Dispute a Billing Error or Refund in Tradovate
Spotting a charge you don't recognize on your Tradovate account is annoying, but most genuine billing errors get sorted out fast if you go through Tradovate directly, act quickly, and skip your bank. Here's exactly how.
Spotting a charge you don't recognize on your Tradovate account is annoying, but most genuine billing errors get sorted out fast if you handle them the right way. The trick is to go through Tradovate directly, act quickly, and resist the urge to call your bank first. Here's how to dispute an erroneous charge or ask for a refund without putting your account at risk.
Move fast. Billing disputes are far easier to reverse when you raise them early, so don't sit on a charge that looks wrong.
How to Dispute a Tradovate Charge: Step-by-Step
Confirm the Charge in Your Account Reports
Before you fire off a support ticket, pull up exactly what hit your account. Open your account reports or statements, find the line item, and write down the date, the amount, and the description. A good chunk of "mystery" charges turn out to be a fee you simply forgot about, so knowing the specifics makes your case airtight.
Rule Out Fees That Are Actually Valid
Not every charge is a mistake. A handful of common ones catch people off guard, an inactivity or maintenance fee, an auto-liquidation fee, an exchange or market-data fee, or commissions. If the charge lines up with one of these, it's most likely legitimate, and disputing it will just slow you down. If it's a duplicate, the wrong amount, or something you never signed up for, keep going.
Gather Your Proof of Payment
Support moves faster when you hand over everything up front. Grab your account name or ID, the exact charge date and amount, the transaction or reference ID, and a screenshot or the card or bank statement line showing the debit. If you have a receipt or a confirmation email, attach that too. The more concrete you are, the less back-and-forth you'll deal with.
Contact Tradovate Support Directly
This is the part that matters most: reach out to Tradovate, not your bank. Filing a chargeback or payment dispute with your card issuer before you've talked to support can get your account suspended or closed while the dispute plays out. You have a few ways in: in-app live chat inside the web or desktop platform, usually the quickest route; email [email protected] with your charge details and proof attached; a contact form at support.tradovate.com, where you can pick a billing or payments topic; or phone at 1-844-283-3100 or 312-283-3100 for account and billing questions. Whatever channel you pick, say plainly that it's a billing error, give the charge details, and ask for a refund of the incorrect amount.
Submit Within the Window and Follow Up
Don't let it drift. Erroneous charges are easiest to reverse when you flag them promptly, generally within about two weeks of the charge, though you should confirm the current window with support since Tradovate doesn't publish a fixed public deadline. Once you submit, save your ticket number, keep an eye out for a reply, and follow up if it goes quiet. If the first rep closes you out without actually fixing it, reply on the same thread and ask to escalate.
| Charge | What It Usually Is |
|---|---|
| Inactivity or maintenance fee | A Free-plan account that logs in but doesn't place a trade inside a set window. |
| Auto-liquidation fee | Charged per event when the platform force-closes a margin breach. |
| Exchange or market-data fee | A recurring data subscription you signed up for, billed monthly. |
| Commissions | Per-side trading fees tied to your account plan. |
Prop Firm or Evaluation Account? Read This First
If you're on a prop-firm or evaluation account (Apex, Topstep, and the like), the money you paid for the evaluation or a reset was billed by the firm, not by Tradovate. Refunds and billing questions for those go to your prop firm's support, and refund eligibility varies by firm and account size, so check your firm's current rules before you ask.
Keep Your Automation Running While You Sort Billing
Chasing down a charge shouldn't cost you setups. PickMyTrade wires your TradingView alerts straight into Tradovate, so your entries, stops, and targets keep firing on their own while you deal with support.
Stop Babysitting Your Charts
Chasing down a billing charge shouldn't cost you setups. PickMyTrade wires your TradingView alerts straight into Tradovate, so your entries, stops, and targets keep firing on their own while you deal with support.
Start Your Free 5-Day TrialFrequently Asked Questions
Sooner is always better. Billing disputes are typically resolved most easily when you raise them within about two weeks of the charge. Tradovate doesn't post a fixed public deadline, so if you're near that mark, contact support right away and confirm the current window with them.
No, not as a first move. Filing a chargeback with your card issuer before contacting Tradovate can get your account suspended or terminated. Always open a ticket with Tradovate support first and give them a chance to reverse the charge.
Some charges, like inactivity, data, and liquidation fees, are valid under Tradovate's terms even if they sting. If it's a genuine fee rather than an error, a refund isn't guaranteed. You can still ask politely and request an exception, but plan around the fee going forward.
This guide is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or trading advice. Trading futures and other leveraged products carries a substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. PickMyTrade is an independent third-party automation platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Tradovate, Inc. "Tradovate" and all related names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Platform features and steps change over time, so always confirm the current process in the official Tradovate platform and documentation before acting.