Network
DiscoverCode
AWResponse window
30 calendar daysWin difficulty
MediumDispute type
Processing ErrorDiscover AW — Altered Amount: What It Is and How to Respond
Discover AW is filed when the amount posted to the cardholder's account differs from what was authorized or agreed to at the time of purchase. This is Discover's equivalent of Visa 12.5 (Incorrect Amount) and Amex P05 (Incorrect Charge Amount). Common causes include manual entry errors, system glitches that change the amount between authorization and settlement, and tip additions applied without a new authorization.
AW disputes require you to prove the amount charged matched the amount the cardholder agreed to pay. Your strongest evidence is a receipt or order confirmation showing the amount, and an authorization record showing the same amount was authorized.
Common reasons you received this dispute
- 1Tip added to a restaurant transaction without re-authorization (common trigger for AW)
- 2Manual amount entry error at point of sale
- 3System glitch that changed the settlement amount
- 4A price change applied after the cardholder confirmed payment
- 5Currency conversion applied without explicit customer agreement
Can you win this dispute?
Fight this dispute if...
- ✓The amount charged matches the signed receipt and authorization record
- ✓The cardholder is misremembering the price they agreed to
- ✓The cardholder agreed to the amount — show receipt/confirmation with their signature or explicit acceptance
Accept this chargeback if...
- ✗The amount genuinely differs from what the cardholder agreed to — process a partial refund for the difference
Evidence checklist
- ✅ Required
Signed receipt or order confirmation showing the agreed amount.
- ✅ Required
Authorization record showing the same amount as the settlement.
- ⭐ Strongly recommended
For tip disputes: signed slip showing the customer added the tip themselves.
How to write your response
Your response must show that the amount charged matches both the authorization and what the cardholder agreed to pay. Lead with the authorization record, then present the signed receipt or order confirmation. If both documents show the same amount, you have a strong case.
“We are writing to dispute Discover chargeback [reference] under reason code AW. The transaction amount of [amount] matches the authorization amount (Exhibit A: authorization record) and the cardholder's signed receipt (Exhibit B). There was no alteration between authorization and settlement. We respectfully request reversal of this chargeback.”
Key deadlines
Response window: 30 calendar days from the notification date.
How to prevent this chargeback
- 1
For tip transactions: show the total including tip on the customer-facing screen before capture: Use Tip Adjust functionality that keeps the original authorization base and shows the final total before the transaction is settled.
- 2
Reconcile your authorization amounts against your settlement amounts daily: Catch discrepancies before they become disputes.
- 3
Show the final total amount prominently before checkout completion: The last thing a customer sees before paying should be the exact charge amount.
- 4
For manual key-entry transactions, repeat the amount back to the customer: Get verbal confirmation before processing — and keep any signed authorization slip.
Frequently asked questions
What is Discover AW?
Discover AW is filed when the amount posted to the cardholder's account differs from what was authorized or agreed. It covers manual entry errors, tip additions without re-authorization, and system glitches that change the settlement amount.
Why do tip additions trigger Discover AW?
If a tip is added to a transaction after the cardholder taps/chips and leaves, and the total amount posted to their card exceeds the authorized base amount by more than Discover's allowed tolerance, AW can be filed. Always show the total including tip before capture, and keep signed tip receipts.
How do I prove the correct amount was charged?
Provide your authorization record showing the approved amount and a signed receipt or order confirmation showing the cardholder agreed to that exact amount. These two documents together are usually sufficient to win an AW dispute.
How is Discover AW different from Visa 12.5?
Both codes cover the same scenario — incorrect amount charged. The dispute logic and evidence requirements are identical. The practical difference is network. Discover AW affects Discover transactions; Visa 12.5 affects Visa.
Related reason codes
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