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What brings you to Chargeback Gurus today?

Quickly and efficiently build the materials you need to support your
inbound marketing strategy. Drag and drop building blocks including
testimonials, forms, calls-to-action, and more.

New Customer

I’m a business looking to reduce & recover chargebacks

Switching to Gurus

I want to switch from my previous provider to the Gurus

Partner Relationships

I’m a business interested in your partner program

General FAQs

I am eager to learn more about your services & process

 

New Customer FAQs

The Basics

UA01 Fraud – Card Present Transaction

Description

Fraud – Card Present Transaction

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. A fraudulent transaction was made using the actual credit card, according to the cardholder.
  2. Merchant processed the order without authorization; The credit card was not swiped through the magnetic stripe reader; a card-not-present transaction was not identified as such; the cardholder did not approve or participate in the transaction.

Prevention Steps

  1. Wait to receive authorization before finishing transaction
  2. Wait to receive authorization before finishing transaction
  3. Strengthen internal fraud prevention policies and procedures for suspicious activity
  4. Provide timely responses to all retrieval requests
UA02 Fraud – Card Not Present Transaction

Description

Fraud – Card Not Present Transaction

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. Cardholder claims a fraudulent transaction was made in a card-absence environment.
  2. The merchant does not request authorization; the merchant makes multiple attempts on a card that is declined, or otherwise attempts to force, circumvent, or override a declined authorization.

Prevention Steps

  1. Obtain authorization
  2. Discontinue the transaction if a card has been declined
  3. Ask for an alternate form of payment
  4. Never force an authorization
UA05 Fraud – Chip Counterfeit Transaction

Description

Fraud – Chip Counterfeit Transaction

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. The cardholder claims to not have been involved in a transaction that was processed using an EMV/chip terminal.
  2. The merchant's card processor did not transmit the full chip data; a chip-reading terminal was not actually used; a transaction was made fraudulently by an unauthorized person.

Prevention Steps

  1. Upgrade to compliant terminals
  2. Obtain approval for all transactions
  3. Make sure to obtain the correct Cardholder Verification Method (CVM), such as a signature or PIN
  4. Train staff on the proper handling of terminal issue
UA06 Fraud – Chip And PIN Transaction

Description

Fraud – Chip and PIN Transaction

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. The cardholder claims to not have been involved in a transaction that was processed using a hybrid card at a stripe-only terminal of a chip-capable terminal not equipped with a PIN pad.
  2. The merchant's card processor did not transmit the full chip data; a transaction was made fraudulently by an unauthorized person.

Prevention Steps

  1. Upgrade to compliant terminals
  2. Obtain approval for all transactions
  3. Make sure to obtain the correct Cardholder Verification Method (CVM), such as a signature or PIN
  4. Train staff on the proper handling of terminal issue
UA10 Request Transaction Receipt (Swiped Card Transactions)

Description

Request Transaction Receipt (swiped card transactions)

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. Issuer requests documents for a transaction the cardholder claims was fraudulent (card-present.)
  2. Transaction signature does not match the card signature; cardholder discovers fraud; merchant did not obtain authorization; card imprint is not legible and/or does not have proper security features; receipt or other transaction documents are illegible.

Prevention Steps

  1. Always obtain authorization
  2. Make sure all card-present transactions are either chip-read or magnetic stripe-read
  3. Obtain an imprint or perform additional validation, such as PIN
  4. Always obtain legible signed receipt, and provide customer with a copy
UA11 Cardholder Claims Fraud (Swiped Transaction, No Signature)

Description

Cardholder claims fraud (swiped transaction, no signature)

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. The cardholder claims this activity was fraudulent (card-present).
  2. Merchant did not obtain signature on a transaction; cardholder discovers fraud; merchant did not obtain authorization; card imprint is not legible and/or does not have proper security features; receipt or other transaction documents are illegible.

Prevention Steps

  1. Merchant should obtain cardholder’s authorization at the time of sale.
  2. Merchant should obtain cardholder’s signature at the transaction receipt
  3. If electronic machine or the terminal cannot recognize/read the card’s magnetic stripe, request authorization by key entering the account number. Be sure the key-entered account number matches the account number on the card. Use a manual printer to print the information from the face of the card at the order receipt that is signed by the cardholder.
  4. Suppose your terminal is not working, ,call your center for authorization approval and mention approval code on the order receipt in the space provided. Use a manual printer to print the information from the face of the card at the order receipt that is signed by the cardholder.
Do I have to interact with you every time I receive a chargeback?

No, we take the pain out of chargeback management and chargeback prevention so that you don't ever have to lift a finger.

Our FPR-360 portal integrates with your payment processor, CRM and gateway to gather all of the information related to chargebacks you receive.  Our team of analysts then compile the evidence needed to win the case and send it over to your bank.

The only communication we require is an initial assessment for us to better understand your business.  And if you like, we can schedule monthly or quarterly meetings with you to review our performance.

How long does it take to get started?
We can get you started in as little as 3 business days provided we receive all the required credentials on-time.
Are there any long-term agreements I need to sign?
There is no long-term agreement; our contract is month to month, with a 30-day notice to cancel. We rely on long-term mutually beneficial relationships, rather than contracts.
Are there any setup fees to get started?
On a case by case basis there may be a nominal set up fee.
What login access do I have to provide in order to get started?
We would like to have access to your payment processor chargeback portal to access and dispute all of your chargebacks, payment gateway for collecting transaction receipts, CRM or sales system to download invoices, billing history, tracking numbers, understand the communication between you and your customers and to blacklist customers that have filed a chargeback.
What if my gateway or CRM is not in your integration list?
If the CRM or gateway that you are using is not in our integration list, we would be happy to integrate your CRM and gateway, our dedicated development team can complete the integration right away.
Ideal with several systems; how do you integrate with all of them?
Our FPR-360 system is fully customizable and can integrate with multiple systems.
Can I provide custom integrations?
Absolutely. We do it all the time.
Can I provide the compelling evidence upon request rather than giving acess to our system?
The objective of this relationship is to reduce the time you spend managing your chargebacks. If the merchant requires us to request this information manually it increases our processing time, we charge additional $3 per chargeback to cover the additional time/costs.
How do you handle data security and privacy?
We follow strict PCI compliance, and we work with more than 2,200 merchants. Data security is a top priority for us. Since we are connecting through AP, your data is handled securely, all the data we access is strictly kept confidential, and we do not share your data with any third-party agents. We do not collect all your customer data. We collect data pertaining to your chargebacks only.
What kind of on-going support can I get from your team?

Our team is dedicated to making your life easy; our goal is to help you minimize your chargebacks and fight them effectively to ensure maximum recovery.

Our team is available 5 days a week and can be reached via phone, email or Skype.  Our goal is to respond to all your queries in less than 24 hours, in many cases we are able to respond within 2-6 hours.

What is FPR-360? What does FPR stand for?
FPR 360 stands for Fight Prevent and Recover. FPR-360 tool provides you the ability to track your chargebacks, recovered revenue, identify vulnerabilities causing chargebacks, chargeback prevention and analyze merchant account chargeback risk in real-time.
Will I be trained on how to use your FPR-360 system?
Absolutely. Our Client Relationship Managers will be available to provide the support and assistance you need.
Do I have to sign up for all the services you offer?
Absolutely not! You can pick and choose the service you need or talk to our sales gurus to determine the services that best suit your business needs and challenges.
Is there an additional fee for phone support?
No, we do not charge you for phone support. Our pricing is straight forward. What you see in our pricing section is the same, as what will appear on your monthly bill.
How do I evaluate your performance?
You can utilize our ROI Analyzer tool to track chargeback recovery rate, $ recovered and chargeback prevention rate. We also provide quarterly performance analysis reports to evaluate your ROI and vulnerabilities.
Do you fight chargebacks every day or right before the deadline?
All of your chargebacks are logged into our system right away and depending on the response timeframes your processor provides, we try to dispute all chargebacks at least 5 - 7 days before the deadline.
Can I decide which chargebacks to fight and which one not to?
When you have the initial discovery call with your Client Relationship Manager you are welcome to provide some guidelines for us to follow. For example: Do not dispute chargebacks below $5.
I received chargebacks via email and fax. How do I notify your team?
You, can either change the email address/fax number to ours or forward your fax and emails to support@chargebackgurus.com. Our analysts will log your chargebacks in our system.
What will need from you, to prevent chargebacks and to enroll in your prevention alerts program?
We just need your merchant account descriptors, along with details about the merchant account and company to enroll your account in our Prevention Alert Program.
Do you work with merchants located outside of us?
Yes. Currently we have clients in 10 different countries and if we do not cater your country, we would love to explore the opportunity of assisting you with your chargeback challenges.
How often do you bill us?
We bill clients every 15 days.
What kind of payments are available?
We accept bank wire, ACH and credit card payments.
I have signed up with Verifi & Ethoca through another reseller already. What is the advantage of signing up with chargeback gurus?

