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How to Respond to a Visa 11.3 “No Authorization” Chargeback
You've had a Visa chargeback with reason code 11.3. Here's what it means, what to send back, and how to submit it, in plain English.
- Visa 11.3
- No Authorization
- Type: no authorization
What Visa 11.3 means
Reason code 11.3 is Visa's code for “No Authorization”. In plain words, the cardholder's bank says the charge went through without a valid approval from the card issuer. It isn't a fraud claim: it's about the payment approval itself. The bank has pulled the money back for now, and your response is your chance to show the charge was valid.
How Visa handles it
Visa sorts its reason codes into four groups, and 11.3 sits in the Authorization group (11.x codes). Visa generally gives the cardholder's bank 120 days to file a dispute; for item-not-received and cancellation disputes the clock can start later, from the expected delivery or cancellation date, so an older order can still be disputed.
Why customers file it
- The payment was captured without an approval being requested, for example a charge keyed in by hand.
- The approval request was declined, but the charge was pushed through anyway.
- The approval had expired by the time the card was actually charged, for example on a pre-order or an order that shipped late.
- A later charge (an add-on, a re-bill) reused an old approval instead of getting a new one.
Most of these aren't bad faith. A calm, factual reply with the right documents works better than an argument.
The evidence that matters for 11.3
These are the documents the DisputeDraft generator checks for this reason code. Send the ones you have:
- Authorization ApprovalThe card issuer's approval for this exact charge: the approval code and date from your payment records. Upload: transaction record showing the approval code and date.
- Transaction DetailsThe receipt, invoice or order confirmation for the disputed charge. Upload: Original sales receipt, invoice, or order confirmation.
How to submit your response
Paste your letter into your processor's dispute response and upload the evidence. Menus change from time to time, so follow your dispute notice if anything looks different.
Stripe
- Go to Payments → Disputes and open this dispute.
- Click Counter dispute and follow the form.
- Paste the letter as your response and upload the files below.
Stripe accepts only one submission per dispute, so upload everything at once.
PayPal
- Open the Resolution Center and find this case (look under “Needs your attention”).
- Click Respond and choose the option to provide evidence.
- Paste the letter and upload the files below.
Use the response due date shown on the case.
Shopify Payments
- Go to Orders and open the order with the chargeback.
- Click Submit response in the chargeback banner.
- Paste the letter in the notes and add the files below as evidence.
You can add evidence until the due date; Shopify sends your response to the card company then.
Etsy Payments
- Find the email Etsy sent about this chargeback.
- Reply with the letter and the files below, as that email asks.
- Keep a copy of what you sent.
Etsy’s email gives the time frame to reply; Etsy passes your information to the bank.
Common mistakes
- Answering with fraud evidence (address checks, customer history). This code asks whether the charge was approved, not who made it.
- Leaving out the approval code and date from your payment records.
- Arguing when the approval really was missing, declined or expired. Then accepting the dispute is usually the honest answer.
- Charging long after the approval, without getting a new one. Re-authorize before late captures from now on.
Deadline reminder
Submit before the deadline on your dispute notice: late responses lose automatically.
Your processor sets its own response date, which is usually earlier than the bank's. Use the date on your dispute notice, not one you've read online.
Write your Visa 11.3 letter free
Opens the generator with Visa and 11.3 already selected. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Write your letter freeFAQ
Is Visa 11.3 a fraud dispute?
No. It's about the payment approval: whether the card issuer approved this charge before it went through. Who made the purchase isn't the question here.
Where do I find the approval code?
In the payment's details in your processor's dashboard, often labelled as the authorization or approval code. Upload that record with your letter.
What if the approval had expired before I charged the card?
Then the dispute is likely valid. Accepting it may be the right call; for the future, get a fresh approval before charging late orders.
Is Visa 11.3 the same as other “no authorization” codes?
Other networks have their own codes for the same kind of dispute. The evidence is similar, but always use the exact code on your dispute notice (Visa 11.3 here).
Related guides
This guide is general information, not legal advice. It can't guarantee an outcome. Networks revise their reason codes, so always follow the code and deadline on your processor's dispute notice.