Legal Question in Consumer Law in Virginia

Disputing a charge through Visa

What are the legalities of disputing a charge through Visa? That is, are these cases judged solely on Visa's ability to get the money back from the company or are they judged on the basis of a full evaluation of the case?

I am trying to help my parents out of a big mess and Visa denied the dispute despite a preponderance of evidence of fraud.

Is there an appeals process? Would a lawyer or a letter from a lawyer be of help in such a case specifically in appealing with Visa?


Asked on 10/21/06, 9:55 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jonathon Moseley Jonathon A. Moseley

Re: Disputing a charge through Visa

Not sure what you mean exactly, but I do have some thoughts.

Frist, the decision-maker is not actually VISA but the merchant bank involved. Visa is like a franchise, but it is the member merchant bank that is actually making these decisions.

Second, the credit card merchant bank has almost absolute authority (in practice) to cancel the charge (refund the money to you) called a charge-back. There is no limitation based on the credit card merchant bank being able to get the money back from the merchant.

Third, however, the merchant bank in practice will usually rubber stamp the merchant's position unless it is overwhelmingly obvious tha tthe caharge is false. Why I don't know.

You may need to sue teh merchant directly.

credit card companies

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Answered on 10/22/06, 9:53 pm


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