Bank of America: dispute with a merchant through the bank

Collect

• statement showing the charge
• receipt or order
• record of contact with the merchant

Steps

1. Contact the merchant first. Bank of America says merchants can often resolve the issue faster.

2. Wait until the charge posts. Only posted transactions can be disputed.

3. Start the dispute in Online or Mobile Banking.

   OnlineDispute a credit card transaction online Sign-in required

4. Or call credit card billing inquiries, or write to the billing inquiries address.

   MailCredit card billing inquiries (written billing disputes) Bank of America, PO Box 672050, Dallas, TX 75267-2050

5. If Bank of America does not resolve it, file a complaint with the CFPB.

   RegulatorConsumer Financial Protection Bureau +1-855-411-2372

More contacts for this issue

Facts you can cite

• Deadline

  Most credit card transactions must be disputed within 60 days of the date of the statement on which the error appeared.

  Source: bankofamerica.com, verified 2026-10-12

• Process

  Only posted transactions can be disputed; pending charges are temporary and may change.

  Source: bankofamerica.com, verified 2026-10-12

• Process

  You can dispute a credit card charge through Mobile or Online Banking, by phone, or by mail.

  Source: info.bankofamerica.com, verified 2026-10-12

• Deadline

  The BankAmericard agreement's billing rights notice says to write to Bank of America, P.O. Box 672050, Dallas, TX 75267-2050 within 60 days after the error appeared on your statement, and at least 3 business days before an automated payment to stop it.

  Source: files.consumerfinance.gov, verified 2026-10-12

• Policy

  Bank of America credit card agreements require binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association whenever either party chooses it; the only exception is an individual claim in small claims court.

  Source: files.consumerfinance.gov, verified 2026-10-12

Tips

• Company tip

  Contact the merchant before disputing a credit card charge; the merchant may resolve it faster.

  Source: bankofamerica.com, verified 2026-10-12

Rules in force

• Fair Credit Billing Act billing-error and purchase-dispute rights (Regulation Z)
  12 CFR 1026.13; 12 CFR 1026.12(c) (Regulation Z)

  For credit card and other open-end credit accounts, a written billing-error notice that the creditor receives within 60 days after it sent the first statement with the error starts a dispute process. The creditor must acknowledge it within 30 days and resolve it within 2 complete billing cycles (no later than 90 days). Until then, the consumer need not pay the disputed amount and the creditor may not collect it or report it as delinquent. A separate rule lets a cardholder assert claims and defenses about a card purchase against the card issuer.

  Source: consumerfinance.gov, verified 2026-10-12

  2 citable points

  • Policy

    Claims and defenses (12 CFR 1026.12(c)): when a merchant does not resolve a dispute about property or services bought with a credit card, the cardholder may assert against the card issuer all claims (other than tort claims) and defenses from the transaction, and may withhold payment up to the amount of credit outstanding for that purchase plus related charges. The issuer may not report that withheld amount as delinquent until the dispute is settled or judgment is rendered.

    Source: consumerfinance.gov, verified 2026-10-12

  • Limit

    Claims-and-defenses limits: the cardholder must first make a good faith attempt to resolve the dispute with the merchant, the purchase must exceed $50, and it must have occurred in the same state as the cardholder's current designated address or within 100 miles of it. The $50 and location limits do not apply when the merchant is the card issuer, is controlled by or controls the issuer, is a franchised dealer in the issuer's products, or got the order through a mail solicitation the issuer made or took part in.

    Source: consumerfinance.gov, verified 2026-10-12

If that fails, escalate

Go up one step at a time. Keep the reference numbers and dates from each contact.

1. Customer service

   PhoneCredit card customer service (including lost or stolen card) +1-800-732-9194 Account holder only

2. Written complaint

   MailCredit card billing inquiries (written billing disputes) Bank of America, PO Box 672050, Dallas, TX 75267-2050

   Card billing errors in writing within 60 days of the statement. For deposit accounts, write to the checking and savings address.

3. Federal regulator

   RegulatorConsumer Financial Protection Bureau +1-855-411-2372

4. State agency

   Your state’s financial regulator. Find it in the list of state agencies (also as JSON: states/<code>.json, for example states/ny.json).

5. Arbitration

   Bank of America credit card agreements require AAA arbitration if either party chooses it; either side may use small claims court instead.

Watch out

Related

• Dispute with a merchant through the bank at other companies
• How Bank of America complaints actually go (dossier, checked 2026-10-12)
• Banks and card issuers — how complaints work
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• Bank of America: fraud or scam
• Bank of America: fee reversal
• Bank of America: account frozen or closed
• Bank of America: billing error