What does non-received mean in this code?

It refers to cards stolen in transit: the cardmember never received the card, someone else activated or used it, and any non-EMV acceptance point it passed through can be held liable for the fraud.

Can I win an F31 if my terminal processed the chip correctly?

Yes. If the authorization record shows a genuine EMV chip transaction that Amex approved, the liability shift does not apply and the chargeback is worth contesting on that technical basis.

American Express · Fraud

Reason code F31: EMV Lost / Stolen / Non-Received

Under F31, a lost, stolen, or never-received Amex chip card was used fraudulently, and the merchant's terminal did not support the EMV processing that would have stopped it. It is the lost-and-stolen counterpart to F30's counterfeit scenario, and liability again follows the weakest link in the acceptance chain.

Issuer filing window

typically 120 days from the charge date

Merchant response window

typically 20 days to respond

Why F31 chargebacks happen

A stolen physical card was used at a terminal that processed it by magstripe instead of chip.
A card intercepted in the mail before activation was run through a non-EMV or misconfigured device.
Fallback processing let a thief bypass chip verification after deliberately damaging the chip.
The merchant's terminal fleet lacked current Amex EMV certification when the fraud occurred.

How to fight a F31 chargeback

Demonstrate the transaction was a full chip-read EMV transaction using the entry mode and cryptogram data in the authorization record.
Supply terminal certification documentation from your processor covering Amex EMV at the time of sale.
Verify the timing: if the card was reported lost or stolen only after your properly authorized transaction, note the approval Amex itself granted.
Contest any F31 filed against a compliant contactless or contact chip transaction, since the liability shift does not apply there.

How to prevent F31 chargebacks

Run every card-present Amex transaction through certified chip or contactless acceptance.
Treat chip-fallback swipes as high-risk events: require ID or a supervisor override before completing them.
Keep terminals patched and certified across all card networks you accept, and confirm Amex is explicitly included.
Review authorization responses in real time, since Amex declines cards reported lost or stolen the moment they are flagged.

Frequently asked questions

What does non-received mean in this code?: It refers to cards stolen in transit: the cardmember never received the card, someone else activated or used it, and any non-EMV acceptance point it passed through can be held liable for the fraud.
Can I win an F31 if my terminal processed the chip correctly?: Yes. If the authorization record shows a genuine EMV chip transaction that Amex approved, the liability shift does not apply and the chargeback is worth contesting on that technical basis.

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