Buy-now-pay-later feels like one product, but a dispute with Klarna, Affirm or Afterpay runs on three different rulebooks — each with its own clock, its own filing process, and its own traps. The headline surprise from our October 2026 verification: all three US dispute windows are 120 days from the purchase date. Everything else about them differs.
A note on sources: every window below was re-verified against the provider's own current US terms or help pages on October 21, 2026. Provider terms change and vary by country — your agreement at purchase is what ultimately governs.
Klarna's US Buyer Protection policy gives you 120 days from the purchase date to raise a claim for "Goods Not Received" or "Significant Deviation" (their term for not-as-described). Two conditions people miss:
One more wording wrinkle: the page's intro says days are counted "from the invoice date" while the claim bullets say "from purchase." Treat the purchase date as your anchor and file early rather than parsing the difference.
Affirm's US help center says: "If the loan was taken out over 120 days ago, then the loan might not be eligible for a dispute." Note the hedge — "might not be" — and that exact eligibility is confirmed through their support flow rather than stated as a hard cutoff. Contact the merchant first, then file from the loan details in the app or at affirm.com. Affirm says it will decide within 60 days of the dispute, and it pauses collections while the dispute is open.
Afterpay's US help center is the most plainly worded of the three: "You have 120 days from the purchase date to open a dispute." The process, though, is the most merchant-led:
A card chargeback runs under card-network rules that can force money back from the merchant's bank. A BNPL dispute is the provider's own internal review — Klarna, Affirm or Afterpay decides, on its own evidence rules and timelines. There is no network forcing the outcome, so outcomes are case by case and the provider's published terms are the rulebook. Screenshot those terms before you file; they change.
The practical consequences:
In every case: file the report today even if your evidence file is not complete, keep the reference number, and screenshot every status update.
If a credit or debit card funded your BNPL payments, your card issuer has a separate dispute process under the card network's rules — typically up to about 120 days from the transaction date, plus the US 60-day written-notice rule (Fair Credit Billing Act for credit cards, Regulation E for debit) counted from your statement. Klarna's own policy acknowledges this: "If you use a card to make a Klarna purchase, this policy does not limit any rights you may have under applicable law or network rules to dispute a transaction with your card's issuer."
That clock can be shorter or longer than the provider's window. Check both with the deadline calculator, act on the earlier one, and file on one path at a time.
This one changed recently, and most BNPL advice online is out of date. Since 15 July 2026, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority regulates third-party buy-now-pay-later as "Deferred Payment Credit" — and Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act now applies to eligible agreements entered into from that date.
If your UK BNPL agreement predates 15 July 2026, the provider's own dispute process (above) is still your route — and the card clock behind it, if a credit card funded the payments.
Sources (verified October 21, 2026): Klarna US Buyer Protection policy (klarna.com/us/buyer-protection/); Affirm US Help Center, "Dispute a purchase" (helpcenter.affirm.com); Afterpay US Help Center, "I haven't received my goods — How do I raise a dispute" (afterpay.com/en-US/help); FCA buy-now-pay-later regulation as Deferred Payment Credit (in force 15 July 2026); UK Consumer Credit Act 1974, §75.
Klarna's US Buyer Protection policy gives you 120 days from the purchase date to raise a claim for goods not received or significant deviation. You must contact the store first and be able to show proof of contact. Terms vary by country — check the Buyer Protection page for your region.
Affirm's US help center treats loans taken out within about 120 days as dispute-eligible, though the wording is hedged ("might not be eligible" beyond that) and exact eligibility is confirmed through their support flow. Contact the merchant first, then file from the loan details.
Afterpay's US help center states: "You have 120 days from the purchase date to open a dispute." Contact the retailer first and allow up to 7 calendar days for a response; the dispute goes to the retailer, and Afterpay adjudicates only if it is rejected or unresolved.
Generally no — treat them as either/or. Klarna states explicitly that you choose its Buyer Protection claim or a chargeback through your card issuer, and if you do both and the bank issues a chargeback, Klarna cancels its dispute. Double recovery is not allowed on any provider.
Since 15 July 2026, yes — for new agreements. The FCA now regulates third-party buy-now-pay-later as Deferred Payment Credit, and Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act applies to eligible agreements entered into from that date, for single items costing over £100 and up to £30,000. Agreements from before 15 July 2026 stay unregulated and do not get Section 75.
Ask the provider first — it differs. Afterpay's scheduled payments may continue during a dispute, and missing them can mean late fees; Affirm pauses collections while a dispute is open. Missed BNPL installments can be reported on your credit file by some providers, so get the answer in writing before you stop paying.
