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The short answer
When a Nigerian client disputes a card payment, their bank reverses it at once and you usually get 7 to 21 days, depending on the card network, to respond with evidence, according to Stripe's documentation. You get one submission, so it should prove the client agreed to the work, received it and was told your refund terms. The issuing bank decides, which Stripe says can take up to three months.
A chargeback from a client abroad feels harder to fight than one from down the road, but the process does not change because the card was issued in Lagos. The client's bank files the dispute through the card network, the network applies its rules, and your evidence is read by people at the issuing bank who know nothing about your project. What wins is a short, organised file that answers the exact reason the client gave. This guide uses Stripe's published process as the example; other processors follow similar steps, so check your own provider's pages.
What happens when the dispute is filed
Stripe's disputes page explains that the issuer creates a formal dispute on the card network, which immediately reverses the payment. Stripe then debits your balance for the payment amount and a dispute fee. Stripe's responding guide adds:
- You usually have 7 to 21 days to respond, depending on the network. Miss it and you lose automatically.
- Some cases start as an inquiry, a pre-dispute stage when the cardholder does not recognise a charge. Answering at that stage can stop it becoming a full chargeback.
- If you counter, a dispute countered fee applies on top of the dispute received fee. Stripe returns the countered fee if you win; it does not return the received fee unless your contract says otherwise.
- The cardholder's bank decides, and that can take up to 3 months.
Read the reason first
Every dispute carries a reason category, such as fraud (card not recognised), product not received, not as described, or credit not processed. Stripe's guidance is to review the category before collecting anything, because each one needs different proof. Stripe also shows the bank's own submission where available, which may include the cardholder's description of the complaint. With a Nigerian client, it is worth checking whether the dispute was filed by someone in their finance team who did not know about your engagement. A short message to your contact, kept on record, sometimes ends it.
Evidence that carries weight for foreign clients
Distance makes the paper trail more important, because the bank cannot assume anything about your relationship. Build the file around these items:
- The signed agreement or accepted proposal, showing the client's company name, the scope, the price in dollars and your refund or cancellation terms.
- Proof the person paying is your client. Emails from their company domain, the name on the invoice matching the name on the card, and the billing details captured at checkout.
- Proof of delivery. For services, that means dated deliverables: file handover screenshots, shared-drive access logs, sign-off messages, meeting invites with attendance.
- Usage after delivery. If the client launched the design or used the code, a dated screenshot of it in use is strong evidence against a "not received" claim.
- Communication history showing the client never complained, or that you addressed their concerns.
- Your refund policy and proof the client saw it before paying.
Fraud claims and 3D Secure
If the reason is fraud, Stripe points to two tools. For Visa card-absent fraud disputes, Stripe checks eligibility for Visa Compelling Evidence 3.0 using your transaction history, and eligibility usually improves your odds. If the payment went through 3D Secure authentication, the liability shift rule may apply and Stripe supplies the authentication data. If your Nigerian clients pay large invoices by card, asking your processor to require authentication on those payments is worth considering.
After the decision, and preventing the next one
If you win, the disputed amount comes back. If you lose, the reversal stands. Either way, the dispute counts towards your dispute rate, which card networks monitor. For high-value work, you can reduce card exposure by agreeing a bank transfer for milestones, splitting large invoices, and getting written sign-off at each stage. Our guides on contract points for Nigerian clients, getting paid via Stripe by Nigerian clients and what to do when a client will not pay cover each step.
Writing the rebuttal letter
Alongside the files, Stripe's form asks why you believe the dispute is wrong. Keep it to a few short paragraphs a bank reviewer can read in a minute: who the client is, what they agreed to buy and when, what you delivered and when, and why the stated reason does not fit those facts. Refer to each attached file by name. Avoid commentary on the client's honesty; state facts and dates. If you offered a partial refund that the client refused, say so and attach the message.
Where Pryme fits
Bank transfers into a Pryme Business Account are not card payments, so the card chargeback process described here does not apply to them. USD and NGN arrive into local account details and sit in the currency they came in. For evidence, VerifyDoc.ai lets you issue verifiable invoices and statements through receipts, which a client's finance team, or a bank reviewing a dispute, can check is unaltered. See invoicing.
Questions people ask
How long do I have to respond to a chargeback?
Stripe says usually 7 to 21 days depending on the card network. If you do not respond in time, you lose the dispute automatically.
Can I win a chargeback from a client in Nigeria?
Yes, if your evidence answers the dispute reason: a signed agreement, proof the client received and used the work, and your refund terms. The issuing bank makes the decision.
Do I get the dispute fee back if I win on Stripe?
Stripe returns the dispute countered fee if you win, but says it never returns the dispute received fee unless your contract states otherwise.
Can I send a link to the files I delivered as evidence?
No. Stripe says banks will not review external content such as links, audio or video, so include screenshots and documents in the submission.
Sources
- Stripe Docs: Disputes · accessed Oct 2026
- Stripe Docs: Respond to disputes · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.