You wake up, check your bank app, and feel that stomach-drop. There it is: an unauthorized debit card transaction. You dispute it. The bank denies your dispute, says you authorized it, and mails you a cold little letter that basically says, “Too bad.”
It feels like getting your car stolen and being told, “Well, the thief had the keys, so it’s your fault.”
No. That’s not how the law works.
The Short Story (Read This First)
Under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) and Regulation E, if you report the unauthorized charge within 60 days, it’s the bank’s job to prove the charge was authorized. This is true even if your card was lost or someone tricked you into giving your PIN. Banks know this. Some will play the waiting game—asking you to file “another dispute,” stalling, hoping you give up or that 12 months pass so you miss your chance to take action.
What Banks Say vs. What the Law Says
What the bank says:
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“You used the card or PIN, so it’s on you.”
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“Our fraud team reviewed it. Case closed.”
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“File another dispute.”
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“Sorry, you waited too long.”
What the law says (in plain English):
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You report within 60 days? The bank must prove the transaction was authorized—not you.
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Lost card or stolen PIN? Still covered under EFTA/Reg E if you reported in time.
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They must actually investigate. A quick rubber-stamp denial is not a real investigation.
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Stalling is a tactic. Some banks try to run out the clock so a year slips by and you lose leverage.
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Signs Your “Investigation” Wasn’t Real
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The denial letter gives no details about why they think you authorized it.
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They ignore obvious red flags (new location, impossible travel, merchant you never use).
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They ask you to re-file the same dispute again and again.
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They refuse to share any proof (video, signature, IP logs) but still say it’s “you.”
What To Do Right Now (Checklist)
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Freeze your card and request a new number and PIN.
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Write down dates: when you first saw the charge, when you reported it, and when they denied it.
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Save everything: denial letters, emails, chat logs, call notes, screenshots.
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Get your statements that show the unauthorized charge and your timely report.
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Stop re-filing the same form over and over. That’s the stall trap.
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Talk to a lawyer who handles EFTA/Reg E—fast. The clock matters.
“But I Lost My Card” or “They Tricked Me Out of My PIN”
Even then, if you reported within 60 days, the bank still has to prove the charge was authorized. Thieves are crafty—skimmers, shoulder-surfing, fake texts, spoofed calls, and “Zelle me now” scams. You didn’t invite fraud. You reported it. They owe you a real investigation and the correct refund under the law.
“They Said It Was Me Because the Chip Was Used”
A chip read, a PIN entry, or a phone tap doesn’t equal your consent. Tech proves a transaction happened—not that you did it. Under Regulation E, the bank must connect the dots to you, not just to a device. Big difference.
Deadlines That Matter (Don’t Let Them Run Out the Clock)
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60 days: Report the unauthorized transaction within this window.
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12 months: Don’t let a year slide by while the bank plays ping-pong with your dispute. That delay can hurt your case.
How We Fight (And Why Banks Pay Attention)
At The Cardoza Law Corporation, we do this every day for consumers across California. We know the stall moves, the canned denial letters, and the “computer says no” routines. We demand the evidence, we hold them to EFTA/Reg E, and we push for the money you’re owed—including statutory damages and fees where the law allows.
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No out-of-pocket fees.
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We don’t get paid unless you win money.
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Real action. Real deadlines. Real results.
Common Real-World Scenarios We Handle
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Unauthorized debit card purchases at stores or online you’ve never used.
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Unauthorized ATM withdrawals while your card was in your pocket—or after it was stolen.
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Account-to-account transfers or P2P app pulls you didn’t approve.
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Travel-location charges when you were nowhere near that city.
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Merchant “recurring” debits you never signed up for.
What a Strong Case Looks Like
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Prompt report within 60 days.
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Clear paper trail: your dispute, their denial, your follow-ups.
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Evidence of “not me”: travel records, work logs, receipts, geo-data, new device alerts, IP address mismatches, merchant you never used.
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A bank that won’t show its work: thin denial letters, copy-paste language, no docs.
What If I Already Got Denied?
That’s common. A denied debit card dispute is not the end—often, it’s the beginning. We review the timeline, the evidence, the bank’s “investigation,” and their obligations under EFTA/Reg E. If they didn’t follow the law, we push back.
Don’t Let the Bank’s Letter Be the Last Word
Your money pays rent, buys groceries, covers childcare. An unauthorized debit card charge isn’t an “oops.” It’s a hit to your life. The law is on your side when you act fast and keep records.
Quick Recap (for search + sanity)
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Bank denied debit card dispute?
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Unauthorized debit card transaction showed up?
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Reported within 60 days? The bank must prove it was authorized.
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Lost card or stolen PIN? Still covered if you reported in time.
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They keep asking for another dispute form? That’s a stall.
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Time matters. Don’t let 12 months pass.
How Much Will This Cost ME?
We take all of our cases on contingency which means that you don't pay any money out of pocket, AND, we don't get paid unless you win money (including the money you lost that we're going to get back from the bank!)
Ready To Flip the Script?
Call us or send us your denial letter for a free case review. We’ll tell you, straight up, if you have a case—and if you do, you pay nothing out of pocket and we only get paid if you win money.
Your move. Don’t let the bank run out the clock. We’ll make them follow the law.
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