Claims and defenses is a category of consumer complaint, protected by federal law, that can be used to dispute a credit card charge. Claims and defenses can be filed up to one year from the time of the disputed purchase but must meet four criteria: 1) The amount in dispute is more than $50; 2) You must not have paid the disputed charge; 3) You must have made a good-faith effort to get a refund from the merchant first; 4) The merchant must be within 100 miles of your home and within your state (this requirement is waived for online purchases).