Whether it is for the package that has vanished into the wild or a single transaction that appears duplicate on your account statement, there are several good reasons to dispute a transaction and attempt to obtain a refund from one of your purchases, commonly known as chargebacks.
If you paid with your credit card, you have additional ways to get your money back, which you would not have if you had paid for your purchases with another payment method. “Your National Bank credit card allows you to benefit from several advantages, including the possibility of contesting fraudulent or contentious transactions. It is undoubtedly the best method of payment when it is used well, ”says Martin B. Pouliot, Senior Director at the National Bank.
Here are some pesky situations your financial institution can help you with.
There are errors on your account statement
If you look at your transaction report and notice that a transaction appears twice, don’t worry. “In most cases, it is because there was an error in good faith,” explains Martin B. Pouliot. The merchant accidentally went through the transaction twice rather than once, or instead of issuing a refund, the merchant pressed the wrong key and the amount was debited again. First, you did well to check your statement. Contact us, we have left our phone number on the back of your credit card. However, don’t delay too long. You have 60 days after the issuance of your statement to report an anomaly to us. “
The merchant does not want to refund you
Of course, the vast majority of merchants are well intentioned. Always first check the conditions for returning an item. Often, it is written on your invoice.
But if, unfortunately, while you meet all the conditions, the merchant does not want to reimburse you or credit your account, your financial institution can help you. Remember that to make your life easier, you need to keep as much evidence as possible. It is always a good idea to keep receipts and a copy of email exchanges and not to wait to report the problem. You will also need to prove that you have returned the goods.
What you receive does not match what you bought
Have you ordered a sweater and are you receiving pants instead? Again, know that you have recourse. The good news is, at the very least, you should get your money back. If the store is unable to offer you the product or service you paid for, you may be refunded by the merchant, if you paid with your credit card. Always start by discussing the situation with the merchant. In the vast majority of cases, you can then fix the problem fairly quickly.
If the discussions don’t lead to anything, call your financial institution as soon as possible. And as always, keep your receipts and email communications safe. Remember the golden rule: in many cases, by the time you checkout, even virtually, there are terms and conditions that you agree to. It’s a contract. And even if you click “I agree” without reading anything, you are still bound by these clauses.
On the other hand, if you had paid for a room with a sea view, for example, and when you got there, you ended up in a room with a view of the parking lot, you might have recourse.
The parcel has disappeared
You shop online and quietly wait for your package at home. But weeks go by, then a month goes by, and the package still does not arrive. What should you do?
The best thing to do is to contact the seller, period. Keep your invoices and a copy of your email exchanges too. You will need as much proof as possible, such as the transaction receipt including the expected delivery date.
And if the merchant does not cooperate, and the merchandise is not delivered more than 30 days after the date you should receive it, call the number on the back of your card.