Many businesses accept credit cards to provide a quick and easy way for customers to pay for products and services. Not only do customers get proof of the transaction, they can also dispute or cancel the charge if they are charged the wrong amount or dissatisfied with the purchase. Unfortunately, this is a nightmare for your business since you have to pay chargeback fees and you lose the revenue from the transaction.

When you accept credit cards payments, you do have ways to protect yourself from unnecessary chargebacks. Make sure you know what the chargeback policies are for each of the major credit card processors you investigate. They should outline your rights and how to respond to claims against you. It helps to display your company's policy at the point of purchase to easily explain to customers how they can return merchandise or request credits. You can also print the policy on receipts and billing contracts to strengthen your case if charges are reversed.

Businesses rely heavily on accepting payments online from credit cards when doing business over the Internet. You don't have the option of examining the signature or requesting additional information, but you can confirm the transaction by requiring customers to send proof via mail or fax that they made the purchase. You can also eliminate the confusion of accepting payments online. If the customer sees your web site address on the bill rather than just the company name, they'll know the origin of the charges.