How to Win a Credit Card Chargeback Dispute.
Complete Details & Sample Letter for a Refund on a Non-Refundable Ticket, Seat & Baggage Charges.
Should I Accept a Voucher for Future Flights? Is it Too Late for a Refund on a Flight Cancelled Due to Covid-19?
 |
| Seinfeld: "You see, you know how to 'take' the reservation, you just don't know how to 'hold' the reservation. And that's really the most important part of the reservation: the holding. Anybody can just take them." |
Fed up with an airline like Delta, Air Canada, Jet Blue, Southwest, Lufthansa or TAP Air Portugal for refusing to give you a refund? This article gives specific details on how you can get a refund on a non-refundable airline ticket after the flight was canceled - even those caused by the Covid-19 virus epidemic. It is done by using your legal right to dispute the credit card charges - also known as a chargeback of the credit card charges. It doesn't matter if it's Chase, Capital One, or Bank of America, they all must help you.
Do not accept a voucher for future flights. Some reasons why: ✦You are entitled to a refund, dammit. ✦The airline will make you agree that the voucher is a substitute for a refund, limiting your future rights. ✦The voucher will have a time limit and possibly fees and added conditions. ✦The airline may not be in business or offer the same destinations or class of service when you want to use it. ✦Why trust an entity that won't adhere to it's own Terms of Carriage? Fool me once....
Our case involved a Visa credit card from a US bank and began with a US to EU flight. However since the procedures and the governing rules are based on credit card 'Core Rules', this information will be very useful for other jurisdictions, for Mastercard & American Express, and for other types of credit card disputes.
Be aware - disputing a credit card charge is not an exact science - the card issuers have a lot of latitude in this process. Our approach might not be best for you and the rules may change, so do additional research to maximize your chances. Note: When we say document some action, we mean getting something factual to prove your point- like an email printout, a screenshot of a relevant web page, a letter, or even your detailed notes with specific dates and times and the names of the person you spoke with.
Below we give the important key points to make and to document in disputing a credit card charge, also known as a chargeback of a credit card purchase. At the end of the article, to get you started there's a notated sample letter adapted from a letter we used with success, though keep in mind there are no guarantees when used with a different credit card company or with different circumstances.
The chain of logic that we believe will lock in your right to a chargeback follows. Your claim will be strongest if you document each point. Then we give additional informational comments and the sample letter.