Here are the four advantages:

  1. One portal to manage chargebacks, Verifi CDRN Notifications and Ethoca Alerts
  2. Gurus manage your alerts, refund the transaction and blacklist customer within 24 hours
  3. You pay ONLY for unique alerts. Never pay for alerts raised by both providers.
  4. Our No-Chargeback guarantee protects you in event your alert turns into a chargeback.
How do I switch my alerts to chargeback gurus?
You just have to notify your current alerts provider that you are switching to another company. They have to release the descriptors for us to add them to our network.

Chargeback Representment

NA No Authorization

Description

No Authorization

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. The transaction was processed without authorization.
  2. The merchant does not request authorization; the merchant waits a day or more before requesting authorization; the merchant requests authorization for one amount, then adds a tip to the total before processing.

Prevention Steps

  1. Always authorize every transaction
  2. Obtain authorization on the day of the transaction 
  3. Don't add the tip to a previously authorized amount
DA Declined Authorization

Description

Declined Authorization

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. A declined transaction is presented for processing.
  2. The merchant does not request authorization; the merchant makes multiple attempts on a card that is declined, or otherwise attempts to force, circumvent, or override a declined authorization

Prevention Steps

  1. Obtain authorization
  2. Discontinue the transaction if a card has been declined
  3. Ask for an alternate form of payment
  4. Never force an authorization
AT Authorization Noncompliance

Description

Authorization Noncompliance

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. The transaction was processed without a positive authorization response and/or contains an authorization response beyond the card's expiration date.
  2. Transaction was processed without electronic authorization, voice approval, or account verification; the transaction was forced after initially being declined.

Prevention Steps

  1. Always obtain authorization
  2. Do not force a transaction when a declined authorization has been received
  3. Do not process a transaction for more than the allowed tolerance level above the authorization amount
Tips to increase your chargeback recovery rate.

The first tip to improve your recovery rate is of course to fight the chargeback, though the majority of merchants do not challenge all chargebacks. The first step to fighting a chargeback, is to research the reason code which explains the reason for the chargeback and the required compelling evidence to dispute it.

Then, prepare compelling evidence which may include process for consumer identification, emails or phone calls about the order, POD -  tracking numbers that confirm delivery, etc.

You should maintain dispute templates for each reason code and include your intent to fight the chargeback and why.

You must submit your response packet prior to the expiration date that is set by your payment processor, some of which only allow 5-10 days to respond to a chargeback claim. If that seems like a lot, it is. You likely will find that if you're experiencing more chargebacks than 0.5% to 1% chargeback ratio, you should consider a chargeback representment company, like Chargeback Gurus.

Can issuing refunds prevent chargebacks?

If a customer reaches out to a merchant seeking a refund, the merchant's rapid response in satisfying the customer will generally prevent a chargeback from being filed. It is essential merchants have easy-to-reach and well-trained customer service reps, who can often prevent a chargeback, and perhaps keep a customer for life.

While the merchant may or may not receive the purchased goods back in a return, the refund should prevent the customer from contacting their credit card company to file a chargeback, unless the customer is a fraudster looking to double dip.

What is double dip fraud?
Customers who ask the merchant for a refund, and simultaneously contact their card issuer to file a chargeback are guilty of double dipping, a fraud where they are seeking to get their money back from both entities.
Handling double dipping issues when dealing with chargebacks and refund at the same time.

Merchants who try and monitor their chargeback issues in-house will often get burned on double dip fraud, because they don't have the semi-automated tools and human review that will issue chargeback alerts. They often don't have the time or resources to analyze transactions, refunds and the customer service documentation to determine if double dipping has occurred.

A consumer who is promised a refund may be expecting it the next day, though it may take you 5-10 business days to process the refund. By then, they've already contacted the issuing bank and asked for a chargeback. Human review is essential, as the fraudsters may also request a partial refund from the merchant, and then file a full chargeback - a scheme that will not be caught on simple fully automated systems since the transaction amounts are different.

Merchants should educate the consumer on when they can expect to see the refund posted to their account and provide a copy of the original transaction and a refund receipt.  Doing so can prevent honest customers from thinking the refund was not issued and filing a chargeback.

Do you recommend fighting all chargebacks?

When it comes to chargebacks, avoiding hassle and short-term costs aren't the only issues. This is also about protecting your reputation and improving your processes. Failing to fight chargebacks could lead to serious costs and consequences such as chargeback fees, increase in merchant account fees, your bank placing a hold on your reserve funds or terminating your merchant account.

If you have all the compelling evidence necessary to fight chargebacks, you should submit the dispute documents to your processor and fight them. It is important to note that you should accept all chargebacks that are either valid or appear to be true fraud.

How does the chargebacks dispute process work?

A customer calls their credit card issuing bank and gives a reason for a chargeback, factual or fraudulent. The bank then notifies the processor and the processor notifies the merchant about the chargeback.

The merchant has 10-30 days to dispute the chargeback, depending on their processor. If the merchant decides to fight the chargeback, they must compile the necessary compelling evidence to prove that the merchant has delivered the product/service as per the terms stipulated during the buy process.

The merchant then sends a response packet that includes: necessary compelling evidence for the reason code, all documentation that is available for that customer and why they are disputing the chargeback. The documents are then sent to the acquiring bank and a temporary reversal is issued to the merchant.

The acquiring bank then sends the documents to the issuing bank who will further review the documents and decide if they agree with the merchant or if they decided to favor the customer.

If the customer is favored, the reversal made will be revoked, the issuing bank will file a pre-arbitration case and from there the merchant can decide if they want to accept the revoked decision or continue with the dispute process.  Once a case is referred to the Card Association for review the losing party will be responsible for paying the fees during this process.

Who makes decisions of chargebacks?

The initial decision is made by the Acquiring Bank when you submit the dispute documents. The documents are then sent to the Issuing Bank for review, if they do not agree with the dispute documents submitted, then the dispute can be continued through the pre-arbitration process and the Card Association will determine the outcome.

Sometimes the Issuing bank might agree with the document submitted by the merchant, but the customer might not agree with the decision to reverse the chargeback and, at that time they can pressure their issuing bank to continue the dispute by filing a pre-arbitration case.

What is pre-arbitration? How do I fight it?

Pre-arbitration proceedings, sometimes known as pre-arbs, occur when a cardholder or an issuing bank continues the disputed transaction. Although the ruling fell in favor of the merchant the first time, the merchant almost never wins on a second reversal. While new and compelling evidence can potentially aid a merchant, it is often difficult to muster new information for an existing case.

The first thing you should do when facing pre-arbitration is review the evidence presented in the original chargeback case. Additional forms of documentation can be of value. For example, have you spoken to the customer on the phone, and kept detailed notes of those conversations? Do you now have a detailed and signed confirmation of receipt that you didn't have before? Whether you’re a new merchant or an experienced hand, dealing with pre-arbitration can be a hassle you don’t need.

This is where hiring professionals can be a helpful solution. At Chargeback Gurus, we know our way around a chargeback and can help you to effectively assess the evidence for a pre-arbitration case.

What is arbitration? How do I fight it?

If you lose on a pre-arbitration ruling but still want to contest the case, you can continue the dispute by going to arbitration, which is the final step in the chargeback dispute process. It must be filed within 45 calendar days from when the original chargeback was finalized and must include an overview of the dispute in chronological order as part of a Completed Arbitration Document, signed by the principal contact.

There are significant fees associated with the arbitration process, which will be assessed to the losing party, as much as $500+. The best way to fight an arbitration is to avoid one, by winning the pre-arbitration.  It is important to note that in most cases it is not wise to continue the dispute process to pre-arbitration and on to arbitration because the costs can outweigh the potential recovery.

What are my chances of winning pre-arbitration and arbitration cases?

