Chargeback Response Checklist
=============================
A step-by-step checklist that takes a Stripe dispute from the first notification to a submitted evidence packet without missing the deadline.

[ ] Note the due date shown in the Stripe dispute and put it on a shared calendar the same day it arrives.
[ ] Assign one named owner for the case and confirm they can reach the order, customer, and shipping records.
[ ] Read the reason code and the cardholder's stated claim before opening any files.
[ ] Classify the reason code family: fraudulent, product not received, product unacceptable, credit not processed, subscription canceled, duplicate, unrecognized, or general.
[ ] Check whether a refund was already issued or promised; if so, consider accepting the dispute rather than fighting a case you cannot win.
[ ] Look for an earlier inquiry or early fraud warning on the same charge and read how it was handled.
[ ] Run the amount, the dispute fee, and your time estimate through the Fight or Accept Chargeback Calculator to decide whether a full response is worth it.
[ ] Choose one triage path and write it on the case: concede, fight with a template, or fight with care.
[ ] Pull the order record: date, amount, items, billing and shipping address, email, IP address, and any card verification results.
[ ] For physical goods, download carrier tracking with delivery confirmation and any signature to the address the customer gave at checkout.
[ ] For digital products or subscriptions, export access logs, login timestamps, and the recorded acceptance of your terms.
[ ] For services, collect the booking or scheduling record, the delivered work, and the communication history.
[ ] Gather every customer message about this order, including support tickets, emails, and chat transcripts, in date order.
[ ] Screenshot your refund and cancellation policy exactly as it appeared at checkout, with the date visible.
[ ] Write a summary of no more than one page that states the reason code, the claim, and the two or three facts that disprove it.
[ ] Label each exhibit with a number and a one-line purpose, in the order the summary references them.
[ ] Remove anything that does not address the claim, and cut any wording that argues with or speculates about the cardholder.
[ ] Convert exhibits to common formats such as PDF or images and confirm no archive files or links to external drives remain.
[ ] Have a second person read the summary and confirm they can understand the case in one pass.
[ ] Submit through the Stripe dashboard with a buffer of at least two business days before the due date, and save a copy of the exact packet sent.
[ ] Log the case in your dispute tracking log with the reason code, amount, triage path, and submission date.
[ ] Record the decision when it arrives, note what you would change, and update your template for that reason code if needed.