The FCBA 60-day clock: disputing a game charge with your bank

Your strongest U.S. refund backstop is the Fair Credit Billing Act — but the 60-day window runs from your statement date, not the purchase date. Here is how to keep it open.

The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), implemented through Regulation Z, is the federal law behind most successful game-refund chargebacks. It gives you the right to dispute a billing error — including a charge for goods "not as described" or one you didn't authorize — with your card issuer. The catch that loses most cases: the clock starts on the statement date the charge first appeared, and you generally have 60 days from that statement to write to the issuer.

That means "I bought it 40 days ago" is the wrong mental model. If the charge posted on last month's statement and you're already on a new billing cycle, your window may be far shorter than you think. The chargeback calculator turns your statement date into a precise deadline and remaining-days count so you don't guess.

File in writing (the issuer's dispute form or a letter), include the transaction date, amount, merchant, and your reason ("not as described" for a broken/misrepresented game, or "unauthorized" for a minor's or fraudulent charge), and attach your evidence. The issuer must acknowledge and investigate; you typically aren't liable for the disputed amount while it's reviewed.

Two cautions. First, debit-card unauthorized transactions run on a shorter, stricter timeline under Regulation E — act immediately. Second, a chargeback aimed at a policy denial with no defect is weak and can trigger an account restriction. Use the federal rights page to judge whether your facts actually fit "unauthorized" or "not as described" before you file.

GameFixPro is an independent consumer-help reference, not affiliated with any game platform, and not legal or financial advice. Policies and laws change often — always confirm with the platform, your card issuer, or a qualified professional before acting.