As previously stated, without a significant amount of new documentation confirming the order, processing and proof of delivery, the odds of winning a pre-arb or arbitration are slim, especially if handled in-house. Even chargeback associates within your company are generally ill-prepared for the nuances, documentation and time-frame required for pre-arb and arbitration.

Note: Chargeback Gurus does not recommend entering this process for small dollar amounts because the potential fees outweigh the benefits.

What are chargeback reason codes?

Every chargeback will include a reason code, a numerical identifier of why the consumer has filed the chargeback. While the different Card Networks use different reason codes, each has a specific set of numbers it uses to tell the merchant why the chargeback has been filed.

Though the industry has discussed reducing the number or reason codes, there are currently dozens. Examples of what the codes indicate are: Services Not Provided or Merchandise Not Received; Not As Described; Never Ordered; Fraudulent Processing of Transaction; Cancelled Recurring Transaction; or Expired Card.

How to fight American Express chargebacks?

American Express is different from Visa and MasterCard since they are both a card network and its own issuing bank.  They are the financial institution that issues its own card to consumers.

Thus, when a card member requests a chargeback, Amex already has important information available, and immediately reviews the request. Amex then either: Determines the transaction in question to be a valid charge and dismisses the case, sends an inquiry to the merchant for more information or most likely, issues an immediate chargeback.

The majority of Amex chargebacks are awarded to the card member without inquiry. Numerous inquiries to any one merchant will reduce the chance of that merchant winning any future chargebacks, as Amex will at some point immediately rule against that merchant.

In the event the merchant receives an inquiry, they have 20 days to respond with enough compelling evidence for Amex to reverse the chargeback in the merchant’s favor.

Compelling evidences needed to fight chargebacks.

Compiling and properly documenting all the necessary compelling evidence in the form and format the different Card Associations and banks, is often a tall task for in-house chargeback staff to manage.

Some of the compelling evidences we recommend are:

  1. Order Invoice
  2. Transaction Receipt
  3. IP Address Location
  4. Proof of Delivery
  5. AVS/CVV Match
  6. Customer Service Notes if any
  7. Product Usage Report (For Digital Goods)
  8. Partial/Full Refund Receipt if Provided
  9. Social Media Link if you see customer posting picture of the product
  10. Explanation Letter stating why you are fighting this chargeback
Why do I see a difference in chargeback amount and transaction amount?

Often you might receive chargebacks which has different chargeback and transaction amount because the customer might decide to dispute a partial transaction amount rather than a full amount.

This happens if the customer thinks they were billed a wrong amount or if a partial credit was issued by the merchant and they are looking for a full credit.

How can I measure the ROI when hiring a chargeback representment company?

You should expect at least 1.5 to 1 ROI when evaluating your chargeback representment company. If you spend $1,000 a month, you should see a return of at least $1,500.

Chargeback Gurus offers a Guru Guarantee on all our services. We provide the merchant with frequent reports that show what we've recovered for a client along with extensive chargeback trend reports to assist in reducing a merchant’s overall chargeback account.

Combined with the savings on chargeback fees, our advanced methods of fraud protection and our stellar winning percentage on contested chargebacks, we guarantee ROI to all merchants.

Who are your card partners?

We work very closely with all the Card Networks, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. We share chargeback data with them about chargeback trends in the industry, what is affecting the merchants, etc.

We talk to Card Associations when they roll out new compelling evidence requirements and how it impacts the merchants. We are a major contributor to the payments ecosystem. We represent a wide range of merchants; our input has been taken into considerations within the payments ecosystem to improve the environment for merchants.

How does chargeback gurus service merchants from different industries with the same material?

Our core foundation and belief are that in any industry, for any problem that has been continuing, there is always a trend. If you overlook the trend, the chances are you won't be able to identify where the problem is, and you'll continue having chargeback problems. We focus on helping merchants fight/prevent chargebacks and fraud.

Our state of the art technology combined with our experienced team members, we can effectively combat fraud and chargebacks across multiple e-commerce verticals. We have been in the payments industry for more than 13 years and have seen and serviced all types of industries.

We represent more than 2,200 merchants in diversified industries, which has given us a global perspective about the problems merchants have faced over the years. Chances are that when a new client comes on board, we have catered to a similar industry in the past. We come up with innovative solutions to help merchants fix their root causes and can assist merchants in ways to prevent chargebacks from happening in the first place.

What if I'm in an industry you've never represented?

If it's a totally new industry for us, we still apply our fundamental approach, and use that as a basis to analyze the patterns that are going on in that industry. We know we have the right tools, the right people and the right technology in place to identify the patterns, to collect all the data points and determine what is causing your chargebacks to occur.

It doesn't matter what industry you are in. If you're involved in CNP (Card Not Present) transactions, we can help you combat your chargebacks.

Chargeback Prevention

IN Invalid Card Number

Description

Invalid Card Number

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. The card number used for the transaction is not assigned to a valid account, or not assigned to the cardholder.
  2. The merchant mistypes or calculates incorrectly; card has expired.

Prevention Steps

Double check calculations and the final transaction amount before processing Double-check expiration date

LP Late Presentation

Description

Late Presentation

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. The transaction was completed past the required time limits.
  2. The merchant does not process a transaction in a timely manner; the account was no longer in good standing at the time of processing; the transaction was delayed due to a POS system issue.

Prevention Steps

Send completed transactions to your card processor as soon as possible (preferably on day of the sale)

What are action steps to prevent chargebacks?

To prevent chargebacks, you first need to identify the root cause or causes of why you’re continuing to have chargebacks at an unacceptable rate. We help merchants like you identify your key causes for chargebacks.

Your company could be incurring chargebacks due to fulfillment errors, product issues, lack of proper customer service, billing problems or fraud. We analyze various components of chargebacks before we provide an extensive report to you so that you can address any problematic area and reduce your chargebacks.

We work closely with you to develop specific strategies that are customized for your business to prevent chargebacks before they hurt your bottom line.

What services are available to prevent chargebacks?

To start with, we provide all our clients with a risk and vulnerability assessment. You can’t stop chargebacks until you’re aware of why you’re at risk. We also offer a back office process support, which will catch any potential problems, from out of date software to ineffective shipping, to a lack of effective records for customer service.

Our Chargeback Prevention Alert Program followed by Frictionless 3D Secure services and Root Cause Analyzer took can help you prevent up to 50% of your chargebacks. Please visit our Prevent services page to learn more.

What are chargeback prevention alerts?

Chargebacks not only affect your merchant account and give you something else you have to deal with, they can significantly affect your cash flow, the lifeline of any eCommerce business.

Chargeback alerts helps you prevent a chargeback before they happen. With our largest prevention alert network, we are able to stop up to 25% of your chargebacks before they hit your account.

Can chargeback prevention alerts prevent 100% of my chargebacks?
No, but it can help you eliminate up to 25% of chargebacks from happening, depending on the volume of transactions you process. Working with Chargeback Gurus gives you the ability to resolve up to 25% conflicts with your customers, we also provide value added services targeted to reduce your chargebacks and fraud even to a greater extend. We do more than just fight your chargebacks; we prevent the majority of them from occurring.
What are some fraud prevention tools and what are their effect on chargebacks?

Some merchants believe they're on their own when it comes to battling fraud, or they may turn to an attorney for help - who may or may not be an expert in fraud, or up to speed on what the latest schemes are targeting merchants in your industry.

Chargeback Gurus® will work with you and create a process to help you identify fraudulent customers. We'll also integrate your shopping cart with third party software that can help identify fraudulent customers and void the order before the product/service is delivered. We believe in human and automated review processes to prevent consumer fraud, as fraud is committed by humans and you need a two-tier approach to prevent consumer fraud.

Our analyst checks every order profile using our 35-point check system to identify consumer fraud. And we maintain a private blacklist of known fraudsters who have targeted your industry in the past, with different names and credit cards.

For 13+ years, Chargeback Gurus has been an industry leader not just in fighting chargebacks, but in alerting its clients to the latest fraudulent activities, and helping to prevent fraudulent orders, thus preventing chargebacks.

Metrics to look for when implementing fraud prevention tools for reducing fraud and chargebacks?

