Credit Card Processing Blog

Yesterday we reviewed MasterCard’s Chargeback Reason Codes and today we will do the same for Visa’s. Reason Codes are two-digit (for Visa) or four-digit (for MasterCard) numbers that the two credit card networks use to identify the reason an issuer is disputing the validity of a particular transaction.

Visa’s chargeback reasons are organized into six general groups:

1. Non-receipt of information.
2. Fraud.
3. Authorization error.
4. Processing error.
5. Canceled / returned merchandise.
6. Non-receipt of goods or services.

The following tables list Visa’s Reason Codes and time limits for processing a chargeback.

1. Non-receipt of information chargeback reasons.
   
   

   Non-Receipt of Information Chargeback Reasons	Reason Code	Time Limit (Calendar Days)
   Requested Copy Illegible or Invalid	60	7
   Cardholder Does Not Recognize Transaction	75	120
   Requested Transaction Information Not Received	79	7

   
   Except for Reason Code 75, the time limit is calculated from one of the following:

   • The date the issuer received the illegible transaction receipt or invalid fulfillment.
   • The date the issuer received an applicable non-fulfillment message.
   • The date following the 30-calendar-day waiting period.
2. Fraud chargeback reasons.
   
   

   Fraud Chargeback Reasons	Reason Code	Time Limit (Calendar Days)
   Fraudulent Multiple Transactions	57	120
   Counterfeit Transaction	62	120
   Fraudulent Transaction – Card Present Environment	81	120
   Fraudulent Transaction – Card-Absent Environment	83	120




3. Authorization error chargeback reasons.
   
   

   Authorization Error Chargeback Reasons	Reason Code	Time Limit (Calendar Days)
   Declined Authorization	71	75
   No Authorization	72	75
   Expired Card	73	75
   Non-Matching Account Number	77	75




4. Processing error chargeback reasons.
   
   

   Processing Error Chargeback Reasons	Reason Code	Time Limit (Calendar Days)
   Late Presentment	74	120
   Incorrect Transaction Code	76	120
   Incorrect Transaction Amount or Account Number	80	120
   Duplicate Processing	82	120
   Paid by Other Means	86	120
   Transaction Exceeds Limited Amount	96	75




5. Canceled / returned chargeback reasons.
   
   

   Canceled / Returned Chargeback Reasons	Reason Code	Time Limit (Calendar Days)
   Canceled Recurring Transaction	41	120
   Not as Described or Defective Merchandise	53	120
   Credit Not Processed	85	120




6. Non-receipt of goods or services chargeback reasons.
   
   

   Non-Receipt of Goods or Services Chargeback Reasons	Reason Code	Time Limit (Calendar Days)
   Services Not Provided or Merchandise Not Received	30	120
   Services Not Rendered – ATM or Visa TravelMoney Program Transactions	90	120

Each Reason Code identifies a chargeback caused by a specific issue that needs to be remedied individually. We have already reviewed in previous posts some of the Reason Codes mentioned above and have suggested ways to prevent or minimize them. We will do the same for the rest in the coming weeks.

Learn how to minimize chargebacks and fraud

Learn how to minimize chargebacks and reduce your processing costs. The Chargeback Management kit contains a video and an e-book:

• E-Book – Chargeback Manual (40 pages).
• Video – Card Acceptance Best Practices for Lowest Processing Costs (18 min).