How long should I wait before filing a credit card dispute?

30 days if you were promised a refund and have not received it. If the merchant refuses to issue a refund for a legitimate reason, file immediately. Do not wait past 60 days from your statement date or you may lose the right to dispute.

What if the company says they issued the refund but I never got it?

Ask for proof — a transaction ID or reference number from their payment processor. Check with your bank or card issuer using that reference number. If the company cannot provide proof, file a credit card dispute. Legitimate refunds leave a paper trail.

Can I get a refund on a non-refundable booking?

Sometimes. If the service was not provided as described, if the vendor cancelled on you, or if there were health or safety issues, you may have grounds for a refund or credit. Document everything and escalate through customer service, then your credit card if needed.

Do airline refunds really take 60 days?

They can, especially for cancelled flights where the airline processes thousands of refunds at once. Most happen faster, in 7-21 days. Set your reminder for day 50 and escalate if you have heard nothing by then.

What counts as proof for a credit card dispute?

Booking confirmations, cancellation confirmations, email exchanges showing you requested a refund, screenshots of refund policies, and any receipts. The more documentation, the stronger your case. Your credit card company wants to see that you tried to resolve it with the merchant first.

Should I dispute small amounts or just let them go?

If it takes you 2 hours to recover $15, that is $7.50 an hour of your time. Decide what your time is worth. But do not let companies get away with keeping your money just because the amount is small — sometimes a quick dispute takes 10 minutes and sends a message.

How to Track Refunds and Get Your Money Back After Travel

Check your accounts within 7-10 business days for credit card refunds, file claims within 24 hours of discovering issues, and follow up weekly on pending refunds. Most travel refunds take 5-20 business days, but airlines can take up to 60 days for cancelled flights.

Set refund tracking dates immediately. When you request any refund, note the date, the company, the amount, and the expected processing time they gave you. Add a calendar reminder for 3 days before their deadline. Most companies give themselves more time than they actually need.
Screenshot everything. Take screenshots of cancellation confirmations, refund request confirmations, and any email correspondence. Save these in a dedicated folder labeled with the trip date. You will need these if the company claims they never received your request.
Know the standard refund windows. Credit card refunds: 5-10 business days. Airlines: 7-60 days depending on ticket type. Hotels: 3-14 days. Tours and activities: 7-14 days. PayPal: immediate to 3 days. If you are past these windows, escalate.
Check the original payment method first. Refunds go back to the card or account you paid with. If you paid with a credit card that has since been replaced, the refund still processes — it posts to your account even with a new card number. Check your statements, not just your card balance.
File credit card disputes at day 30. If a refund was promised and does not arrive within 30 days, file a dispute with your credit card company. Do not wait longer. Many cards give you 60 days from the statement date to dispute a charge, and that window can close while you are still waiting on a merchant.
Follow up in writing weekly. After your initial refund request, send a weekly email asking for status updates. Use the same email thread. Companies respond faster when they see consistent follow-up. Include your confirmation number and original request date in every message.
Escalate to corporate after 45 days. If you are at 45 days with no refund and no solid timeline, escalate. Find the corporate customer service email or phone number. Reference your case number, the amount owed, and the dates of all your follow-ups. State that you will be filing a credit card dispute if the issue is not resolved within 7 days.

How long should I wait before filing a credit card dispute?: 30 days if you were promised a refund and have not received it. If the merchant refuses to issue a refund for a legitimate reason, file immediately. Do not wait past 60 days from your statement date or you may lose the right to dispute.
What if the company says they issued the refund but I never got it?: Ask for proof — a transaction ID or reference number from their payment processor. Check with your bank or card issuer using that reference number. If the company cannot provide proof, file a credit card dispute. Legitimate refunds leave a paper trail.
Can I get a refund on a non-refundable booking?: Sometimes. If the service was not provided as described, if the vendor cancelled on you, or if there were health or safety issues, you may have grounds for a refund or credit. Document everything and escalate through customer service, then your credit card if needed.
Do airline refunds really take 60 days?: They can, especially for cancelled flights where the airline processes thousands of refunds at once. Most happen faster, in 7-21 days. Set your reminder for day 50 and escalate if you have heard nothing by then.
What counts as proof for a credit card dispute?: Booking confirmations, cancellation confirmations, email exchanges showing you requested a refund, screenshots of refund policies, and any receipts. The more documentation, the stronger your case. Your credit card company wants to see that you tried to resolve it with the merchant first.
Should I dispute small amounts or just let them go?: If it takes you 2 hours to recover $15, that is $7.50 an hour of your time. Decide what your time is worth. But do not let companies get away with keeping your money just because the amount is small — sometimes a quick dispute takes 10 minutes and sends a message.