Chargeback

A chargeback happens when a cardholder disputes a transaction directly with their bank or card network — for reasons like non-delivery, a counterfeit item, or fraud — and the funds are pulled back from the merchant, sometimes with an added fee. Chargebacks are a stronger protection than a marketplace's internal refund policy because the bank, not the seller, makes the final call, which is why paying by card (not wire transfer or gift card) matters when buying from an unfamiliar seller.