The simple way to track your metrics are as follows: (this is a sample data)

 

Before Fraud Prevention Tool

After Fraud Prevention Tool

Total Sales Count

3,000

2,975

Total Declined Count

100

125

Revenue Generated

$300,000.00

$297,500.00

Total Fraud Chargebacks

100

10

Revenue Loss Due to Chargebacks         

$10,000.00

$1,000.00

Chargeback Fees:

$2,500.00

$250.00

Fraud Prevention Tool Cost:

$NA

$2,000.00

 

 

 

Net ROI:

$287,500.00

$294,250.00

Tips on how to identify and prevent counterfeit credit cards and identify cards.

There are lots of ways to spot a counterfeit credit card or identity card if you are POS merchant - symmetry of the numbers when you look at the card, whether the card numbers match the type of card, behavior of the person, etc. For online merchants, it's a little trickier, since you're getting your information online, on the phone or in email.

For phone orders, behavior can still be an indicator, as well as unusual requests like an extreme rush order, shipping to somewhere other than the billing address, the name on the card given is different than the person placing the order, etc. Also, be aware of someone ordering several of the same item, especially those with immediate resale value.

In addition to checking the AVS and CVV numbers, you can also ask for a call back number to confirm you're talking to the card holder, or even contact the issuing bank for confirmation.

What is TC 40 data? How can it benefit preventing chargebacks?

Every time a consumer makes a fraud claim, issuing banks report TC40 data to the merchant's acquiring bank, other issuing banks and card brands like Visa and MasterCard. By using these files to understand their fraud risks, merchants can evaluate their fraud prevention tools to identify frequent behavior. 

TC40 data only applies to fraudulent activity, not to all chargebacks. The card issuers collect the data - Visa compiles it under Risk Identification Service (RIS) and MasterCard's TC 40 data is called the System to Avoid Fraud Effectively (SAFE). TC 40 Data can also hurt you, as every fraudulent case against you is shared with other banks and issuers in the system, even if you're not notified. The more often your company is targeted, the more likely it will continue to be, a concern for your MAS.

Charges may be declined for you based on multiple TC 40 reports, as well as fees or fines assessed. The best way to avoid being in that situation is to work with a team of fraud prevention experts, like Chargeback Gurus. Our experience will not only limit the number of fraudulent cases, but our relationship with banks and card companies gives us the access to TC 40 data, and the opportunity to correct information.

Merchant Account & High-Risk Merchant Account

NC Not Classified

Description

Not Classified

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. Any claims of invalid transactions which do not fall under any other classification.
  2. The merchant's attempts to resolve the issue were unsuccessful; other reasons specific to the claim.

Prevention Steps

Will fluctuate depending on the claim The cardholder may also initiate this chargeback up to 365 days from the ordering date for the credit card transaction, Debit Card Transactions and Prepaid Identity Known Card Transactions.

How do I determine if I am a high risk or a low risk merchant?

Each processor and bank make their own evaluation of whether a merchant is high risk or Low Risk, what additional reserve funds are required, and what transaction rate that merchant should be paying.

In general, online merchants are automatically categorized as high risk merchants - here are some of the factors that go into deciding if a merchant is high risk or their level of risk: Merchant has a track record of numerous chargebacks; merchant is in an industry with a higher percentage of chargebacks; merchant deals in luxury goods, with a higher incentive for fraud; or merchant deals in airline tickets, event tickets or other medium-to-high priced tickets with quick turnaround and an unknowing third party.

What are my options if I am a high-risk merchant?

A majority of merchant account providers don't want to work with high risk merchants and may turn you down immediately. You'll need to find a processor that specializes in high risk merchants. You'll need to be prepared for what high risk processors will ask from you, starting with a higher level of reserve deposits because the provider will need to protect themselves.

They will also likely charge higher processing rates. Try and find a processor that is already doing business in your field, perhaps with a competitor or potential partner. Be sure to research them carefully and read the contract even more carefully.

What are reserves in high risk merchant account?
High Risk accounts normally have a higher reserve level because the bank has identified the merchant as a greater risk for chargebacks. The processor may ask for a significant amount at the beginning, and then monitor the transactions of a high-risk merchant, raising or possibly lowering the reserve amount based on the frequency and number of chargebacks that occur.
Why do ISO's/processors hold reserve funds?

The reserve funds an acquiring bank asks from a merchant is basically a security deposit to protect it until the bank becomes comfortable with the merchant's volume of business, and frequency of chargebacks. Non-High-Risk merchants over the course of time may face a Holdback - the merchant’s bank holds back a percentage of receipts to cover possible chargebacks.

After a pre-arranged amount of time, that Holdback money is returned to the merchant. Or the merchant may face a Rolling Reserve, with a percentage of each transaction withheld and eventually released. The merchant may also face a Capped Reserve, which holds a percentage of each transaction until a pre-determined amount is reached. That money is held throughout the duration of the merchant agreement, but no further funds are reserved.

When can I expect the reserves funds to be released?

For high risk merchants, those funds will likely be held in reserve throughout the extent of the contract. While it may be inconvenient, and potentially a threat to the cash flow of your business, it's the way high risk merchants have to do business.

For Non-High-Risk merchants, a Holdback may be returned when the processor is comfortable with your cash flow, after a pre-arranged length of time. Or for a Rolling Reserve, with a percentage of each transaction withheld, those funds will be released, in relation to when the funds came in. Reserves held in January may be released in July; reserves held in February would be released in August, etc. If you are facing high number of chargebacks, the processor might decide to extend your reserve period.

What can of fees can I expect if I am a high-risk merchant?

You will be paying more than Non-High-Risk merchants for sure. You will likely be paying a higher reserve to set up the account, a higher transaction fee, and then may be charged payment gateway fees, Payment Card Industry fees, IRS Report Fees and any other fees the processor negotiates with you. It could also include monthly minimum fees, annual fees, etc. 

Any chargebacks will also carry an extra fee, as well as possibly a retrieval request fee, a batch fee - even an NSF fee if all the fees have depleted your account. If that's all too much and you want to quit, you could be looking at a possible early termination fee as well.  It is crucial that you read your contract carefully, and hopefully find an institution you trust. The processing fee can range anywhere between 3 – 7% plus additional fees.

What is an onshore merchant account?
Onshore merchant accounts offer the security of working within your own country, where you know the banking laws and regulations. For a High-Risk merchant, it's not always easy to secure an onshore account without high set-up fees and significant deposits. High-Risk merchants must sometimes turn to offshore merchant accounts due to the nature of their business.
What is an offshore merchant account?

Generally, an offshore merchant account refers to a merchant account with an offshore bank as the acquirer. Occasionally, it also refers to an onshore bank that is held by an offshore entity. For some merchants, offshore banks are desired for increased privacy, depending on where they are located.

Offshore merchant accounts are sometimes a last resort for high risk merchants looking for a processor. Offshore merchant accounts are often more lenient about what types of goods and services can be sold, but usually charge higher rates and fees. They may also require a higher degree of personal information from the principals for the high-risk merchant.

What is the difference between an on-shore and off-shore merchant account?

The main difference between onshore merchant accounts and offshore merchant accounts are fees, and privacy. An onshore merchant account is more desirable but may not be available for high-risk merchants.

Offshore merchant accounts often charge twice as much as onshore merchant accounts - if not more - per transaction, in addition to monthly fees and a set-up cost as well. There is a greater risk involved in trusting your revenue to flow through an offshore account, which is generally not insured by local governments. Onshore merchant accounts have 1 – 2 business day funds settlement time frame but off-shore merchant accounts can have 5 – 10 business days settlement time.

What is an acquiring bank?
Acquiring banks are banks that acquire merchant accounts and process credit or debit cards on behalf of the merchant. It indicates that the merchant accepts or acquires credit or debit cards from card issuing banks with card associations, such as Visa, American Express, MasterCard, Discover and others. In providing the merchant with a merchant account, the acquiring bank is supporting a line of credit for the merchant.
What is an issuing bank?

An issuing bank is the financial institution behind the credit cards, i.e., the bank that has issued the Visa or MasterCard to the consumer, on behalf of those card networks. The bank is the liaison between the cardholder and the Card Association.

American Express and Discover, as well as some other credit cards, are both card networks, and issuing banks - they have their own financial institutions issuing credit cards directly to customers without affiliating with a bank.

What is the difference between an acquiring bank and an issuing bank?

Generally, a financial institution is either an acquiring bank - working with a merchant to acquire the payments through credit cards that the merchant accepts; or an issuing bank, working through card networks to issue credit and debit cards to their clients to use in transactions.

