Monetization
Refund, dispute, lose: handling payment disputes
A dispute costs you the amount, the fees, and your reputation with the payment provider. Preventing one costs an email.
A chargeback isn't a refund: it's a procedure that costs you fixed fees even when you're right, and that damages your dispute rate with the payment provider.
The three main causes
- Unrecognizable bank statement label — the member doesn't recognize the line on their statement.
- Forgotten renewal — no reminder before the charge.
- Cancellation that's hard to find.
All three are fixed without any technical work: a clear statement label, an email seven days before each annual renewal, and a one-click cancel button. Proactively refunding an unhappy member always costs less than winning a dispute.