American Express Chargeback Reason Code
American Express Reason Code A02: No Valid Authorization
Category AuthorizationBy Payment Defender Editorial TeamUpdated July 17, 2026Last reviewed July 17, 2026
What American Express Reason Code A02 Means
American Express reason code A02 applies when a charge was submitted without a valid authorization approval. The transaction may never have been authorized, or the authorization may have been declined or otherwise invalid at the time the charge was completed.
Why This Chargeback Happens
This dispute commonly occurs when a merchant completes a sale after a decline, processes a transaction offline without later obtaining approval, or submits a charge for which no authorization request was ever sent. System outages and forced or manual entries can also lead to charges without a valid approval.
What the Cardholder or Issuer Is Claiming
American Express is asserting that the charge lacks a valid authorization approval for the transaction as settled.
What Merchants Should Review
Review authorization logs for the transaction to confirm whether an approval code was obtained and was still valid at settlement. Check for declines that were overridden, offline or forced entries, and any gaps between authorization and capture.
Recommended Chargeback Evidence
- Authorization approval code and response for the transaction
- Timestamps showing authorization occurred before settlement
- Records confirming the approval was not declined or reversed
- Documentation of any offline or forced-entry handling
How to Prevent Similar Disputes
Merchants may reduce these disputes by authorizing every charge before settlement, never completing sales after a decline, and ensuring offline or manually entered transactions receive proper approval. Monitoring for un-authorized captures can help catch issues before disputes arise.
Important Limitations
This page is educational and reflects common industry usage. American Express dispute rules, timelines, and evidence requirements change over time and vary by market and program. Merchants should confirm current requirements with American Express or their processor before responding to any dispute.
Related Reason Codes
Sources and Review Information
- American Express: American Express Merchant Regulations – U.S.
Last reviewed July 17, 2026
Chargeback rules, evidence requirements, and response options may vary by card network, region, processor, and dispute circumstances.