Stripe · Stripe Terms of Service

Chargeback Liability

High severity
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What it is

You are responsible for all chargebacks, reversals, refunds, and associated fees regardless of the reason for the chargeback or reversal. Stripe may deduct chargeback amounts and related fees from your Stripe balance, any reserve, or any other funds Stripe holds on your behalf. If your chargeback rate exceeds the thresholds set by the Card Networks, Stripe may suspend your account or impose additional fees.

Why it matters

Chargeback liability is absolute under this agreement, meaning merchants bear full financial responsibility for disputed transactions even in cases of friendly fraud, and high dispute rates create a secondary risk of account suspension.

Consumer impact

Merchants using Stripe are subject to unilateral fund reserves and payout holds that can be imposed at Stripe's discretion, potentially cutting off access to revenue without advance notice. Stripe can terminate the agreement and continue holding funds for up to 120 days post-termination to cover potential chargebacks or disputes, creating significant cash flow risk for small businesses. You can review Stripe's Prohibited and Restricted Businesses list at stripe.com/restricted-businesses before signing up to assess whether your business type is subject to elevated scrutiny or termination risk.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Dispute a Fee
    Within 5 days
    Log into your Stripe Dashboard and navigate to the disputed chargeback under Payments > Disputes. Submit evidence to contest the chargeback within the deadline shown (typically 7-21 days depending on card network). Compile transaction records, delivery confirmations, and customer communications as supporting evidence.

Applicable agencies

  • CFPB
    The CFPB has supervisory authority over payment processors and accepts complaints regarding chargeback handling, fund deductions, and MATCH list placements.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Stripe Terms of Service
Entity
Stripe
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 15, 2026
Last verified
April 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-002350
Document ID
CA-D-00107
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
f8031ea85047f87e96bd4f8806a7d96cf4b6716e28a2c1a50dc99260b9a49889
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Stripe | Document: Stripe Terms of Service | Record: CA-P-002350
Captured: 2026-03-15 11:34:26 UTC | SHA-256: f8031ea85047f87e…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/stripe/stripe-terms-of-service/chargeback-liability/
Accessed: April 21, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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