A “DHA*TIME LIFE” charge on your credit card or bank statement is a purchase processed by Time Life, the direct-to-consumer seller of music collections, DVD sets, and similar entertainment products. The DHA prefix stands for Direct Holdings Americas, Inc., the legal corporate name Time Life operates under.1Fortune. Time Life, the Last Digital Holdout Because the billing system uses that legal name rather than the familiar brand, the descriptor can look unfamiliar even when the purchase was authorized.
Where the Charge Likely Came From
Time Life sells primarily through its website, television advertising, and mail-order catalogs. A charge under this descriptor usually traces back to one of three things:
- A one-time order for a music compilation, DVD box set, or similar product placed online, by phone, or in response to a TV offer.
- An installment payment on a multi-payment plan. Time Life often splits higher-priced collections into several charges, and later installments can post weeks or months after the initial order.
- An order placed by another authorized user on the card, such as someone else in the household.
Before treating the charge as fraud, check email confirmations, look for any Time Life packaging that arrived, and ask other people on the account whether they ordered anything recently.
How to Dispute the Charge If It Is Unauthorized
If the charge does not match any order placed by you or an authorized user, federal law gives you a clear path to dispute it. The Fair Credit Billing Act caps a cardholder’s liability for unauthorized charges at $50, and many issuers add zero-liability policies on top of that.2Investopedia. Fair Credit Billing Act
To preserve your full FCBA rights, send a written dispute to your card issuer’s billing-inquiry address within 60 days of the statement date on which the charge first appeared.3Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges Include your name, account number, the amount and date of the charge, and why you believe it is an error. Certified mail with a return receipt creates a paper trail.4California Attorney General. Credit Cards: Dispute a Charge
Once the issuer receives your written notice, it must acknowledge the dispute within 30 days and finish investigating within 90 days.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Do I Dispute a Charge on My Credit Card Bill While the investigation is open, the issuer cannot collect the disputed amount, charge interest on it, or report it as delinquent to credit bureaus.3Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges You still have to pay the undisputed portion of the bill on time.
If the issuer decides the charge was valid, it must send a written explanation and give you at least 10 days to respond with more evidence. You can also file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if you believe the outcome is wrong.3Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
If the Charge Is Legitimate but You Want a Refund
When the charge is real but the product arrived damaged, was not as described, or is otherwise unwanted, contacting Time Life customer service directly is usually the fastest route. The FCBA’s claims-and-defenses provision lets you dispute charges for defective or undelivered goods through your card issuer, but reaching out to the seller first also satisfies a prerequisite for that kind of dispute if the company refuses to help.4California Attorney General. Credit Cards: Dispute a Charge Keep records of every call, email, and letter; that documentation strengthens a later dispute if one becomes necessary.