Skip to content
NoChargeback

Mastercard reason code 4831 and how to defend amount differs disputes

Mastercard reason code 4831 (Transaction Amount Differs) means the cardholder says they were charged more, or a different amount, than they agreed to pay. The cardholder does not deny the purchase. They dispute the number on the statement, so you win by proving the charged amount matches what the customer accepted.

Draft my evidence See pricing

Read and dispute permissions only. We never move your money.

What Mastercard reason code 4831 means

The issuer files 4831 when the cardholder has a receipt, quote, invoice or order confirmation showing a lower amount than the one that cleared. Under current Mastercard rules this situation sits inside reason code 4834, Point-of-Interaction Error, as the transaction amount differs condition. Many processors, dashboards and older reports still display it as 4831, so you see both labels in practice. The dispute is usually for the difference only, not the full transaction.

Typical triggers for a 4831 chargeback

  • A tip, fee or surcharge was added after the cardholder signed or approved the total.
  • Shipping, taxes or currency conversion changed the final amount without a clear disclosure.
  • A quoted price for a service changed when the work finished and the customer did not agree in writing.
  • A data entry or integration error sent the wrong amount to the processor.
  • A hotel or rental added damage, minibar or late fees the cardholder did not accept.

Time limits for Mastercard 4831

The cardholder typically has 120 days from the settlement date to dispute. Your response window is set by your processor and is often between 7 and 21 days. In Stripe the exact deadline is the evidence due date on the dispute, and responding late means the dispute is lost no matter how good the paperwork is.

Evidence that wins a 4831 dispute

  • The signed receipt, approved checkout total or accepted invoice showing the exact amount charged.
  • Checkout screens or terms that disclosed shipping, taxes, fees and currency before payment.
  • Written approval for any change after the original quote, such as an email or signed change order.
  • The authorization record showing the approved amount matches the cleared amount.
  • For hotels and rentals, the signed agreement that allowed added charges and the itemized bill sent to the guest.

What to avoid when you respond

  • Do not defend the full purchase when only the difference is disputed. Focus on the amount.
  • Do not rely on a price list on your site without proof the customer saw it at checkout.
  • Do not refund the difference after the chargeback posts, since the funds are already withdrawn.
  • Do not leave currency conversion unexplained when the cardholder paid in another currency.

How to prevent Mastercard 4831 chargebacks

  • Show the full total, including shipping, taxes and fees, before the customer pays.
  • Get written approval before charging more than a quote.
  • Send an itemized receipt by email for every charge, including added fees.
  • Reconcile authorized and captured amounts daily to catch integration errors.

How 4831 appears in Stripe

Stripe usually shows an amount differs dispute under the reason general, and the raw code, 4831 or 4834, sits in the network reason code field on the dispute. NoChargeback reads that field, pulls the authorized and captured amounts, the receipt and checkout totals from the charge, and drafts a response focused on the disputed difference. See Stripe chargeback protection and the rebuttal letter template.

Rebuttal letter opening for Mastercard 4831

We are responding to the dispute filed under Mastercard reason code 4831. The cardholder approved the total of the transaction before payment, as shown in the attached checkout confirmation and receipt. The cleared amount matches the authorized amount and the amount the cardholder accepted, including the shipping, taxes and fees disclosed before checkout.

Draft my evidence

Is Mastercard 4831 still in use?

Mastercard now handles amount differs disputes under reason code 4834, Point-of-Interaction Error. Many processors and reports still show the older 4831 label, and the evidence you need is the same under both.

Can I win a 4831 chargeback?

Yes, when you can show the cardholder approved the exact amount charged. A receipt, checkout total or written approval of a changed price is the strongest proof.

Does the cardholder get the full amount back?

Usually not. A 4831 dispute normally covers only the difference between the agreed and charged amounts, so your response should focus on that difference.