Why are chargebacks higher around Black Friday?

Because order volume, impulse buys, and fraud attempts all spike at the same time. Shipping delays, confusing promos, and customer regret also push people to file disputes more often.

Do pre-dispute alerts really help reduce chargebacks?

Yes. Pre-dispute alerts give you a warning before a formal chargeback is logged. If you refund or resolve the issue during that window, many potential disputes never hit your official dispute rate.

Is it better to refund or fight disputes during Black Friday season?

It depends on the order. For low-value or clearly messy orders, a quick refund can be cheaper than a formal dispute. For high-value orders with strong evidence, it often makes sense to respond and try to win.

How can I stop “I did not recognize this charge” disputes?

Use a clear billing descriptor that matches your brand. Add a short URL or support contact in the descriptor if possible. Sending clean order confirmations and receipts also helps customers connect the charge to the purchase.

What metrics should I watch in real time on Black Friday?

Watch approval and decline rates, fraud rule triggers, refund volume, and support backlog. Sudden changes in any of these can warn you that future disputes are coming.

The Year-End Payments Reset: 5 Regulatory & Network Shifts Every Merchant Must Prepare for in 2026

New insights show why December is now the most critical month for merchant payment operations

New York – Nov, 2025 — As merchants close out peak season, industry experts are signaling a clear shift: December is no longer a quiet period for payments. It has become the annual “Year-End Payments Reset,” when networks, regulators, and acquirers finalize the rules that will define merchant risk, compliance, and costs for the year ahead.

Chargeblast, a leader in dispute-prevention intelligence and merchant-focused payments research, is highlighting how December 2025 will set the tone for merchant performance in early 2026.

“To be ready for 2026, merchants need to treat December as a strategic checkpoint, the moment where rules, risk, and technology reset simultaneously,” said Qi Cao, Founder of Chargeblast.

December as the Reset Point: Rules, Risk, and AI-Driven Commerce

Interchange adjustments, network monitoring changes, VAMP thresholds, dispute-rights updates, and acquirer policies are increasingly finalized in December. These decisions shape January dispute ratios, monitoring status, and whether acquirers view a merchant as stable or high-risk going into Q1.

At the same time, AI-driven “agentic commerce” is beginning to introduce new operational risks: purchases initiated by AI agents rather than consumers, subscription renewals triggered automatically, and disputes arising from AI misunderstanding user intent. This is especially relevant for digital goods, subscriptions, and high-velocity ecommerce flows.

“AI-driven purchasing behavior is evolving faster than the policies that govern it. Merchants who prepare early will avoid the confusion, disputes, and compliance challenges that will surface in 2026,” said Qi Cao, CEO at Chargeblast

Visa’s updated VAMP framework is also reshaping the risk environment. With more compliance burden on acquirers, many are tightening internal thresholds heading into 2026, meaning even modest holiday dispute spikes can have outsized consequences.

“VAMP has permanently changed the risk landscape. Acquirers are tightening thresholds heading into 2026, and even a small dispute spike can have outsized consequences,” said Qi Cao, CEO at Chargeblast

Why December Preparation Will Define Merchant Outcomes in 2026

AI is lowering the cost of fraud tools, risk automation, monitoring, and dispute management, but only for merchants who actively reassess their stack and renegotiate contracts. In parallel, the most resilient merchants are already using December to strengthen proactive defenses and avoid a turbulent start to 2026.

Across the market, leading operators are focusing on:

Aligning billing descriptors to reduce preventable disputes
Tightening customer communication around fulfillment, refunds, and renewals
Updating risk settings in line with new acquirer and network rules
Improving dispute workflows ahead of January volume
Reviewing vendors and identifying AI-powered alternatives to manual processes

“Now is the time to tune descriptors, audit dispute workflows, and reinforce customer communication. These foundational steps will define your stability in 2026,” added Qi Cao.

Merchants that treat December as an active reset period, rather than a cooldown after peak season, will enter 2026 with stronger compliance, fewer disputes, and more resilient revenue.

About Chargeblast
Chargeblast provides dispute-prevention intelligence, real-time alerts, and data-driven insights that help merchants reduce disputes, protect revenue, and navigate the evolving payments landscape. Trusted by thousands of merchants globally, Chargeblast combines automation with merchant-first research to strengthen payment performance and support long-term account health.