Visa Chargeback Reason Code 13.8: Consumer Disputes

Table of Contents

1. What is Visa chargeback reason code 13.8?
2. What causes code 13.8 chargebacks?
3. What's the time limit to respond to code 13.8 chargebacks?
4. How can merchants fight code 13.8 chargebacks?
5. How can merchants prevent code 13.8 chargebacks?
6. About Visa chargeback reason codes

Merchants who receive a chargeback for a transaction placed with a Visa card may encounter reason code 13.8, which indicates a disputed transaction that the cardholder does not believe they should be responsible for receiving. The actual underlying cause of this chargeback is usually merchant error. Merchants who believe they have received an invalid chargeback under reason code 13.8 may be able to represent the transaction and reverse the chargeback with the right compelling evidence.

What is Visa chargeback reason code 13.8?

Visa chargeback reason code 13.8 falls under the “Consumer Disputes” category. The shorthand description is “Original Credit Transaction Not Accepted.” This reason code indicates that the cardholder didn't or couldn't accept an Original Credit Transaction from the merchant.

An Original Credit Transaction is a method of direct, real-time payment backed by Visa and Mastercard to allow for an immediate transfer of funds into a cardholder’s account. Original Credit Transactions can be performed faster and more easily than regular credit transactions, which must be processed like any other card transaction. An Original Credit Transaction doesn't require the same payment credentials or authorization process. Because of their speed, affordability, and convenience, many companies find Original Credit Transactions to be their preferred way to deliver funds to their customers and vendors. However, Original Credit Transactions are not permitted in all localities.

This means that Visa reason code 13.8 functions as a reverse chargeback—it returns money to the merchant’s account that the merchant had intended to go to a cardholder. Unfortunately, it still counts as a chargeback, and may affect your chargeback ratio and cause you to incur chargeback fees.

What causes code 13.8 chargebacks?

Code 13.8 chargebacks are usually caused by a merchant attempting to process an Original Credit Transaction without first checking that the recipient's country allows these transactions and that the cardholder will accept them.

The usual setup for this chargeback is that the merchant has identified a cardholder who is entitled to a refund or credit for some reason. Often this is a customer, other times it's a third-party vendor or independent contractor. The merchant decides to provide funds to this individual by processing an Original Credit Transaction, but they do not check with the recipient first.

When the Original Credit Transaction is sent, it is refused by the recipient’s issuing bank because Original Credit Transactions are not permitted by the laws in their country. The issuing bank files a chargeback, reversing the Original Credit Transaction and sending the funds back to the merchant’s account.

The merchant now has another chargeback on their record, and they still owe that individual the same amount of funds.

What's the time limit to respond to code 13.8 chargebacks?

The acquirer or merchant has 30 days to respond to a chargeback filed under reason code 13.8.

How can merchants fight code 13.8 chargebacks?

• If the Original Credit Transaction was reversed and should not have been subject to a chargeback, provide documentation of this.
• If you have resolved the issue directly with the cardholder, provide evidence, such as written correspondence, proving they no longer wish to dispute the charge.

How can merchants prevent code 13.8 chargebacks?

Merchants can easily avoid code 13.8 chargebacks by verifying beforehand whether or not they will be able to send an Original Credit Transaction to a particular recipient.

While these transactions may be cheap and convenient for merchants, they can only cause delays and frustration if you end them to someone who is unwilling or unable to receive them.

The following tips can help you avoid this kind of chargeback:

• Maintain accurate transaction records.
• Inquire with cardholders about whether they can or will accept an Original Credit Transaction before processing one.
• Familiarize yourself with the laws pertaining to Original Credit Transactions in the regions in which you conduct business.

About Visa chargeback reason codes

Reason codes are alphanumeric codes that provide the justification for granting a chargeback. Pursuant to the Fair Credit Billing Act of 1974, cardholders have the right to dispute unauthorized or erroneous charges, and issuing banks must reverse a disputed transaction if the cardholder’s claim is valid.

When a cardholder contacts their issuing bank to dispute a transaction and receive a chargeback, the dispute is assigned a reason code that most closely matches the substance of the cardholder’s claims. The reason code provides the merchant and other stakeholders in the dispute with a concise explanation for why a chargeback has been granted.

Each card network—Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover—defines and maintains their own unique set of reason codes, which are applied to disputes by the banks that issue credit and debit cards under their brands.

Visa specifies 46 reason codes under the categories of Fraud, Authorization, Point-of-Interaction Error, Consumer Disputes, and Processing Errors. Visa uses a numeric scheme for its chargeback reason codes.

Understanding chargeback reason codes is one of the most essential parts of effective chargeback management. Identifying the chargeback reason code and the evidence required to fight it is the first step in chargeback representment, and analyzing your chargeback reason codes can provide you with insights into what types of disputes are causing you the most trouble. With this information, you can determine the root causes of your chargebacks and take action to prevent them from reoccurring.

Similar Posts

What Is Chargeback Representment?

Chargeback Reversal Tips