Credit Card Disputes

You probably know that your credit card issuer will let you dispute a charge onyour card and you don't have to pay up until the issue is resolved. But what if thecard company decides against you? You have a friend in a little-known corner ofthe federal government called the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency(OCC; 800-613-6743; www.occ.treas.gov), which charters and regulates allnational banks. The OCC's Consumer Assistance Group (CAG) helped bankcustomers get back $6.8 million in disputed charges last year. First ask your cardcompany to document its adverse decision, which it is required by law to do,and then file copies with the CAG.