Your bank letter says something like Visa 13.3 or Mastercard 4853 — but what does that actually mean for you? Type the code and get a plain-English explanation: what it means, what your bank is deciding, and what evidence usually matters.
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A reason code is not decoration on your bank letter — it's the category your issuer filed your dispute under, and it quietly decides which network rules, deadlines, and evidence standards apply. "Not as described" and "fraud" look similar to a frustrated cardholder, but they travel through completely different rulebooks. Knowing your code tells you what the bank is actually judging and which evidence to prioritize.
Read the network-specific deep dives — every code family explained for consumers, with evidence pointers.
A reason code is the category your issuer assigns to your dispute when it files the chargeback with the card network — for example fraud, goods not received, or not as described. The code determines which network rules, deadlines, and evidence standards apply to your case.
Your issuer does, based on how you describe what happened when you file. That's why describing the problem clearly at the start matters — the wrong category can mean the wrong rules get applied.
Each network built its own numbering system. Visa uses decimal codes like 13.3, Mastercard uses four digits like 4853, Amex uses a letter plus digits like C31, and Discover uses two letters like UA02. They often describe the same underlying problem in different formats.
We won't guess. Copy the code exactly as it appears on your bank letter — numbers, letters, and punctuation — and check that you picked the right network. If it's still not recognized, ask your issuer what the code means rather than assuming.
It can. Different code families carry different network deadlines and evidence expectations, which is one reason the code matters. Check your bank letter for the exact dates that apply to your case.
