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American Express Reason Codes

This page covers American Express dispute codes, the ones with one letter and two digits like F29 or C08. Looking for Visa, Mastercard or Discover?

A dot in the code means Visa (10.4), four digits and no dot is Mastercard (4853), two letters at the front is Discover (UA02, RG).

TL;DR
  • Amex uses a letter-and-number system: F for fraud, A for authorization, P for processing, C for consumer disputes
  • F29 card-not-present fraud, C08 not received and C28 cancelled recurring are the ones you'll actually meet
  • You get 20 days to respond. That's the shortest window of any network, so build the packet the day the notice arrives
  • Amex issues its own cards, so there's no separate issuer to argue with

You've got an Amex notice with a code on it. Find the code below, then start the packet. The three you'll actually meet are F29, C08 and C28. Each has its own page.

Deep-Dive Guides​

Code Categories​

Fraud (F Series)​

CodeNameDescription
F10Missing ImprintCard imprint not obtained
F14Missing SignatureTransaction lacks signature
F24No Cardholder AuthorizationCardholder denies participating
F29Card Not Present FraudUnauthorized CNP transaction
F30EMV CounterfeitCounterfeit chip card
F31EMV Lost/Stolen/NRILost, stolen, or never received card

Authorization (A Series)​

CodeNameDescription
A01Charge Amount Exceeds AuthorizationAmount differs from auth
A02No Valid AuthorizationAuthorization not obtained
A08Authorization Approval ExpiredAuth expired before clearing

Processing (P Series)​

CodeNameDescription
P01Unassigned Card NumberInvalid card number
P03Credit Processed as ChargeCredit/debit confusion
P04Credit Not ProcessedRefund not received
P05Charge Amount IncorrectWrong amount charged
P07Late SubmissionTransaction submitted too late
P08Duplicate ChargeSame transaction charged twice
P22Non-Matching Card NumberCard number discrepancy
P23Currency DiscrepancyWrong currency charged

Consumer (C Series)​

CodeNameDescription
C02Credit Not ProcessedExpected refund not received
C04Goods/Services ReturnedReturn not credited
C05Goods/Services CancelledCancellation not credited
C08Goods/Services Not ReceivedMerchandise never arrived
C14Paid by Other MeansDuplicate payment
C18"No Show" or CARDeposit CancelledHotel/travel dispute
C28Cancelled Recurring BillingSubscription dispute
C31Goods/Services Not as DescribedQuality/description dispute
C32Goods/Services Damaged/DefectiveDefect dispute

Response Time Frames​

Shorter Windows

American Express has shorter response windows than Visa/Mastercard.

StageWindow
Inquiry response20 calendar days
Chargeback response20 calendar days
Documentation request10 calendar days

Inquiry Process​

Amex often sends inquiries before chargebacks:

Key Differences from Visa/MC​

FactorAmexVisa/MC
Response time20 days30-45 days
Inquiry processCommonLess common
Dispute platformAmex merchant portalVROL/Mastercom
Liability shiftSafeKey (3DS)3DS

SafeKey (3D Secure)​

Authenticate through SafeKey and fraud liability moves to the issuer. ECI 05 means fully authenticated. You've got to be enrolled properly first.

It doesn't always hold. Certain MCC categories and transactions under the threshold fall outside it. So do technical failures.

Documentation Requirements​

For Fraud Disputes (F Series)​

  • SafeKey authentication data
  • AVS/CVV results
  • Delivery confirmation
  • Customer communication

For Consumer Disputes (C Series)​

  • Terms and conditions
  • Delivery/service proof
  • Refund documentation
  • Communication records

Win Rate Expectations​

Code TypeWith EvidenceWithout Evidence
F29 (SafeKey)70-85%-
F29 (no SafeKey)30-45%Under 15%
C08 (delivery proof)60-75%Under 20%
C28 (consent docs)50-65%Under 20%
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