Home / Guides / How to Dispute a Dating Site Charge and Ask for a Refund

How to Dispute a Dating Site Charge and Ask for a Refund

Updated 2026-10-20

If a dating or cam service charged you and you think it should not have, work in this order: write to the service, then contact your card provider. Deadlines are short, so start early and keep every message.

Step 1: ask the service in writing

Find the support email or contact form in the service's terms. Say which charge you dispute, the date, the amount and why.
Attach a screenshot of the statement line and of your account page. Keep a copy of everything you send.
Ask for a refund or for the charge to be reversed, and ask for a reply by a date you choose.

Step 2: contact your card provider

Call the number on the back of the card or use the dispute option in your banking app. Say it is a disputed charge and give the same details.
Do this quickly. The deadlines below count from the date of the statement or the payment, not from the day you noticed.
Keep paying the rest of your bill on time while the dispute runs.

United States: credit card billing errors

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says to send a written notice to the billing dispute address no later than 60 days after the card company sent the statement showing the error.
The letter should include your name, address, account number and a clear explanation of what you think is wrong and why.
The card company has 30 days to confirm it received your letter, and then two more billing cycles to finish its investigation.
While it investigates, you do not have to pay the disputed charge, and the company cannot charge interest on it or report your payment as late if you paid the undisputed amount on time.

United Kingdom: chargeback and Section 75

UK Finance describes a chargeback as a process where your card provider tries to reclaim money from the retailer's bank. It works for debit and credit cards, is not a legal right, and follows card scheme rules, so recovery is not guaranteed.
The card provider usually must start a chargeback within 120 days of the transaction, or of the date you were due to receive the goods or services.
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is a legal right that can make a credit card provider equally responsible with the seller. It covers credit cards only and purchases from £100 up to £30,000, and claims should be made within six years.

Other countries

Rules differ in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Start with your bank or card provider, and use the regulator and reporting pages listed in our guide on where to report a dating scam.

Sources checked

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, how to fix mistakes in your credit bill (adult financial education guide).
UK Finance, chargeback and Section 75.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your card agreement and the official pages for your country.

Questions

How long do I have to dispute a charge?

In the US, the CFPB says to write to the card company no later than 60 days after it sent the statement showing the error. In the UK, a chargeback usually must start within 120 days, and a Section 75 claim within six years.

Should I contact the dating service or my bank first?

Write to the service first and keep the reply, then contact your card provider. If the deadline is close, contact your card provider right away rather than waiting for the service.

Do I have to keep paying while the card company investigates?

Pay the undisputed part of your bill on time. In the US the CFPB says you do not have to pay the disputed charge during the investigation.

Is a chargeback guaranteed?

No. UK Finance says chargeback is not a legal right and follows card scheme rules, so recovery is not guaranteed.

More guides

Take the one-minute quiz