Frequently Asked Questions

A CPI Reference Number is a unique, timestamped identifier (format: CPI-YYYYMMDD-XXXXXX) issued by Consumer Protect International when a consumer documents an unauthorized charge. It serves as an official, neutral record that can be verified by merchants, banks, attorneys, and processors.

No. CPI is a private, independent nonprofit corporation. It is not a government agency and does not have regulatory or enforcement authority. CPI's role is documentation and verification only.

Filing a case and receiving a CPI Reference Number is completely free for consumers. Optional premium services such as priority review, expert statements, and certified letters are available at additional cost.

Your CPI Reference Number is issued immediately upon successful form submission. You will receive it on-screen and via email within minutes.

Yes. Merchants who believe a case filing is false or fraudulent may contact CPI to report misuse. CPI will review the report and update the case status accordingly.

Visit our Verification Portal at verify.html, enter the reference number, and select your identity type. Results are displayed instantly.

Consumers can see all their case details. Third parties (merchants, banks, attorneys) can see only the reference number, filing date, status, and a sanitized case summary - not your personal identifying information without consent.

No. CPI has no enforcement authority. CPI documents and verifies - it does not compel refunds, order chargebacks, or issue rulings. Those actions are taken by banks, payment processors, and courts.

No. CPI is not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice or legal representation. For legal representation, consult a licensed attorney.

CPI documentation and expert statements are designed to be suitable for legal proceedings. However, admissibility is determined by the court. Consult an attorney regarding your specific situation.

CPI takes fraud seriously. Cases determined to be false or fraudulent are flagged, and the status is updated to reflect the finding. Reporters receive follow-up if they provided an email address.

All data is encrypted at rest and in transit. PII is never shared with third-party verifiers without consent. CPI follows strict data retention and deletion policies.

CPI documents any consumer claim of an unauthorized or disputed charge, including unauthorized recurring charges, overcharges, post-cancellation charges, duplicate charges, and unrefunded returns.

Contact CPI directly via the Contact page with your reference number and updated information. CPI staff will add the documentation to your case file.

With your consent, attorneys can access your full case documentation. For court orders, contact CPI's legal department at legal@consumerprotect.us.

An expert witness statement is a formal, signed declaration from a CPI expert attesting to the existence, timeline, and chain-of-custody integrity of your documented case. It is suitable for use in legal proceedings.

Cases are retained for a minimum of 7 years from the date of filing. Archived cases may be retrieved upon request.

You are under no obligation to negotiate directly with the merchant. Keep records of any communications and consider providing them to CPI as supplementary documentation.

Yes. Contact CPI with your reference number to request case closure. Closed cases are archived and can be re-opened upon request within 90 days.

Contact CPI via the Contact page, selecting 'Report Misuse' as the subject. Include the reference number, your relationship to the case, and a description of the misuse.

No. CPI is strictly neutral. We document what consumers submit and make that record verifiable. We do not advocate for consumers or merchants.

CPI primarily serves consumers in the United States. International consumers may also file cases, though services may be limited for transactions outside the US.

CPI is funded through optional premium service fees paid by consumers and institutions. No consumer is required to pay anything to file a case or receive a reference number.

A Resolved status means the matter has been documented as resolved to CPI's knowledge. The case record remains on file and verifiable indefinitely.

Yes. Each unauthorized charge is a separate case and receives its own unique CPI Reference Number. There is no limit on the number of cases a consumer may file.