Chargeback Risk Scorecard
A chargeback is not a payment problem. It is a fulfilment-truth problem that got escalated — and the merchant usually has the evidence to win it. Eight questions, one risk score, and the specific fix for every red flag you hit. Most brands finish in under three minutes.
Used to price the exposure in dollars.
Card networks flag a threshold near 1%. Check your processor dashboard.
Disputes scale with ticket size — a $40 order rarely gets disputed, a $200 one does.
Does what arrives in the parcel match what the product page promised — material, weight, quantity, finish?
Mismatched fulfilment is the single fastest-growing dispute reason. It is also the hardest to defend, because the merchant’s own listing is the evidence.
Does the delivery date shown at checkout match what the carrier actually delivers?
Late delivery is the leading cause of chargebacks in apparel and home goods. Buyers dispute on the promise, not the parcel.
When a customer asks for a refund, how fast do they get it?
A slow refund converts a service complaint into a chargeback. The buyer’s alternative is to let the deadline pass and let the issuer decide.
Do customers get order confirmation, dispatch notice and a working tracking link — automatically?
Silence after checkout is what turns a neutral buyer into a disputing one. The buyer assumes the worst when they hear nothing.
For your higher-ticket items, is there visual and material evidence of what the buyer will receive?
Above roughly $100, buyers buy from images. If the images are stylised and the parcel is plain, the refund request comes first and the dispute comes second.
Are your reviews, ratings and testimonials real and verifiable?
Fabricated or incentivised reviews are a card-brand and platform violation. The penalty is not just a fine — it is the ability to settle disputes in your favour.
Do you monitor disputes in real time and submit evidence before the deadline?
The representment window is short and most merchants miss it by default. Evidence submitted inside the window wins; evidence submitted late does not.
Does the parcel arrive in a condition that matches the brand promise?
Damage, crushed corners and missing inserts are read as a low-value product. The buyer disputes the order and the shipment simultaneously.
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Revenue at risk at your current dispute rate.
If you reach a 0.1% dispute rate.
At your current rate, before fees.
Your Fix Queue, Highest Impact First
Each red flag carries the specific remediation, not generic advice.
Get the full seller-health report
Your score, the evidence pack template per SKU category, and a 90-day dispute-reduction sequence for your store.