Some institutions, however, can be both. Banks that function as both on behalf of merchants and consumers are Bank of America, Barclay, Chase, Citi Bank and Wells Fargo.

What is AVS/CVV match? Why is it important to activate both when accepting CNP transactions?

AVS (Address Verification System) allows the processing bank to match the billing address with what is on file with the issuing bank for the cardholder participating in the transaction. Note that a "no-match" transaction can still be approved.

CVV (Card Verification Data) is a three or four-digit code on the back (or front with Amex) of the card that confirms that the card is in the possession of the customer making the purchase. CVV is also known as CVV2, CVC2 or CID (with Amex and Discover).

Using both AVS and CVV when accepting Card Not Present sales can significantly reduce the likelihood of fraudulent purchases, such as those with a stolen credit card. In addition, your acquiring bank is likely to offer better transaction rates when verifying AVS and CVV.

What are CNP & CP transactions?
CNP stands for Card Not Present, the staple of Online Merchants who process internet transactions, as well as mail orders and telephone orders (MOTO). CP stands for Card Present, the mainstay of Point of Sale (POS) transactions, taking place at brick and mortar or retail merchants.
Are CNP transactions riskier than CP transactions? Why?

Yes, CNP by definition indicates that the merchant is accepting credit card information without actually seeing the credit card, or the person placing the order, and must take extra precautions to try and ensure the cardholder is actually the person placing the order.

As a result of the increased risk, CNP merchants pay a higher interchange fee to their Merchant Service Provider (MSP).

Tips on selecting the right merchant account reseller or a processor?

Fees and reserves are obviously an important factor in choosing a merchant account processor, but so are the terms of your agreement (length, termination conditions), the average processing time, ease of communication and availability of customer service. Ask your reseller their relationship with the processor.

Prior to filling out the application, ask the reseller the name of their ISO/Processor and if they deal with high risk merchant account. Consider also how long they've been in business and if they have experience obtaining merchant accounts for other merchants in your line of industry. Take the time to call their references, find out their customer support hours and most importantly ensure they secure your application since you will be providing an excess of sensitive data during the application process.

 

Switching to Gurus FAQs

57 Fraudulent Multiple Transactions

Description

Fraudulent Multiple Transactions

Typical Causes

  1. Merchant fails to void multiple transactions of a single Credit Card account.
  2. Merchant tried to process multiple transactions fraudulently.
  3. Cardholder authorized the transaction earlier, but later denied.

Prevention Steps

  1. Merchant should void the transaction in that Customer not participate.
  2. Merchant process Credit immediately if Multiple transactions held from a single credit card account of the same product.
  3. Merchant should share all Policies with Customers and let them know about the Orders and Offers.
  4. Always request to Cardholder to sign the policies in addition to the final transaction receipt.
  5. Train employees to operate point-of-sale terminals and void transactions.
62 Counterfeit Transaction

Description

Counterfeit Transaction

Typical Causes

  1. The cardholder denies authorizing or participating in the transaction that was completed with a counterfeit card in a Card Present environment.

  2. The issuer reported the transaction as counterfeit Fraud Activity through VisaNet and online authorization was obtained without transmission of the entire unaltered data on track 1 or track 2, or full-chip data. OR The cardholder denies authorizing or participating in the transaction completed with a counterfeit card in a Card Present environment and the card is a chip card (first digit of the Service Code is 2 or 6).

  3. Furthermore, either the transaction did not take place at a chip-reading device (terminal entry capability code was not 5) or, for transactions not involving a Europe Member, the transaction was chip-initiated and, if the transaction was authorized online, the acquirer did not transmit the full-chip data to Visa in the authorization request.

81 Fraud – Card-Present Environment

Description

Fraud – Card-Present Environment

Typical Causes

The cardholder did not authorize or participate in a Card Present environment transaction.

OR

A fraudulent transaction was completed in a Card Present environment using an account number for which no valid card was issued or is outstanding, and no authorization was obtained.

83 Fraud – Card-Absent Environment

Description

Fraud – Card-Absent Environment

Typical Causes

The cardholder did not authorize or participate in a transaction conducted in a Card Not Present environment.

OR

A fraudulent transaction was completed in a Card Not Present environment using an account number for which no valid card was issued or is outstanding, and no authorization was obtained.

93 Visa Fraud Monitoring Program

Description

Visa Fraud Monitoring Program

Typical Causes

Visa notified the issuer that the transaction was identified by the Visa Fraud Monitoring Program and the issuer has not successfully charged back the transaction under another reason code.

10.1 EMV Liabilty Shift Counterfeit Fraud

Description

EMV Liabilty Shift Counterfeit Fraud

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 days

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

30 days (cut to 20 days in 2019)

Typical Causes

The cardholder has a chip card and someone made a counterfeit copy of it. You processed a transaction with the counterfeit card on a terminal that wasn’t EMV-compliant rather than using a chip reading device that would have detected the fraud. Now, the cardholder claims the purchase was unauthorized.

Prevention Steps

  1. Only use EMV-compliant terminals.

  2. Always use the correct cardholder verification method—signature, PIN, etc.

  3. Create an electronic or manual imprint for every card-present transaction.

10.2 EMV Liabilty Shift Non-Counterfeit Fraud

Description

EMV Liabilty Shift Non-Counterfeit Fraud

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 days

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

30 days (cut to 20 days in 2019)

Typical Causes

The cardholder has a PIN-preferring chip card, but you didn’t use a chip-reading device to process the transaction or used a chip-reading device that wasn’t PIN compliant. Now, the cardholder claims the purchase was unauthorized.

Prevention Steps

  1. Only use EMV-compliant terminals.

  2. Always use the correct cardholder verification method—signature, PIN, etc.

  3. Create an electronic or manual imprint for every card-present transaction.

10.3 Other Fraud: Card-Present Environment/Condition

Description

Other Fraud: Card-Present Environment/Condition

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 days

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

30 days (cut to 20 days in 2019)

Typical Causes

The cardholder claims the transaction was unauthorized and it was either a key-entered or unattended transaction.

Prevention Steps

  1. Use fallback options—like manually entering transaction data—as a last resort.

  2. If you do perform a key-entered transaction, make a manual imprint of the card.

  3. Make sure you differentiate between card-absent and card-present transactions during clearing by noting internet phone, or mail orders.

10.4 Other Fraud - Card- Absent Environment

Description

Other Fraud - Card- Absent Environment

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 days

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

30 days (cut to 20 days in 2019)

Typical Causes

The cardholder claims a card-not-present transaction was unauthorized.

Prevention Steps

  1. Consider using all the tools available to you—including Visa Secure, card security code (CVV2), and Address Verification Service (AVS).
  2. Use pre-sale fraud detection service providers that can help verify the cardholder’s identity, detect potential criminal activity, and reduce the risk of accepting unauthorized transaction.
  3. Use a billing descriptor that is easily recognized by the cardholder.
  4. Always submit an authorization request, no matter the transaction amount.
  5. Make sure you differentiate between card-absent and card-present transactions during clearing by noting internet, phone, or mail orders.
10.5 Visa Fraud Monitoring Program

Description

Visa Fraud Monitoring Program

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 days

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

30 days (cut to 20 days in 2019)

Typical Causes

Your business is enrolled in the Visa Fraud Monitoring Program and the issuer was allowed to dispute the fraudulent transaction.

Prevention Steps

Monitor your fraud-to-transaction ratio and take necessary steps to prevent breaching thresholds established by Visa.

Another provider has burned me. Why should I trust Chargeback Gurus?

Unlike other providers our service and pricing models are very transparent, our pricing and services are created with one goal in mind which is to create a win-win strategy for you. If you are not satisfied with us, you can walk away anytime.

There are no long-term contracts; there are no setup fees; there is no complicated pricing structure. Most of the providers do not display their pricing, but if you visit our pricing section, our pricing is clearly displayed for you.

Our goal is to set the expectation very clearly so that it will tell you what, or how you can measure our ROI. Upon request, we will provide you the ROI sheet so that you will know the relationship is a win-win or if not and at any time you feel that we have not satisfied your business needs, you are welcome to walk away.

How long does it take for you to manage my chargebacks and alerts?

Our setup process is very simple, if you are switching from another chargeback company. We ask that you speak with your current chargeback management provider and request the release of your descriptors immediately.

The moment the descriptors are released we can start managing all of your alerts, within one business day. When it comes to chargebacks our integration process is very simple and we can get you started within 3 - 5 business days provided we have all the login credentials from you.

