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24 lost disputes on 4,000 card sales
You count 24 disputes where the sale amount left the merchant. The average disputed sale is $85. The processor agreement charges $15 on each one. Card sales in the period are 4,000.
Lost chargebacks: 25% lower
Change lost chargebacks to 18 disputes while keeping the other example values the same.
Lost chargebacks: 25% higher
Change lost chargebacks to 30 disputes while keeping the other example values the same.
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Quick answer
What does the Chargeback fee total calculate?
What do lost card disputes and the per-dispute fee cost? This calculator uses lost chargebacks, average disputed sale, fee per chargeback, and card sales to estimate lost disputes plus the fee immediately in your browser.
With the values currently entered, the result is $2,400.00 — lost sales plus fees. It also shows lost sales, fees, and chargeback rate.
How to use the Chargeback fee total
- Replace the example values with your own numbers.
- Review the result and supporting figures as they update automatically.
- Check the formula and assumptions before using the estimate for a decision.
Inputs used
- Lost chargebacks — entered in disputes
- Average disputed sale
- Fee per chargeback
- Card sales — entered in sales
Chargeback fee total formula
Lost sales = chargebacks × average disputed amount. Fees = chargebacks × the fee you type. Total = lost sales + fees. Rate = chargebacks ÷ card sales.
Assumptions
- A 2023 FTC complaint describes a chargeback as a cardholder dispute that can send the sale amount back to the merchant. It defines the chargeback rate as chargebacks divided by total transactions. Count disputes where that amount left.
- The fee is the amount in your processor agreement. The complaint gives an example of a Visa monitoring line at 100 chargebacks in a month and a rate of 0.9% or greater. The rate on this page is your dispute count divided by your card sales.
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Authoritative sources
These sources explain the definitions, factors, or rules behind this tool. Their geographic scope is shown because an official source for one country is not automatically valid somewhere else.
Sources do not endorse Calculum. Check the source date, scope, and your own documents before making a financial, tax, insurance, or reporting decision.
Practical guide
Chargeback fee total example and edge cases
A chargeback sends a card sale back to the merchant. The FTC’s 2023 complaint describes that dispute, and it defines the chargeback rate as the count of disputes divided by card sales. This page adds the lost sale amounts and a fee you type for each dispute in the count.
Example: 24 lost disputes on 4,000 card sales
You count 24 disputes where the sale amount left the merchant. The average disputed sale is $85. The processor agreement charges $15 on each one. Card sales in the period are 4,000.
- Lost chargebacks
- 24 disputes
- Average disputed sale
- 85
- Fee per chargeback
- 15
- Card sales
- 4,000 sales
Calculated result$2,400.00lost sales plus fees
Lost sales are $2,040. Fees are $360. The total is $2,400. The chargeback rate is 0.6% of the 4,000 card sales.
Example results use the default display profile. The calculator above follows your selected country and units.
How to read the result
- The dollar total is lost sales plus the fee you typed. The rate is the dispute count divided by card sales, which is the ratio the complaint describes.
- The complaint gives an example of a Visa monitoring line at 100 chargebacks in a month and a rate of 0.9% or greater. The 0.6% here is 24 disputes divided by 4,000 sales. That monitoring line is a separate example from the FTC complaint.
Edge cases worth checking
Won disputes are still in the count
Count a dispute here when the sale amount left. A representment that brings the money back belongs outside this count. Leaving the win in the count treats a recovered sale as a loss.
The fee comes from another processor’s sheet
Type the fee in your own processor agreement. A fee quoted for another acquirer, another card brand, or another year can be a different number from the one this batch of disputes will cost.
What changes the result most
Lost chargebacks
Change lost chargebacks on its own first. This shows how strongly it affects the answer.
Average disputed sale
Use a current amount for average disputed sale. Include fees or recurring costs that belong in the same figure.
Fee per chargeback
Use a current amount for fee per chargeback. Include fees or recurring costs that belong in the same figure.
Try a different scenario
Small changes show whether the answer is stable or sensitive.
Lost chargebacks: 25% lower
18 disputes$1,800.00lost sales plus fees
Lost chargebacks: 25% higher
30 disputes$3,000.00lost sales plus fees
Average disputed sale: 25% higher
106$2,904.00lost sales plus fees
Common mistakes
Check lost chargebacks
A 2023 FTC complaint describes a chargeback as a cardholder dispute that can send the sale amount back to the merchant. It defines the chargeback rate as chargebacks divided by total transactions. Count disputes where that amount left. Make sure this matches the number you enter.
Keep card sales consistent
The fee is the amount in your processor agreement. The complaint gives an example of a Visa monitoring line at 100 chargebacks in a month and a rate of 0.9% or greater. The rate on this page is your dispute count divided by your card sales. Use the same units and time period throughout the calculation.
Do not rely on one chargeback fee total scenario
Run a cautious case and an optimistic case. The range is often more useful than one exact-looking number.
Use this result well
What do lost card disputes and the per-dispute fee cost?
It does not replace a quote, contract, accountant, or local employment guidance.