Global Consumer Dispute & Chargeback Regulations — 50 Countries

This reference covers the key consumer payment protection laws and banking dispute regulations for the world's top 50 economies. Each entry includes the primary legislation, the regulator, and links to official sources.

North America

United States

• Credit cards: Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) via Regulation Z (12 CFR 1026)
• Debit cards: Electronic Fund Transfer Act via Regulation E (12 CFR 1005)
• Regulator: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• Key rights: 60-day dispute window (credit), $50 max liability for fraud, provisional credit within 10 days (debit)
• Regulation Z — 12 CFR Part 1026
• Regulation E — 12 CFR Part 1005
• CFPB Consumer Complaint Portal

Canada

• Law: Canadian Code of Practice for Consumer Debit Card Services; Bank Act
• Regulator: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)
• Key rights: Zero liability for unauthorized credit card transactions, $50 max for debit (varies by issuer)
• FCAC — Your Rights When Using Credit Cards
• Canadian Code of Practice for Consumer Debit Card Services (PDF)

Mexico

• Law: Ley de Protección y Defensa al Usuario de Servicios Financieros
• Regulator: CONDUSEF (Comisión Nacional para la Protección y Defensa de los Usuarios de Servicios Financieros)
• Key rights: 45-day resolution timeline, free dispute filing
• CONDUSEF — Filing a Complaint

Europe

European Union (applies to all EU/EEA member states)

• Law: Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) — Directive (EU) 2015/2366
• Key rights: Unconditional 8-week refund right for direct debits, 13-month window for unauthorized transactions, immediate refund for unauthorized payments
• PSD2 Full Text (EUR-Lex)
• European Banking Authority — PSD2 Q&A

United Kingdom

• Law: Payment Services Regulations 2017; Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Section 75)
• Regulator: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• Key rights: Section 75 joint liability for credit card purchases £100–£30,000, 13-month unauthorized transaction window
• FCA — Payment Services Regulations
• Section 75 Consumer Credit Act (legislation.gov.uk)

Germany

• Law: PSD2 (implemented as Zahlungsdiensteaufsichtsgesetz — ZAG); BGB §§ 675u-675y
• Regulator: BaFin (Federal Financial Supervisory Authority)
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections plus BGB civil code remedies
• BaFin — Payment Services

France

• Law: PSD2 (implemented via Code monétaire et financier, Articles L133-18 to L133-24)
• Regulator: ACPR (Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution)
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections, 13-month dispute window
• ACPR — Consumer Protection
• Code monétaire et financier (Légifrance)

Italy

• Law: PSD2 (Legislative Decree 218/2017); Consumer Code (D.Lgs. 206/2005)
• Regulator: Banca d'Italia
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections, ABF (Banking and Financial Arbiter) for free dispute resolution
• Banca d'Italia — Payment Services

Spain

• Law: PSD2 (Royal Decree-Law 19/2018)
• Regulator: Banco de España
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections
• Banco de España — Claims

Netherlands

• Law: PSD2 (Wet op het financieel toezicht — Wft)
• Regulator: De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB); AFM
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections, KiFiD for dispute arbitration
• DNB — Payments
• KiFiD — Financial Services Complaints Institute

Switzerland

• Law: Swiss Code of Obligations; Swiss Banking Ombudsman framework
• Regulator: FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority)
• Key rights: Card network rules apply; Swiss Banking Ombudsman for mediation
• FINMA — Consumer Protection
• Swiss Banking Ombudsman

Sweden

• Law: PSD2 (Lag om betaltjänster, 2010:751 updated)
• Regulator: Finansinspektionen (FI)
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections, ARN (National Board for Consumer Disputes) for free arbitration
• ARN — National Board for Consumer Disputes

Norway

• Law: Financial Contracts Act (Finansavtaleloven)
• Regulator: Finanstilsynet
• Key rights: Similar to PSD2, strong consumer protections for unauthorized transactions
• Finanstilsynet — Consumer Information

Denmark

• Law: PSD2 (Betalingsloven); Danish Payment Act
• Regulator: Finanstilsynet
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections, DKK 375 (~€50) max liability for unauthorized transactions
• Danish FSA — Payments

Finland

• Law: PSD2 (Payment Services Act 290/2010)
• Regulator: FIN-FSA (Financial Supervisory Authority)
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections, FINE (Finnish Financial Ombudsman) for disputes
• FINE — Financial Ombudsman

Poland

• Law: PSD2 (Payment Services Act of 19 August 2011, amended)
• Regulator: KNF (Polish Financial Supervision Authority)
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections, Financial Ombudsman
• KNF — Consumer Protection

Belgium

• Law: PSD2 (Law of 11 March 2018)
• Regulator: NBB (National Bank of Belgium); FSMA
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections, Ombudsfin for dispute resolution
• Ombudsfin — Financial Ombudsman