Is there a downtime during the transition process?

Absolutely, not. The day you notify your previous chargeback provider that you are switching to Chargeback Gurus you can provide all the login credentials to our onboarding team, and we can fight all the chargebacks from the proceeding date.

We will ensure there is no downtime. The moment your chargeback management provider releases the descriptors we will add them to our network and we will start to manage the alerts, the next day.

What credentials do I need to provide to get started?
We would need access to the following systems: your processor chargeback portal to download/respond to the chargebacks, secure gateway to download the transaction receipt, and to your CRM to pull the order information, the customer service notes and the shipping information.
How do I transfer my descriptors from my crurrent provider to Chargeback Gurus?
You just have to simply notify the current chargeback management company to release the descriptors. The day they release the descriptors for both Ethoca & Verifi, we can add them to our network and start to manage these alerts.
What information do you need from my previous provider?
We do not need any information from your previous provider. We just need the login credentials for your CRM; gateway; processor portal plus we need the descriptors and the merchant account information.
How do I evaluate your performance?
Upon request, we will provide you the ROI sheet so that you will know the relationship is a win-win or if not, and anytime you feel that we have not satisfied your business needs, you are welcome to walk away.
What if Chargeback Gurus does not live up to my expectation?
If we are not able to fulfill your expectation, you are welcome to terminate the relationship and walk away at any time. Our simple guarantee is to net a gain or walk away.
Do you work on performance basis?
It depends on the account and volume of business. Please reach out to our Sales Gurus and we can discuss your business needs and challenges.
How safe is my data? Do you share with any third-party providers?
We integrate to your system through an API and we keep your data absolutely confidential - all the data interchange happens through secured SSL and we do not share your information with any third-party providers.
Can I get started with just one service at the beginning?
Absolutely, you can test our services with just one service at a time and see if the relationship is fulfilling your immediate needs. If you are satisfied with our current service, then we encourage you to look at all of the services we provide, and we will work with you to determine how our services can benefit your bottom line.
Is there a setup fee to being with?
Absolutely, not. Please refer to our integration partner list. If your payment processor and gateway is not listed in our integration partner list, we will charge you a minimal set-up fees for custom integration.
I have signed with the Verifi & Ethoca already. What is the advantage of signing up with Chargeback Gurus?

Here are the four advantages:

  1. One portal to manage chargebacks, Verifi CDRN Notifications and Ethoca Alerts
  2. Gurus manage your alerts, refund the transaction and blacklist customers within 24 hours
  3. You pay ONLY for unique alerts. Never pay for alerts raised by both providers.
  4. Our No-Chargeback guarantee protects you in case your alert turns into a chargeback.
How do I switch my alerts to Chargeback Gurus?
You just have to notify your current alerts provider that you are switching to another company. They have to release the descriptors for us to add to our network.
 

Partner Relationships FAQs

Referral Partners

UA01 Fraud – Card Present Transaction

Description

Fraud – Card Present Transaction

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. A fraudulent transaction was made using the actual credit card, according to the cardholder.
  2. Merchant processed the order without authorization; The credit card was not swiped through the magnetic stripe reader; a card-not-present transaction was not identified as such; the cardholder did not approve or participate in the transaction.

Prevention Steps

  1. Wait to receive authorization before finishing transaction
  2. Wait to receive authorization before finishing transaction
  3. Strengthen internal fraud prevention policies and procedures for suspicious activity
  4. Provide timely responses to all retrieval requests
UA02 Fraud – Card Not Present Transaction

Description

Fraud – Card Not Present Transaction

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. Cardholder claims a fraudulent transaction was made in a card-absence environment.
  2. The merchant does not request authorization; the merchant makes multiple attempts on a card that is declined, or otherwise attempts to force, circumvent, or override a declined authorization.

Prevention Steps

  1. Obtain authorization
  2. Discontinue the transaction if a card has been declined
  3. Ask for an alternate form of payment
  4. Never force an authorization
UA05 Fraud – Chip Counterfeit Transaction

Description

Fraud – Chip Counterfeit Transaction

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. The cardholder claims to not have been involved in a transaction that was processed using an EMV/chip terminal.
  2. The merchant's card processor did not transmit the full chip data; a chip-reading terminal was not actually used; a transaction was made fraudulently by an unauthorized person.

Prevention Steps

  1. Upgrade to compliant terminals
  2. Obtain approval for all transactions
  3. Make sure to obtain the correct Cardholder Verification Method (CVM), such as a signature or PIN
  4. Train staff on the proper handling of terminal issue
UA06 Fraud – Chip And PIN Transaction

Description

Fraud – Chip and PIN Transaction

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. The cardholder claims to not have been involved in a transaction that was processed using a hybrid card at a stripe-only terminal of a chip-capable terminal not equipped with a PIN pad.
  2. The merchant's card processor did not transmit the full chip data; a transaction was made fraudulently by an unauthorized person.

Prevention Steps

  1. Upgrade to compliant terminals
  2. Obtain approval for all transactions
  3. Make sure to obtain the correct Cardholder Verification Method (CVM), such as a signature or PIN
  4. Train staff on the proper handling of terminal issue
UA10 Request Transaction Receipt (Swiped Card Transactions)

Description

Request Transaction Receipt (swiped card transactions)

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. Issuer requests documents for a transaction the cardholder claims was fraudulent (card-present.)
  2. Transaction signature does not match the card signature; cardholder discovers fraud; merchant did not obtain authorization; card imprint is not legible and/or does not have proper security features; receipt or other transaction documents are illegible.

Prevention Steps

  1. Always obtain authorization
  2. Make sure all card-present transactions are either chip-read or magnetic stripe-read
  3. Obtain an imprint or perform additional validation, such as PIN
  4. Always obtain legible signed receipt, and provide customer with a copy
UA11 Cardholder Claims Fraud (Swiped Transaction, No Signature)

Description

Cardholder claims fraud (swiped transaction, no signature)

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. The cardholder claims this activity was fraudulent (card-present).
  2. Merchant did not obtain signature on a transaction; cardholder discovers fraud; merchant did not obtain authorization; card imprint is not legible and/or does not have proper security features; receipt or other transaction documents are illegible.

Prevention Steps

  1. Merchant should obtain cardholder’s authorization at the time of sale.
  2. Merchant should obtain cardholder’s signature at the transaction receipt
  3. If electronic machine or the terminal cannot recognize/read the card’s magnetic stripe, request authorization by key entering the account number. Be sure the key-entered account number matches the account number on the card. Use a manual printer to print the information from the face of the card at the order receipt that is signed by the cardholder.
  4. Suppose your terminal is not working, ,call your center for authorization approval and mention approval code on the order receipt in the space provided. Use a manual printer to print the information from the face of the card at the order receipt that is signed by the cardholder.
How is your service different from your competitors?

Our services are offered with one key goal in mind which is to create an ROI platform. We do not offer services to our clients who do not have any products. We are the only company who reveals the real ROI to our clients, we tell them why we are fighting chargebacks and why we are not fighting certain chargeback and we also reveal to our clients what their vulnerabilities are.

We analyze over 35 different chargeback data points but most of our competitors analyze just 5-6 data point which makes it challenging for them to determine the real cause of their chargebacks. We provide over 35 different analytical reports to determine the pattern and thus identifying vulnerabilities that are affecting their bottom line.

We also conduct regular meetings with our clients to assist in identifying vulnerabilities and recommend solutions that can get to the root cause of chargebacks. Our Prevention Alert services are far more superior to the rest of the chargeback management companies, because we do not charge our clients for duplicate alerts and we also manage all their alerts.

We also give our clients a guarantee that when an alert turns into a chargeback that we will refund the money 100%. We believe in empowering our merchants by providing vital information that will ultimately protect their business. We also believe in the power of transparency, our clients know upfront the services that we are providing, in order to calculate and track their ROI in real-time.

