Partial Chargebacks

Are Partial Chargebacks Different From Other Disputes?

A partial chargeback (or chargeback partial refund) refers to a chargeback that returns less than the full amount of a disputed transaction. For example, let’s say a cardholder is unhappy with one piece of a larger purchase. One of two things could happen:

• The customer files a chargeback for only the amount of that one piece that was deemed unsatisfactory.
• The customer files a chargeback for the full amount, but you counter with a partial refund that only covers the unsatisfactory parts of the order.

Neither situation is common, but they can happen. So is there a special way to respond to a partial chargeback? If the customer has a legitimate claim on part of the order, should you offer a decreased refund?

Let’s take a closer look at the circumstances behind the partial chargeback.

What is Considered a Partial Chargeback?

Cardholders have the right to file a chargeback if they’re dissatisfied with a purchase. Officially, that customer should contact you first to try and resolve the conflict. For numerous reasons, however, an increasing number of consumers are skipping that step and going straight to the issuing bank.

If the customer has a problem with the entire order, they can dispute the full amount of a transaction. But what if they are only dissatisfied with one part of a purchase? The cardholder may tell the issuing bank that, for example, 3 out of 4 items purchased were fine. They only wish to dispute the amount paid for that one item. This is a partial chargeback.

Why might a consumer opt to file a partial chargeback, though? Here are some possible scenarios to illustrate:

• The cardholder received or used a portion of the services or merchandise. They paid upfront for a resort stay, but were forced to leave early due to a burst water main in the hotel. They dispute the amount they paid for the unused lodging.
• The cardholder objects to a portion of the purchase. Five of the six items shipped were satisfactory; the chargeback only applies to the one unsatisfactory item and any surcharges pertaining to that item.
• The merchant overcharged the card. The cardholder only disputes the excess amount.

How Common are Partial Chargebacks?

Partial chargebacks are not very common. There are several reasons for this; first, note that in all the examples above, the customer is generally happy with the order. They’re willing to pay what they owe…they just don’t want to pay for items or services that were unsatisfactory.

Customers who are overall happy are more apt to contact you instead of immediately calling the bank. If they do call the bank first, it may be because they are not totally familiar with the chargeback process. For example, they may (falsely) believe that a chargeback is the same as a refund. Also, if the cardholder doesn’t understand how chargebacks work, they may not even know that asking for a chargeback partial refund is an option.

Of course, in a growing number of cases, the consumer is attempting to commit friendly fraud by filing a false claim. A fraudster would have no reason to ask for a partial refund. They would want to get as much money back as possible.

Those situations aside, however, a customer is still allowed to file a chargeback on a partial amount. Regardless of the total, this would be treated just like any other dispute: if the cardholder’s claim is legitimate, you must accept the chargeback. If the claim is false, though, you should challenge the claim through representment.

Partial Chargebacks From the Merchant Perspective

Both Visa and Mastercard have similar approaches to chargeback amounts. Their regulations say that the chargeback amount cannot exceed the amount of the transaction in question. However, just as the cardholder can file a chargeback for a partial amount of the transaction, you are allowed to contest only part of the dispute amount.

Here’s an example. You operate a subscription software company. A new customer signs up and pays for a year in advance. After several weeks, you receive a chargeback where the customer claimed that the service never really worked. The customer never used it, and therefore wants a refund for the full amount paid.

Your computer records, however, clearly show that the customer accessed the server multiple times during the disputed period, with apparently no problems or support issues. Because of that, you feel the customer only deserves a refund for the time remaining in the contract.

You’re allowed to contest just this lesser amount. You will still need to create a rebuttal letter and provide compelling evidence, of course; you fight the reduced chargeback just as if you were fighting the full amount.

The bottom line: you have the right to offer a lesser refund. But should you?

The Downside of Offering Less

Submitting a lower representment amount might seem like a viable way to keep a customer happy. After all, you’re meeting the cardholder half way and offering a mutually-beneficial resolution. There are some things to consider before you offer a partial refund, though.

Are Partial Chargebacks Inevitable?

In reality, there are only three true sources of chargebacks: criminal fraud, merchant error, and friendly fraud. Partial chargeback refunds almost always fall into the “merchant error” category.

Say you ship an order for two shirts; one was the correct color, the other was not. The customer may ask for a partial refund, which would be hard to re-present. You could counter with a refund for just the incorrect item. However, one of it changes the fact that the dispute actually started because you shipped the wrong shirt.

Here’s the good news, though: chargebacks from merchant error are 100% avoidable…if you can identify them. Most merchants, however, are too close to their business to perform the type of unbiased analysis required to find every potential chargeback trigger.

Chargebacks911® offers an unparalleled Merchant Compliance Review specifically designed to scrutinize over 100 separate points of the merchant’s policies and procedures, delivering a comprehensive, actionable report. If you’re interested in learning more about eliminating merchant-error chargebacks for good, contact us today.

FAQs

What is a partial chargeback?

A partial chargeback refers to a chargeback that returns only a portion of a disputed transaction. This is generally because the cardholder is dissatisfied with only part of an order, and wants a refund just for that amount.

Can you dispute a partial charge on your credit card?

Yes. Cardholders have the right to dispute part of a charge on their card. However, it’s not uncommon for the bank to dispute the full amount of a charge on the customer’s behalf, regardless of the customer’s intent.

Can I fight a partial chargeback as a merchant?

Yes. Challenging a partial chargeback works just like contesting any other chargeback. The only difference is the amount being disputed.

If the cardholder disputes the entire amount, can I offer less?

You can, if you can demonstrate that the cardholder was satisfied with part of the purchase. It’s generally not a smart idea, however; if you can prove that the customer only deserves a partial refund, it usually means the chargeback was filed for the wrong amount, and may have to be reversed.