American Express Chargeback Reason Code
American Express Reason Code F31: EMV Lost, Stolen, or Non-Received
Category FraudBy Payment Defender Editorial TeamUpdated July 17, 2026Last reviewed July 17, 2026
What American Express Reason Code F31 Means
American Express reason code F31 applies to fraud on EMV chip transactions involving a lost, stolen, or non-received Card that was not processed as a proper chip transaction. Liability may shift based on EMV handling.
Why This Chargeback Happens
This dispute commonly occurs when a lost, stolen, or never-received Card is used at a chip-capable terminal that did not process the chip, or when a fallback to magnetic stripe occurs on a chip-enabled Card.
What the Cardholder or Issuer Is Claiming
American Express is asserting the transaction involved a lost, stolen, or non-received Card that a proper EMV chip transaction may have prevented.
What Merchants Should Review
Review terminal EMV capability, the Card-read method, and whether the chip was used. Confirm whether the transaction fell back to stripe and whether the terminal supported chip processing.
Recommended Chargeback Evidence
- Terminal records showing EMV chip processing
- Card-read method and any fallback indicators
- Documentation of terminal EMV certification
- Authorization and verification data for the transaction
How to Prevent Similar Disputes
Merchants may reduce these disputes by using EMV chip-enabled terminals, prompting chip use, and avoiding unnecessary stripe fallback. Keeping terminals EMV-certified helps limit lost-and-stolen liability.
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.
Relevant Payment Defender Products
AlertBridge™
AlertBridge™ may help merchants intercept fraud and dispute notifications as alerts before they escalate into chargebacks.
Explore AlertBridge™
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.