Austria

• Law: PSD2 (Zahlungsdienstegesetz 2018 — ZaDiG 2018)
• Regulator: FMA (Financial Market Authority)
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections
• FMA — Consumer Information

Ireland

• Law: PSD2 (European Union Payment Services Regulations 2018)
• Regulator: Central Bank of Ireland
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections, FSPO (Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman)
• FSPO — Make a Complaint

Portugal

• Law: PSD2 (Decree-Law 91/2018)
• Regulator: Banco de Portugal
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections
• Banco de Portugal — Complaints

Czech Republic

• Law: PSD2 (Act No. 370/2017 on Payment Systems)
• Regulator: Czech National Bank (CNB)
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections, Financial Arbiter
• Czech Financial Arbiter

Greece

• Law: PSD2 (Law 4537/2018)
• Regulator: Bank of Greece
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections
• Bank of Greece — Consumer Protection

Romania

• Law: PSD2 (Government Emergency Ordinance 113/2009, amended)
• Regulator: National Bank of Romania (BNR)
• Key rights: EU PSD2 protections, ANPC for consumer complaints
• BNR — Payment Services

Asia-Pacific

Australia

• Law: ePayments Code (voluntary but adopted by major banks); National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009
• Regulator: ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission)
• Key rights: Zero liability for unauthorized transactions reported promptly, AFCA (Australian Financial Complaints Authority) for free dispute resolution
• ePayments Code (ASIC)
• AFCA — Lodge a Complaint

Japan

• Law: Installment Sales Act; Payment Services Act; Banking Act
• Regulator: FSA (Financial Services Agency)
• Key rights: Card issuers must investigate unauthorized charges; chargeback follows network rules
• FSA Japan — Consumer Protection

South Korea

• Law: Electronic Financial Transactions Act (EFTA)
• Regulator: FSC (Financial Services Commission)
• Key rights: Financial institution liable for unauthorized electronic transactions unless consumer negligent
• FSC — Consumer Protection

China

• Law: Measures for the Administration of Bank Card Business; Consumer Rights Protection Law
• Regulator: PBOC (People's Bank of China); CBIRC
• Key rights: Banks must investigate disputed transactions; UnionPay network rules apply
• PBOC — Payment Systems

India

• Law: RBI Circular on Limiting Liability of Customers in Unauthorised Electronic Banking Transactions (2017)
• Regulator: RBI (Reserve Bank of India)
• Key rights: Zero liability if reported within 3 days; limited liability (₹5,000–₹25,000) if reported in 4–7 days; full liability after 7 days
• RBI Circular on Customer Liability (PDF)
• RBI Ombudsman Scheme

Singapore

• Law: Payment Services Act 2019; E-Payments User Protection Guidelines
• Regulator: MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore)
• Key rights: $100 max liability for unauthorized transactions if reported within 30 days (with account monitoring)
• MAS — E-Payments User Protection Guidelines (PDF)

Hong Kong

• Law: Code of Banking Practice (voluntary); Payment Systems and Stored Value Facilities Ordinance
• Regulator: HKMA (Hong Kong Monetary Authority)
• Key rights: Zero liability for unauthorized credit card transactions reported promptly
• HKMA — Consumer Corner

Taiwan

• Law: Consumer Protection Act; Financial Consumer Protection Act
• Regulator: FSC (Financial Supervisory Commission)
• Key rights: Financial Ombudsman Institution for dispute mediation
• Taiwan Financial Ombudsman

Malaysia

• Law: Financial Services Act 2013; Islamic Financial Services Act 2013
• Regulator: BNM (Bank Negara Malaysia)
• Key rights: Banks must investigate within 14 days; OFS (Ombudsman for Financial Services) for escalation
• BNM — Consumer Protection
• OFS — Ombudsman for Financial Services

Thailand

• Law: Financial Institution Business Act; Payment Systems Act B.E. 2560
• Regulator: BOT (Bank of Thailand)
• Key rights: Banks must investigate within 30 days
• Bank of Thailand — Consumer Protection

Indonesia

• Law: Bank Indonesia Regulation on Consumer Protection in Payment Systems
• Regulator: OJK (Financial Services Authority); Bank Indonesia
• Key rights: Banks must resolve disputes within 20 working days
• OJK — Consumer Protection

Philippines

• Law: BSP Circular 1048 (Financial Consumer Protection Framework)
• Regulator: BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas)
• Key rights: Banks must acknowledge complaints within 2 days, resolve within 15–30 days
• BSP — Consumer Protection

Vietnam

• Law: Law on Credit Institutions; SBV regulations on e-payments
• Regulator: SBV (State Bank of Vietnam)
• Key rights: Banks must investigate within 30 days
• State Bank of Vietnam

Middle East & Africa

United Arab Emirates

• Law: Federal Decree-Law No. 14/2018 on the Central Bank; Consumer Protection Law
• Regulator: CBUAE (Central Bank of the UAE)
• Key rights: Banks must resolve complaints within 30 days; CBUAE Sadadak system for escalation
• CBUAE — Consumer Protection

