What Discover UA05 means
A card-present counterfeit claim where liability shifts to the merchant that did not use EMV.
Common causes
- Non-EMV terminal
- Chip read bypassed or fallback not flagged
- Online sale miscoded as card present
Evidence that answers it
- Evidence the terminal supported chip and the sale was properly flagged as fallback
- Evidence the transaction was key-entered or card not present
How to prevent it
- Use EMV terminals and flag fallback transactions correctly
How Verdikx helps with UA05
For online stores, Verdikx attaches the processor's transaction record showing an e-commerce sale. Card-present terminal data comes from your POS provider and can be uploaded to the case.
Frequently asked questions
What does Discover reason code UA05 mean?
Discover UA05 is the EMV liability shift for counterfeit fraud: a chip card was counterfeited and used at a point-of-sale device that did not support or use chip technology. Chase's guide says non-chip terminals have no representment rights unless you refunded. Online merchants can show the sale was card not present.
Is Discover UA05 worth fighting?
Our reference rates UA05 (Fraud - Chip Card Counterfeit Transaction) rarely winnable, so check the facts before spending time on a response. The evidence that answers it starts with evidence the terminal supported chip and the sale was properly flagged as fallback. The cardholder's bank decides the outcome.
How long does a cardholder have to file a Discover UA05 chargeback?
Usually 120 days from the transaction date, under the network's issuer time limits for most codes. Your processor gives you far less time to respond, so work from the due date on the case.
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Sources
- Chase Merchant Services: Chargeback Reason Codes user guide (04/2018), Discover section (checked October 5, 2026)
- Solidgate Docs: Chargeback reason codes (Discover and American Express) (checked October 5, 2026)
Last reviewed by Verdikx Research.