| Dispute reason | Card-network codes | Evidence that answers it |
|---|---|---|
| Cancelled recurring | Visa 13.2, Mastercard 4841 | Subscription terms, renewal notices, cancellation history |
| Not as described | Visa 13.3, Mastercard 4853 | Product page as published, return policy, customer messages |
| Misrepresentation | Visa 13.5 | The claims and terms the customer saw before buying |
| Fraud, card absent | Visa 10.4, Mastercard 4837 | AVS and CVV results, IP and device, delivery to the checkout address |
Where health and beauty disputes come from
- Replenishment subscriptions. A refill shipped after the customer meant to cancel or skip: Visa 13.2 or Mastercard 4841. See subscription chargebacks.
- Trial offers. Visa requires express consent, a reminder before the first full-price charge and easy online cancellation for free trials and introductory offers.
- Not as described. The product did not deliver the promised result, or caused a reaction: Visa 13.3 or Mastercard 4853. Claims that overstate results can lead to Visa 13.5 Misrepresentation.
- Refund abuse. Serial returns and refund claims on used products. See refund abuse.
- Card-absent fraud. Visa 10.4 and Mastercard 4837.
Supplements and some trial-led beauty offers are often treated as higher risk by acquirers. See high-risk merchants.
The evidence that answers them
Subscription terms as shown at checkout, renewal notices and the cancellation history; delivery scans; the product page and claims as published; your return policy; and messages with the customer.
How Verdikx fits
Verdikx is a fraud, chargeback and dispute platform for e-commerce and SaaS merchants, built by Verdikx LLC (New Jersey, United States).
- Subscription evidence (Growth and Pro, beta). Recharge and Skio subscription starts, skips, cancellations and charges attach to cases, and you can paste the subscription terms customers saw.
- Evidence on every order (every plan, from Starter, $29/month). Tracking numbers, store policies, customer messages and checkout facts are saved as they happen. Carrier delivery scans are checked automatically, with no carrier login.
- Contradiction finder (every plan). Puts records that disprove the claim first, such as a message confirming receipt, and checks when the customer first asked to cancel. See the contradiction finder.
- Returns-abuse scoring (Growth). Return requests get approve, review or decline-recommended with reasons such as serial returns and refund history. Loop Returns (beta) brings returns in as evidence.
- Order screening (Growth). Risk scores with plain-English reasons and automatic holds on high-risk Shopify orders.
Where Verdikx does not fit
- It does not review your product claims, labels or regulatory compliance.
- It does not run your subscription billing or send renewal reminders; your subscription app does that.
- Card-network pre-dispute alerts (Visa RDR and Mastercard Ethoca) are coming soon, not available today.
- It does not guarantee outcomes. Issuers and card networks decide disputes.
Frequently asked questions
Why do health and beauty brands get subscription chargebacks?
Replenishment plans renew automatically, and customers forget or believe they cancelled. Clear terms at checkout, reminders before renewals, easy cancellation and a recognizable descriptor prevent many of them.
Which subscription apps does Verdikx connect to?
Recharge and Skio for Shopify subscription stores, plus Chargebee for subscription billing. These connections are in beta on the Growth and Pro plans.
Can Verdikx help with refund abuse on beauty products?
Yes. Returns-abuse scoring on the Growth plan and up weighs serial returns, tracking mismatches, refund history and opt-in Verdikx Network signals against your return policy. It recommends; nothing changes in Shopify until you act.
See it on your own orders.
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Sources
- Visa: Trial subscription updates, quick reference (18 April 2020) (checked October 5, 2026)
- Visa Core Rules and Visa Product and Service Rules (18 April 2026), Chapter 11 Dispute Resolution (checked October 5, 2026)
- Mastercard Chargeback Guide, Merchant Edition (13 May 2025) (checked October 5, 2026)
- Stripe Docs: Dispute reason code categories and evidence (checked October 5, 2026)
Last reviewed by Verdikx Research.