Saudi Arabia

• Law: Banking Disputes Resolution Regulations; Consumer Protection Principles
• Regulator: SAMA (Saudi Central Bank)
• Key rights: Banks must respond within 10 days; SAMA complaint portal for escalation
• SAMA — Consumer Protection

Israel

• Law: Banking (Service to Customer) Law 1981; Debit Card Law 1986
• Regulator: Bank of Israel; Supervisor of Banks
• Key rights: Banks must investigate unauthorized debit card transactions within 30 days
• Bank of Israel — Banking Supervision

South Africa

• Law: National Payment System Act; Financial Sector Regulation Act
• Regulator: SARB (South African Reserve Bank); FSCA
• Key rights: Card network rules apply; NCT (National Consumer Tribunal) for escalation
• SARB — National Payment System
• FSCA — Consumer Education

Nigeria

• Law: CBN Consumer Protection Framework 2016; Guidelines on Electronic Banking
• Regulator: CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria)
• Key rights: Banks must resolve e-payment disputes within 72 hours (simple) to 14 days (complex)
• CBN — Consumer Protection

Egypt

• Law: Central Bank and Banking Sector Law (Law 194/2020)
• Regulator: CBE (Central Bank of Egypt)
• Key rights: Banks must investigate within 15 days
• Central Bank of Egypt

Kenya

• Law: National Payment System Act 2011; CBK Prudential Guidelines
• Regulator: CBK (Central Bank of Kenya)
• Key rights: Banks must acknowledge complaints within 48 hours, resolve within 7 working days
• CBK — Consumer Protection

South America

Brazil

• Law: Consumer Protection Code (Código de Defesa do Consumidor — CDC); BCB Regulation on Payment Instruments
• Regulator: BCB (Banco Central do Brasil); Procon
• Key rights: Strong consumer protection under CDC; banks must respond within 5 business days; free dispute via Procon or consumidor.gov.br
• BCB — Consumer Assistance
• consumidor.gov.br

Argentina

• Law: Consumer Protection Law 24,240; BCRA regulations
• Regulator: BCRA (Central Bank of Argentina)
• Key rights: 30-day resolution timeline; COPREC for free mediation
• BCRA — Consumer Information

Colombia

• Law: Financial Consumer Protection Law (Ley 1328/2009)
• Regulator: SFC (Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia)
• Key rights: Financial Consumer Ombudsman (Defensor del Consumidor Financiero)
• SFC — Consumer Protection

Chile

• Law: Consumer Protection Law 19,496; General Banking Law
• Regulator: CMF (Comisión para el Mercado Financiero)
• Key rights: Banks must respond within 7 business days; SERNAC for consumer disputes
• CMF — Consumer Protection
• SERNAC — Consumer Service

Peru

• Law: Consumer Protection Code (Law 29571); SBS regulations
• Regulator: SBS (Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP)
• Key rights: Banks must respond within 30 days; INDECOPI for consumer complaints
• SBS — Consumer Protection

Other Key Markets

Turkey

• Law: Law on Payment and Securities Settlement Systems No. 6493; Consumer Protection Law No. 6502
• Regulator: CBRT (Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey); BDDK
• Key rights: Banks must investigate within 20 days
• CBRT — Payment Systems

Russia

• Law: Federal Law on National Payment System (No. 161-FZ); Consumer Protection Law
• Regulator: Bank of Russia
• Key rights: Banks must notify of transactions; 1-day window to report unauthorized transactions for full protection
• Bank of Russia — Consumer Protection

New Zealand

• Law: Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003; Code of Banking Practice
• Regulator: FMA (Financial Markets Authority)
• Key rights: Zero liability for unauthorized credit card transactions; IFSO (Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman) or FSCL for disputes
• FSCL — Financial Services Complaints

Pakistan

• Law: SBP Consumer Protection Framework; Payment Systems and Electronic Fund Transfers Act 2007
• Regulator: SBP (State Bank of Pakistan)
• Key rights: Banks must resolve complaints within 30 days
• SBP — Consumer Protection

Bangladesh

• Law: Bangladesh Bank Payment and Settlement Systems Regulations
• Regulator: Bangladesh Bank
• Key rights: Banks must investigate disputed electronic transactions
• Bangladesh Bank

Key Takeaways

• EU/EEA/UK — PSD2 provides the strongest standardized protections: 13-month dispute window, immediate refund for unauthorized payments, €50 max liability
• United States — Separate laws for credit (Reg Z, 60 days) vs. debit (Reg E, 2–60 days with escalating liability)
• Australia, Singapore, India — Strong codified protections with clear liability caps and free ombudsman services
• Most countries — Even without specific chargeback legislation, Visa and Mastercard network rules apply globally, giving cardholders dispute rights through their issuing bank
• Always check — Dispute windows, liability limits, and reporting requirements vary significantly. File disputes as early as possible regardless of jurisdiction.