Chargeback (transaction dispute)

Chargeback comes from the English words «charge» (debit) and «back» (return), which literally means «return of funds back». This term refers to the procedure by which a bank refunds money to the payer after funds were mistakenly or fraudulently withdrawn from their account.

It is a consumer protection mechanism that allows the cancellation of credit or debit transactions and the return of funds if the customer did not authorize the purchase, did not receive the goods or services, or if billing errors occurred.

Participants in a chargeback

The chargeback process involves:

• Customer: Initiates the chargeback through the issuing bank (the bank that issued the card).
• Issuing bank: Conducts the investigation and, if necessary, refunds the money to the customer. In Israel, the issuing banks can be Isracard, CAL, MAX and few others.
• Merchant (seller): Must provide evidence of the legitimacy of the transaction. If the chargeback is justified, the merchant refunds the money to the bank.

Possible reasons for a chargeback

• The customer requested a refund because they did not recognize a charge in the bank statement or forgot about an actual payment.
• The goods or services were not provided by the merchant.
• Fraudulent charges were made on the card without the customer’s knowledge (the card was stolen or compromised).

Chargeback procedure

After the customer files a request, the issuing bank opens a case, determines the reason for the chargeback, and decides whether to return the money to the customer or leave it with the merchant. As part of the investigation, the bank will contact the merchant and request proof of service delivery.

In Israel, according to the Payment Services Law of 2020, if a transaction is considered an «insufficient documentation transaction» (i.e., made without the physical presence of the card, which applies to all online payments), the customer receives a full refund if they contact the issuing bank within 30 days of receiving the charge notification.

Thus, the law provides significant protection for the consumer but can also lead to fraud and cancellations of legitimate transactions where the customer actually received the agreed service. Therefore, merchants are advised to collect and keep evidence of goods or services provided to the customer, especially for large amounts (e.g., contracts, receipts, emails, delivery confirmations).

If the bank establishes that the funds were withdrawn from the customer’s card illegally, they will be returned to the customer and deducted from the merchant’s balance.

Risks for merchants

Frequent chargebacks can have serious consequences for merchants. The main risk is financial loss due to refunds to customers. However, that is not the only risk:

• Fines and fees: Banks may impose fines for each chargeback, increasing financial pressure on the business.
• Deterioration of banking relationships: Frequent chargebacks can damage relationships with acquiring banks. This can lead to higher fees, worse cooperation terms, or even termination of the contract.
• Risk of being blacklisted: A high chargeback rate can result in being added to blacklists of payment systems, making it difficult to work with new acquirers and other financial institutions.
• Loss of reputation: Frequent chargebacks can damage the merchant’s reputation, creating distrust among customers and partners.

Tips for prevention

To minimize chargeback risks, merchants should take the following measures:

• Use secure payment methods: Activate 3DS for payments — a two-factor authentication method where the bank asks the customer to confirm the payment via the banking app or by entering an SMS code.
• Improve communication with customers: Quick and transparent communication helps avoid misunderstandings. It is important to respond to customer inquiries promptly and provide full information about goods and services.
• Collect and store evidence: Systematically keep all documents confirming the provision of services or delivery of goods. This will help protect the business in case of a chargeback.
• Clear refund policy: A transparent and easy-to-understand return policy can reduce the number of chargebacks, as customers will know how to return a product or cancel a service.

Fees

The average fee charged for handling a chargeback is 50 ILS.