The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) is a United States federal law enacted as an amendment to the Truth in Lending Act (codified at 15 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.). Its purpose is to protect consumers from unfair billing practices and to provide a mechanism for addressing billing errors. The law applies to "open end" credit accounts, such as credit cards, and revolving charge accounts - such as department store accounts. It does not cover installment contracts - loans or extensions of credit you repay on a fixed schedule. Consumers often buy cars, furniture and major appliances on an installment basis, and repay personal loans in installments as well.

The Fair Credit Billing act (FCBA) settlement procedures apply only to disputes about "billing errors." For example:

• unauthorized charges. Federal law limits your responsibility for unauthorized charges to $50
• charges that list the wrong date or amount
• charges for goods and services you didn't accept or weren't delivered as agreed
• math errors
• failure to post payments and other credits, such as returns
• failure to send bills to your current address - provided the creditor receives your change of address, in writing, at least 20 days before the billing period ends
• charges for which you ask for an explanation or written proof of purchase along with a claimed error or request for clarification.