Instacart: unauthorized charge

Collect

• statement with the charge
• order history

Steps

1. Compare the charge with your orders. Authorization holds can be higher than the order total and are released by the bank later; a recurring charge is an Instacart+ renewal.

2. If it still does not match, contact Instacart.

   OnlineInstacart Help Center (Connect with Instacart)

3. If Instacart does not reverse it, dispute it with your bank or card issuer.

More contacts for this issue

Facts you can cite

• Policy

  Instacart's Terms say multiple pending authorizations are not duplicate charges, and you are charged once for the final order total.

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

Rules in force

• Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (ROSCA) negative option requirements
  15 U.S.C. 8401-8405

  A seller that charges consumers online through a negative option feature (for example an automatic renewal or a free trial that converts to paid) must clearly disclose all material terms before taking billing information, get the consumer's express informed consent before charging, and provide simple mechanisms to stop recurring charges. The FTC enforces ROSCA.

  Source: law.cornell.edu, verified 2026-10-12

  4 citable points

  • Policy

    Before obtaining the consumer's billing information, the seller must provide text that "clearly and conspicuously discloses all material terms of the transaction".

    Source: law.cornell.edu, verified 2026-10-12

  • Policy

    The seller must obtain "a consumer's express informed consent before charging the consumer's credit card, debit card, bank account, or other financial account".

    Source: law.cornell.edu, verified 2026-10-12

  • Policy

    A post-transaction third-party seller may not charge a consumer for an online sale unless it discloses the material terms and gets express informed consent, including the consumer's full account number, before charging. An initial merchant may not pass a customer's account number or other billing information to such a seller.

    Source: law.cornell.edu, verified 2026-10-12

  • Process

    A ROSCA violation is treated as a violation of an FTC rule on unfair or deceptive acts or practices, and the FTC enforces ROSCA with its FTC Act powers and penalties. Report violations to the FTC.

    Source: law.cornell.edu, 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

   AppReport a problem with an order (app Get help, or website Report a problem) App: select the order > Get help. Website: select the order > Report a problem Sign-in required

2. Customer service

   PhoneInstacart customer support +1-888-246-7822

3. Card or bank dispute

   Fair Credit Billing Act billing-error and purchase-dispute rights (Regulation Z)

   Electronic Fund Transfer Act error resolution and unauthorized-transfer liability (Regulation E)

4. State agency

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

5. Arbitration

   MailNotice of dispute (Legal Department) Instacart, ATTN: Legal Department, 50 Beale Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105

   Signed written notice, then at least 60 days to resolve it before arbitration.

Watch out

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