputes directly with the cardholder and following the proper authorization and processing procedures. If the cardholder does not contact you, respond to inquiries from the card issuing bank or Elavon with as much information as possible about the sales transaction in question.

1. Control risk for mail, phone and Internet transactions

   Card-not-present transactions such as mail order/telephone order (MO/TO) and Internet transactions are more prone to chargebacks. Here are some ways to reduce the risk of chargebacks for fraudulent or unauthorized transactions:

   • Negative database – by maintaining a database of problem customers, you can identify high-risk transactions, block specific credit card numbers and disallow future purchases.
   • Multiple orders – by limiting the number of transactions per hour, day or week from a specific customer, you may reduce potential fraud.
   • Address Verification Service (AVS) – AVS is a fraud reduction service that allows you to verify a cardholder’s address prior to completing the sale. The AVS system indicates if there is a full, partial or no match response on the address by comparing an address in the card issuer’s database.
   • Know your customers – you may avoid chargebacks simply by getting to know your customers. For example, you can capture the customer’s telephone number, then call back to verify the order.
   • Customer service phone number – make sure your customer service phone number is printed on the receipt. This makes it easier for customers to resolve disputes by phone rather than through the chargeback process.
   • CVV2/CVC2 – both Visa and MasterCard have this security feature printed on the back of their cards, which you can verify as an additional security check. Contact Customer Service for more details on this feature.
2. Get a manual imprint and signature

   If you are unable to swipe a card through your point-of-sale terminal, you must obtain a manual imprint of the card. This manual sales slip must contain the customer’s signature, transaction date, authorization code, purchase amount and merchant information – failure to obtain a complete copy can result in the following chargebacks:

   • Fraudulent transaction – no cardholder authorization
   • Fraudulent transaction – card present
   • Fraudulent transaction – card not present
   • You should verify that the signature and name on the card matches the signature on the sales receipt.
3. Respond prompty to requests for transaction copies

   A retrieval request is a request from the issuer to provide a copy of the transaction receipt on behalf of the cardholder. Respond to a retrieval as soon as possible; an untimely or unfulfilled request may result in one of of the following chargebacks:

   • Non-receipt of requested item
   • Requested copy illegible

     Failure to respond to a retrieval request may result in an irreversible chargeback. The recommended response method is by fax or overnight mail. To reduce retrieval request chargebacks:

   • Keep a record of your sales drafts – retrieval requests specify the credit card number, transaction date and purchase amount; they do not include the cardholder’s name. Sales drafts should be filed by date or credit card number.
   • Be sure sales drafts are legible – a hard-to-read sales draft my produce an illegible copy that cannot be properly processed. Always check the ink cartridge or ribbon on your printer.
   • Make transactions easy to identify – if a cardholder does not recognize a transaction on their billing statement, they may question or dispute the transaction. If you send a purchase confirmation to the cardholder’s address identifying the business name that will appear on the cardholder’s statement, you may eliminate many of these retrieval requests.
   • Put your customer service number on the cardholder statement – you can have your business phone number appear on the cardholder statement in the city/state field. This information allows the customer to contact you directly to inquire about the transaction. Please contact Customer Service if you are interested in setting up this feature.
4. Credits/Refunds

   To prevent Credit Not Processed chargebacks, quickly process refunds to your customers. Your customer should always be made aware of a cancellation or refund policy in writing. Be sure to have your refund/cancellation policy clearly printed on the transaction receipt in close proximity to the signature line. If you use a website to sell services/merchandise, your refund/cancellation policy should be on your check-out screen with an “I agree” button that the customer must click on prior to completing the transaction. If you do not give refunds or offer in-store- credit only, this information should be included on your transaction receipt. Refunds must be made using the same credit card as the original sale. Never refund a card purchase by cash or cheque.

5. Duplicate Transactions
   To avoid duplicate transactions that result in Duplicate Processing chargebacks, you should:
   • ​​Process one transaction at a time through your point-of-sale terminal.
   • Balance your deposits at the end of the day.
   • Create a separate invoice describing each purchase if your customer makes more than one purchase in a day or makes purchases with a duplicate amount.
6. Recurring Transactions

   To avoid Cancelled Recurring Transaction chargebacks, you should take immediate action when a customer asks to cancel a recurring transaction. Prompt action can reduce the risk of repetitive chargebacks by the same customer.

7. Merchandise or Service Not Received by Cardholder

   If a cardholder does not receive merchandise or services, a Non-receipt of Merchandise chageback may occur. Goods and services must be delivered before charging the customer. To avoid this type of chargeback, you must obtain signed proof of delivery for all merchandise or services that are not immediately delivered at the point of sale. Here are some helpful hints:

   • Installment transaction – disclose the terms of installment transactions in writing, including shipping, handling charges and taxes. Inform your customer if currency conversion rates will cause installment amounts to fluctuate. Card Association regulations prohibit merchants from including finance charges in the installments.
   • Installment intervals – the first installment transaction must not be processed before the shipment of goods. Use the 30-calendar-day (or more) rule, or the monthly anniversary of the shipping date (must be the same date each month) to process installments.
   • Delayed delivery – you can process delayed delivery transactions before delivery of the goods or service if the sale is described as “delayed delivery” on the transaction receipt. You may not process a deposit or a balance transaction receipt before the delivery of the goods or service.
   • Prepayment – you may process a prepayment transaction if you advise your customer that he or she will be billed immediately. You may also process a full prepayment for custom-order merchandise (manufactured to the customer’s specifications).
8. Authorization Procedures

   A “decline” code indicates that the card issuer does not approve the transaction. Do not continue to attempt authorization on the card by reducing the amount requested or repeating the request. When you receive a decline code, you should return the card to the customer and ask for another form of payment. If you are suspicious of a card transaction, contact your voice authorization centre and request a “Code 10” authorization. The operator will ask you a series of yes or no questions without alerting the cardholder. You will then be given information on how to proceed with the transaction.

9. Cardholder Disputes Quality of Merchandise/Service

   It is difficult to overcome a dispute from a customer who challenges the quality of your merchandise or service. Such disputes can result in the following chargebacks:

   • Merchandise/service not as described
   • Cardholder dispute – not elsewhere classified
   • Defective merchandise
   • If a customer disputes a transaction, try to resolve the issue directly with the customer and document your efforts to satisfy the customer. Always keep accurate records of each transaction because you may need to provide documentation in your response to a customer’s dispute.
   • Ensure proper packaging of shipped goods. Make sure the goods are suitable for the purpose for which they were sold. Make sure your customer has a clear understanding of how to return the merchandise.
   • To avoid such chargebacks, make sure your customers are aware of your return policy at the time of purchase. Display the policy at the point of sale and print it on the sales slip in close proximity to the signature line. Maintain your return policy with consistency.
10. Account Numbers Don’t Match

    After swiping the card, make sure the embossed card number and the displayed account number math. Print the full account number on all phone and mail orders. Ask phone customers to read back the card number to ensure accuracy. Non-matching transactions can result in the following chargebacks:

    • Account number not on file
    • Non-matching account number