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What types of disputes are covered?
The FCBA settlement procedures apply only to disputes about "billing errors." For example:
- unauthorized charges. Federal law limits your
responsibility for unauthorized charges to $50;
- charges that list the wrong date or amount;
- charges for goods and services you didn't
accept or weren't delivered as agreed;
- math errors;
- failure to post payments and other credits,
such as returns;
- failure to send bills to your current address -
provided the creditor receives your change of address, in writing, at
least 20 days before the billing period ends;
- charges for which you ask for an explanation or written proof of purchase along with a claimed error or request for clarification.
To take advantage of the law's consumer protections, you must:
- Write to the creditor at the address
given for "billing inquiries," not the address for sending your
payments, and include your name, address, account number and a
description of the billing error.
- Send your letter so that it reaches the
creditor within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was
mailed to you.
- Send your letter by certified mail, return
receipt requested, so you have proof of what the creditor received.
Include copies (not originals) of sales slips or other documents that
support your position. Keep a copy of your dispute letter.
- The creditor must acknowledge your complaint in writing within 30 days after receiving it, unless the problem has been resolved. The creditor must resolve the dispute within two billing cycles (but not more than 90 days) after receiving your letter.
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