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HomeGet startedManage disputesRespond to disputes

Dispute reason code categories

Learn about reason code categories and evidence guidelines.

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Prevent disputes

Disputes happen all the time for various reasons, but there are ways to protect your business. To learn how, see Understand fraud.

Each card network defines hundreds of codes representing very specific reasons for dispute claims, many of which overlap across all the networks that Stripe does business with. Stripe maps each network code into one of eight categories, based on the general claim and the evidence you need to submit to effectively challenge that type of claim.

Reason code categories

The following tables show the Stripe categories for each card network’s dispute reason codes. A network’s reason code is available on the dispute object. For a deeper look at dispute reason codes for Visa, Mastercard, and Amex, see Dispute reason codes.

Credit not processed
  • 13.6 Credit not processed
  • 13.7 Cancelled Merchandise/Services
Duplicate
  • 12.6.1 Duplicate processing
  • 12.6.2 Paid by other means
Fraudulent
  • 33 Fraud analysis request
  • 10.1 EMV Liability Shift Counterfeit Fraud
  • 10.2 EMV Liability Shift Non-Counterfeit Fraud
  • 10.3 Other Fraud - Card Present Environment
  • 10.4 Other Fraud - Card Absent Environment
  • 10.5 Visa Fraud Monitoring Program
General
  • 28 Request for copy bearing signature
  • 30 Cardholder request due to dispute
  • 34 Legal process request
  • 11.1 Card Recovery Bulletin
  • 11.2 Declined Authorization
  • 11.3 No Authorization
  • 12.1 Late Presentment
  • 12.2 Incorrect Transaction Code
  • 12.3 Incorrect Currency
  • 12.4 Incorrect Account Number
  • 12.5 Incorrect Amount
  • 12.7 Invalid Data
  • 13.8 Original Credit Transaction Not Accepted
Product not received
  • 13.1 Merchandise/Services Not Received
  • 13.9 Non-Receipt of Cash or Load Transaction Value
Product unacceptable
  • 13.3 Not as Described or Defective Merchandise/Services
  • 13.4 Counterfeit Merchandise
  • 13.5 Misrepresentation
Subscription canceled
  • 13.2 Cancelled Recurring
Noncompliant
  • C028 Refinancing of an Existing Debit
  • C030 Delayed or Amended Charges
  • C031 Sold Paper
  • C034 Merchant Processed Credit without a Previous Debit
  • C035 Merchant Must Process a Reversal If Sale Processed In Error
  • C036 Electronic Commerce Transaction
  • C038 T&E Advance Deposit Service
  • C045 Dispute Reduction Service Returned
  • C048 Split Transaction
  • C050 Other, See Attached Documentation
  • C071 Prohibitions
  • C081 Limits of Fee Collection
  • C0135 Improperly Assessed Surcharge
UnrecognizedNone

Category defense guidelines

Use the selector to choose the category that matches the reason given for your dispute to see guidelines for responding.

The customer claims that you continued to charge them after a subscription was canceled.

How to prevent it

  • Promptly cancel subscriptions upon request, making sure to pass the cancellation along to Stripe if you use our subscription functionality and provide your customer with a confirmation of the cancellation.
  • Make it clear on your signup page that your customers are agreeing to a recurring payment and include information about whether or not you plan to notify the customer before each payment.
  • Make sure cancellation procedures and policies are clearly communicated to your customers.

How to overturn it

Explain and demonstrate one or more of the following:

  • The subscription was still active and that the customer was aware of, and did not follow, your cancellation procedure.
  • You already issued a refund to your customer
  • The customer withdrew the dispute

Choose the product type of the disputed transaction to see relevant evidence suggestions.

  • Physical products are tangible goods that were either purchased in a store or shipped to the recipient, so evidence often proves the customer is in possession of the item.
  • Digital products or services are often virtual in nature and don’t have trackable shipping data, so focus on evidence of usage, login, or download.
  • Offline services include purchases that are made in advance, such as event tickets and reservations, where evidence of a cancellation policy can be material.
For this type of recommended evidenceDesignate this Dashboard label or API parameter
Your subscription cancellation policy, as shown to the customer.cancellation_policy
An explanation of how and when the customer was shown your cancellation policy prior to purchase.cancellation_policy_disclosure
A justification for why the customer’s subscription was not canceled, or if it was canceled, why this particular payment is still valid.cancellation_rebuttal
A notification sent to the customer of a renewal or continuation of the subscription, or an acknowledgement from the customer of their continued use of the product or service after the date they claim they canceled the subscription (if available).customer_communication

Any argument invalidating the dispute reason, such as a PDF or screenshot showing:

  • If the product was consumed prior to the billing (in cases where billing occurs regularly, but consumption of whatever is being billed for happens prior to the billing)
  • If the product was partially used, whether the dispute amount exceeds the value of the unused portion
  • If customer is mistaken about what the actual cancellation date was (for example, in cases where the cancellation was set for a future date)
  • If the payment was actually an installment payment (some networks permit this dispute reason code only for genuinely recurring transactions, not installments of a single payment)
  • Whether you already issued the refund the cardholder is entitled to
  • Whether you already provided a replacement service
  • Whether the cardholder withdrew the dispute

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