How do I refer clients?
You simply have to sign up as a referral partner and once your signed application is approved, we will be assigning a referral strategic partner to our relationship Guru, you just have to refer all your clients to our strategic partnership Guru and will be happy to take care of your clients.
How long does it take to get my clients started with your services?
Provided your clients provide us all the login credentials on-time, we can get started in 3 – 5 days.
Must my referrals sign up for all the services you offer?
Absolutely, not. Your referral can pick and choose the service you prefer.
Is there any setup fee to get started?
There is no set-up fee.
Will I be trained on your products and services?
Absolutely. If you like to be more knowledgeable about the product and services, our sales team can train you on all the products and services.
What are your typical referral payouts?
The referral payout can range anywhere from 5% to 15% depending on the volume of business you bring in.
How do I track my payout?
Every month we will send you a summary sheet with the payout broken down by client.
How often do I get paid and how do I get paid?
We pay you once a month for all the paid invoices. Payments are made to your bank account or can be initiated via PayPal if you are located overseas.
Do you work in a mutual referral partnership?
Absolutely. We strongly believe in a win-win situation and if you are offering a service that complements our service, we would love to have mutual referrals.
Who do I contact to become a referral partner?
Email partners@chargebackgurus.com  and one of our strategic partnership Gurus will reach out to you in less than 24 hours.

Reseller Partners

NA No Authorization

Description

No Authorization

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. The transaction was processed without authorization.
  2. The merchant does not request authorization; the merchant waits a day or more before requesting authorization; the merchant requests authorization for one amount, then adds a tip to the total before processing.

Prevention Steps

  1. Always authorize every transaction
  2. Obtain authorization on the day of the transaction 
  3. Don't add the tip to a previously authorized amount
DA Declined Authorization

Description

Declined Authorization

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. A declined transaction is presented for processing.
  2. The merchant does not request authorization; the merchant makes multiple attempts on a card that is declined, or otherwise attempts to force, circumvent, or override a declined authorization

Prevention Steps

  1. Obtain authorization
  2. Discontinue the transaction if a card has been declined
  3. Ask for an alternate form of payment
  4. Never force an authorization
AT Authorization Noncompliance

Description

Authorization Noncompliance

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 Days recommended

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

not applicable

Typical Causes

  1. The transaction was processed without a positive authorization response and/or contains an authorization response beyond the card's expiration date.
  2. Transaction was processed without electronic authorization, voice approval, or account verification; the transaction was forced after initially being declined.

Prevention Steps

  1. Always obtain authorization
  2. Do not force a transaction when a declined authorization has been received
  3. Do not process a transaction for more than the allowed tolerance level above the authorization amount
Why should I partner with Chargeback Gurus?

By partnering with the Gurus, you will have the ability:

  1. To offer value-added services without any over-head expense.
  2. Protect merchants from high chargebacks and fraud.
  3. Work with an industry leader with a reputation for being transparent.
  4. Provide a tool to your merchants that can analyze merchant account risk level, chargeback threshold and vulnerabilities causing chargebacks, real-time.
  5. Monetize and create win-win situation for your merchants.
How does your reseller partnership work?

Once you are approved as a reseller partner, we will train you and your team on all our products and services.

We offer whole sale rates on all our services. You convince your clients to sign up for your services and make 100% of the markup rate. We will bill you every two weeks for the services offered to your clients and you will handle invoicing your clients.

Do I get to white label your service?
Currently we do not offer white labeling services, however we plan to implement a white label program and are currently working towards setting it up. We will let you know when we are ready.
Should my clients sign up for all your services?
Absolutely not, they can pick and choose services that suits their needs.
Who provides on-going support on all the services you offer?
Our support team will provide all on-going support for your clients
What kind of training does my team, or I get on your services?

We will provide you the following materials:

  1. Service description manual
  2. Brochure
  3. System training
  4. Client on-boarding and billing training
What documents do I need to collect from my clients to get started?
We will provide you with a client service agreement that you would use to sign-up your clients.
Do I bill my clients for the service you offer, or can you collect payments on my behalf?
We request all our reseller partners to handle all client invoicing and billing and we bill you for the services offered to your clients.
What compliance do I have to follow to offer your service?
We request you to maintain all client data, customer data and chargeback related documents extremely confidential. If you have any third-party relationship, we expect you to reveal the nature of the relationship prior to signing up as a reseller.
Who do I have to contact to be a reseller partner?
Email partners@chargebackgurus.com and one of our strategic partnership Gurus will reach out to you in less than 24 hours.
 

General FAQs

57 Fraudulent Multiple Transactions

Description

Fraudulent Multiple Transactions

Typical Causes

  1. Merchant fails to void multiple transactions of a single Credit Card account.
  2. Merchant tried to process multiple transactions fraudulently.
  3. Cardholder authorized the transaction earlier, but later denied.

Prevention Steps

  1. Merchant should void the transaction in that Customer not participate.
  2. Merchant process Credit immediately if Multiple transactions held from a single credit card account of the same product.
  3. Merchant should share all Policies with Customers and let them know about the Orders and Offers.
  4. Always request to Cardholder to sign the policies in addition to the final transaction receipt.
  5. Train employees to operate point-of-sale terminals and void transactions.
62 Counterfeit Transaction

Description

Counterfeit Transaction

Typical Causes

  1. The cardholder denies authorizing or participating in the transaction that was completed with a counterfeit card in a Card Present environment.

  2. The issuer reported the transaction as counterfeit Fraud Activity through VisaNet and online authorization was obtained without transmission of the entire unaltered data on track 1 or track 2, or full-chip data. OR The cardholder denies authorizing or participating in the transaction completed with a counterfeit card in a Card Present environment and the card is a chip card (first digit of the Service Code is 2 or 6).

  3. Furthermore, either the transaction did not take place at a chip-reading device (terminal entry capability code was not 5) or, for transactions not involving a Europe Member, the transaction was chip-initiated and, if the transaction was authorized online, the acquirer did not transmit the full-chip data to Visa in the authorization request.

81 Fraud – Card-Present Environment

Description

Fraud – Card-Present Environment

Typical Causes

The cardholder did not authorize or participate in a Card Present environment transaction.

OR

A fraudulent transaction was completed in a Card Present environment using an account number for which no valid card was issued or is outstanding, and no authorization was obtained.

83 Fraud – Card-Absent Environment

Description

Fraud – Card-Absent Environment

Typical Causes

The cardholder did not authorize or participate in a transaction conducted in a Card Not Present environment.

OR

A fraudulent transaction was completed in a Card Not Present environment using an account number for which no valid card was issued or is outstanding, and no authorization was obtained.

93 Visa Fraud Monitoring Program

Description

Visa Fraud Monitoring Program

Typical Causes

Visa notified the issuer that the transaction was identified by the Visa Fraud Monitoring Program and the issuer has not successfully charged back the transaction under another reason code.

10.1 EMV Liabilty Shift Counterfeit Fraud

Description

EMV Liabilty Shift Counterfeit Fraud

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 days

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

30 days (cut to 20 days in 2019)

Typical Causes

The cardholder has a chip card and someone made a counterfeit copy of it. You processed a transaction with the counterfeit card on a terminal that wasn’t EMV-compliant rather than using a chip reading device that would have detected the fraud. Now, the cardholder claims the purchase was unauthorized.

Prevention Steps

  1. Only use EMV-compliant terminals.

  2. Always use the correct cardholder verification method—signature, PIN, etc.

  3. Create an electronic or manual imprint for every card-present transaction.

10.2 EMV Liabilty Shift Non-Counterfeit Fraud

Description

EMV Liabilty Shift Non-Counterfeit Fraud

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 days

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

30 days (cut to 20 days in 2019)

Typical Causes

The cardholder has a PIN-preferring chip card, but you didn’t use a chip-reading device to process the transaction or used a chip-reading device that wasn’t PIN compliant. Now, the cardholder claims the purchase was unauthorized.

Prevention Steps

  1. Only use EMV-compliant terminals.

  2. Always use the correct cardholder verification method—signature, PIN, etc.

  3. Create an electronic or manual imprint for every card-present transaction.

10.3 Other Fraud: Card-Present Environment/Condition

Description

Other Fraud: Card-Present Environment/Condition

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 days

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

30 days (cut to 20 days in 2019)

Typical Causes

The cardholder claims the transaction was unauthorized and it was either a key-entered or unattended transaction.

Prevention Steps

  1. Use fallback options—like manually entering transaction data—as a last resort.

  2. If you do perform a key-entered transaction, make a manual imprint of the card.

  3. Make sure you differentiate between card-absent and card-present transactions during clearing by noting internet phone, or mail orders.

10.4 Other Fraud - Card- Absent Environment

Description

Other Fraud - Card- Absent Environment

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 days

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

30 days (cut to 20 days in 2019)

Typical Causes

The cardholder claims a card-not-present transaction was unauthorized.

