Travel payments glossary

Chargeback reason code

The scheme-defined code that explains why a chargeback was raised.

Plain-English definition

A chargeback reason code is the scheme-defined identifier that explains why an issuer raised a chargeback — for example, fraud, authorisation issues, processing errors, or consumer disputes about goods or services. Each reason code has its own evidence requirements and time limits for representment. Knowing the reason code is the first step in deciding whether and how to defend.

Why it matters in travel

Travel disputes cluster around a few reason codes — service not provided, cancelled merchandise, unrecognised transaction — and each one needs different booking-level evidence to defend. A consistent response process by reason code is the difference between a healthy and an unhealthy chargeback program.

Knowing the reason code in detail is what makes representment efficient. Service-not-provided needs supplier confirmation and travel evidence; unrecognised needs the booking, payment trail and customer correspondence; fraud needs authentication evidence. Without a documented response process per reason code, every chargeback becomes a bespoke investigation.

The travel businesses with healthy chargeback programs have a template per reason code, a single source of evidence per booking, and a rough win rate they can predict. The businesses that do not respond to each chargeback like it is the first one and quietly accept disputes they could have defended successfully.

How felloh helps

felloh tags chargebacks with their reason codes alongside the booking trail so finance teams can build the right response with the right evidence without re-learning the rules each time.

Connect the dots.

See how payments, settlement, refunds and reporting evidence connect around every booking.