Prevention Steps

  1. Consider using all the tools available to you—including Visa Secure, card security code (CVV2), and Address Verification Service (AVS).
  2. Use pre-sale fraud detection service providers that can help verify the cardholder’s identity, detect potential criminal activity, and reduce the risk of accepting unauthorized transaction.
  3. Use a billing descriptor that is easily recognized by the cardholder.
  4. Always submit an authorization request, no matter the transaction amount.
  5. Make sure you differentiate between card-absent and card-present transactions during clearing by noting internet, phone, or mail orders.
10.5 Visa Fraud Monitoring Program

Description

Visa Fraud Monitoring Program

Time Limit (Issuer/Cardholder)

120 days

Time Limit (Acquirer/Merchant)

30 days (cut to 20 days in 2019)

Typical Causes

Your business is enrolled in the Visa Fraud Monitoring Program and the issuer was allowed to dispute the fraudulent transaction.

Prevention Steps

Monitor your fraud-to-transaction ratio and take necessary steps to prevent breaching thresholds established by Visa.

What is chargeback?
A chargeback occurs anytime a cardholder (customer) calls their credit card issuer to dispute a transaction either after contacting a merchant resulting in an unsatisfactory result or instead of contacting them. The reasons for disputing a transaction can be goods or services were not received, damage or quality, late delivery, fraud claim, not as advertised, or for any other reason.
What happens when a chargeback is filed?

The bank has no information that the cardholder’s refund request is invalid, the bank will issue a provisional credit to the cardholder and file a chargeback which automatically results in a debit from the merchant's bank. The chargeback is sent to the merchant’s payment processor whom will notify the merchant that a chargeback has been filed, and the merchant can either accept it or file a response to dispute the chargeback.

If the merchant disputes the chargeback and is able to provide the necessary and required compelling evidence that correlates with the reason code in which the chargeback was filed under, their processor will reverse it temporarily and refund the money to their account and send the merchant a response packet for the issuing bank to review. 

If the issuing bank accepts the evidence the merchant recovers their revenue.  However, if the issuing bank and the cardholder do not accept the evidence they can continue the dispute and file for pre-arbitration and the merchant can either accept it, losing the funds or they can respond and continue the dispute all the way to arbitration.  If the case continues the losing side will pay fees to the Card Association for arbitrating the case.

What is the time frame for disputing a chargeback?

In general, the cardholder has up to 180 days to dispute a transaction, some Card Associations allow more or less time depending on the reason for the chargeback.  Once the chargeback has been filed the chargeback cycle is 90-120 days to come to a resolution.

It is important to note that every processor assigns their own deadlines for the merchant to respond to a chargeback, in general a merchant is provided 7-30 days to file a dispute.  If the case goes all the way to arbitration is can take another 90 days to complete the cycle.

Will it affect me if I do not dispute/contest a chargeback?
Yes. If a merchant does not dispute chargebacks they will suffer a loss of revenue and the cost of goods provided to the cardholder. A merchant should have a solid revenue recovery program in place, so they do not build a reputation of accepting all chargebacks as this can increase their overall chargeback count which can impact the chargeback threshold of their merchant account.   
Visa card chargeback thershold.
In any given month, if a merchant has 75 chargebacks and 0.75% chargeback ratio, Visa will put the merchant on a pre-monitoring program. If the merchant exceeds 100 chargebacks and a 1% chargeback ratio the merchant will go on a Merchant Monitoring Program.
Mastercard chargeback threshold.
If a merchant exceeds 100 chargebacks and a 1% chargeback ratio they will be placed on a Chargeback Monitored Merchant program.  If they exceed 100 chargebacks and 1.5% chargeback ratio they will be categorized as an Excessive Chargeback Merchant.
American Express chargeback threshold.
Amex is slightly more relaxed and evaluates the merchant’s risk level as well as their chargeback count and ratio.  In general, to avoid exceeding AMEX chargeback thresholds a merchant should try to keep their chargeback count and ratio below 100 chargebacks and 1% chargeback ratio.
Discover chargeback threshold.
Discover is also slightly more relaxed, however to avoid exceeding the Discover thresholds the merchant should try and keep their chargeback count and ratio below 100 chargebacks and 1% ratio.
Do chargebacks still count towards my threshold even if I win the dispute?
Visa and Master Card chargebacks are counted towards your threshold no matter if you win or lose the chargeback. But for American Express chargebacks, the win counts are not added towards your threshold. The threshold is for the number of disputes filed. Which is why merchants take preventive steps in their sales, operation and fulfillment centers to prevent chargebacks.
What is the difference between chargebacks and retrieval requests?

All online businesses will have to deal with both. Sometimes called a 'soft' chargeback, a retrieval request is when the card issuer contacts the merchant requesting information about a specific transaction. The consumer may not have remembered the transaction and asked the cardholder for more information, or the transaction may have been missing information when it reached the bank.

While there is no financial impact to the merchant it is critical to respond to all retrieval requests, failure to do so will result in the merchant losing their right to dispute a chargeback for the transaction in question if one is filed.

What if I don't hear that I won a retrieval request?
If your documentation wasn't satisfactory, or prompt enough, or the cardholder is still disputing the charge, more often than not, a chargeback will be the next step. For this reason, it is sometimes advisable to simply issue a refund rather than have the consumer file a chargeback.
Does fighting chargebacks affect branding?

Not preventing a chargeback will affect your branding. However, once a chargeback is filed, you may already have a customer who is upset about the transaction or you have a customer who is making deliberate attempts to defraud your business.

Merchants who become known as an easy mark, i.e., who never fight chargebacks, can be setting themselves up for repeated fraud from the same clients or organized fraudsters repeatedly, and others who hear how it easy it is to contest a purchase.

What are the pros and cons of hiring a chargeback team vs. using a in-house team?

Even a dedicated in-house team does not have the time to stay aware of constantly changing regulations and requirements for challenging a chargeback - the rules have changed more in the last 5 years than in the previous 45 years and are expected to change even more in the next five.

An in-house team also won't have the tools and analytics to identify where and why the problems are happening that lead to the chargebacks. A chargeback representative company is able to provide all the right tools and reports to identify potential problems and is better equipped to fight the chargebacks you currently have. That's why it's very important to work with not just any representative company, you need an experienced chargeback recovery team.

You want a company who is vested in the payment industry, who has exposure to the necessary technology, who is able to identify root causes and vulnerabilities in your business, in order to help you successfully recover chargebacks and prevent future occurrences. If you discover that your in-house team is not winning at least 50% of the disputed cases, then you could be losing a good amount of your revenue. It may be time to outsource your chargeback work to an experienced representment company.

What is friendly fraud chargeback?

When a customer reports that tangible or digital goods were never actually delivered, or the product was defective, and the consumer calls their card issuer instead of the merchant, that is referred to as friendly fraud.

Many times, the consumer simply found it easier to call the credit card company than the merchant and may be a loyal customer who didn't even realize they were negatively impacting the merchant. The majority of Friendly Fraud chargebacks are actually clients trying to get something for nothing.

Do friendly fraud chargebacks still impact the merchant?
Yes, which is why it's important to have clear sales and fulfillment processes, an easy to reach customer service department, to prevent a chargeback from being filed after a mere misunderstanding that could be easily remedied.
What is true fraud chargeback?

It is considered True Fraud when a criminal and/or criminal network steals a cardholder’s credit card and makes unauthorized purchases with the credit card.  The cardholder has a right to file a chargeback when this happens, and the merchant should accept it.

What is a family fraud chargeback?
In some cases, a member of the cardholders’ family, or a friend who had access to their credit card, may order something without the cardholders’ knowledge or permission. While technically any purchase made with the credit card is the responsibility of the cardholder, Family Fraud chargebacks are still generally upheld, with the revenue being returned to the cardholder.
Will my refund % affect my merchant account?

Refunds transfer funds from your merchant account back to the customer's account. While they are preferable to a chargeback, there are still costs involved. Your processor will charge you twice, for the original transaction and the refund. A refund typically takes a few business days to reach the client's account, which could lead to a chargeback request.

In addition, too many refunds may flag you as a high-risk merchant. If you're already considered as high-risk, a high refund rate may increase your reserve percentage and/or put your MID at risk.

What do your Reason Codes actually mean?

Get The Complete Encyclopedia of Chargeback Reason Codes to find out.

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