01Problem
Money leaves on four clocks that do not wait for each other. A sold house can keep generating homeowners premium until someone cancels — r/homeowners is a $7,000 example. Texas requires unearned premium on personal auto and residential property by the 15th business day after cancellation (Tex. Ins. Code § 558.002(d)). Florida auto lets the insurer keep up to 10% of unearned when you cancel and must refund at least 90% within 30 days (§ 627.7283). Credit-card errors: 60-day written notice from the first statement (15 U.S.C. § 1666; 12 CFR 1026.13). Debit unauthorized transfers: unlimited liability if not reported within 60 days of the statement (12 CFR 1005.6). Cancelled or significantly delayed U.S. flights: automatic refund in 7 business days (cards) or 20 calendar days (other) (14 CFR Part 260).
02Intake
- Track A: declarations, cancel request and effective date, deed/CD, mortgagee/escrow letters, premium invoices or cancellation-balance bill, replacement coverage if any.
- Track B: the statement that first showed the charge, billing-error address (not the payment address), merchant, amount, why it is wrong, cancellation emails.
- Track C: account statement, date you learned of loss/theft, date the statement was sent, bank error-notice address.
- Track D: e-ticket/PNR, form of payment, original vs new times, whether you flew, voucher offers, merchant of record (airline vs OTA).
- All tracks: call log and copies of every written notice.
03Playbook
- 01
Pick the track by the instrument. Uncancelled insurance premium → A. Credit card billing error → B (FCBA). Debit/ATM/ACH/P2P → C (Reg E). Cancelled or significantly changed flight you did not take → D (14 CFR Part 260). A premium on a credit card is A and B; file both.
- 02
Track A — cancel in writing. Named insured cancels, not the mortgage company. Send insurer and mortgagee: sale date, deed/CD, new owner, cancel effective closing, refund demand. Force-placed on the buyer’s loan is a separate file; still cancel yours as of closing.
- 03
Track A — pro rata, then the state overlay. Unearned = P × (days remaining / term days). Texas § 558.002(d): personal auto or residential property — refund by the 15th business day. 28 TAC § 5.7015: clock starts on the later of insurer receipt or the cancel date. Florida § 627.7283 (motor vehicle only): you cancel → unearned within 30 days; insurer may keep up to 10% of unearned (refund ≥ 90%). Insurer cancels → 100% within 15 days. Late: 8% interest; still unpaid 45 days after the period → § 624.155. Other states: DOI if nothing has moved in 30 days (https://content.naic.org/state-insurance-departments).
- 04
Track B — FCBA written notice must arrive within 60 days after the issuer sent the first statement showing the error. 15 U.S.C. § 1666; 12 CFR 1026.13. Write to the billing-error address, not the payment box. Identify name, account, type/date/amount, and why (unauthorized, wrong amount, not delivered as agreed, missing credit).
- 05
Track B — issuer clocks and withholding. Ack in 30 days; resolve in two complete billing cycles, never later than 90 days. You may withhold the disputed amount; they may not report it as delinquent. The 60 days run from the statement, not the purchase. Charge Aug 5, statement sent Sep 1 → notice received by Oct 31.
- 06
Track C — Reg E liability cliff. 12 CFR 1005.6, 1005.11. Lost/stolen access device: notify within 2 business days of learning → liability ≤ $50; later → ≤ $500 if the bank shows it could have stopped the extra. Unauthorized EFT on a statement: notify within 60 days of the statement being sent or liability can be unlimited for later transfers the bank could have stopped. Investigation: 10 business days, or provisional credit + 45 days (90 for new accounts, POS, foreign).
- 07
Track D — 14 CFR Part 260 eligibility. Merchant-of-record carrier refunds fare, taxes, and ancillaries on a cancelled or significantly delayed/changed flight you do not take. Significant (260.2): domestic 3+ hours; international 6+ hours; different airport; more connections; cabin downgrade; disability accessibility change. Automatic when cancelled with no alternative, you reject the rebooking/voucher, or the flight passes unanswered.
- 08
Track D — timing and vouchers. Prompt (260.10): 7 business days (card); 20 calendar days (other). No processing fee. Voucher only with conspicuous refund-rights notice; must last ≥ 5 years (49 U.S.C. § 42305(c); 14 CFR 260.8). Unused ancillaries (260.4). Delayed-bag fee: 12 hours domestic (260.5). No U.S. cash delay compensation (ANPRM withdrawn Nov 17, 2025, 90 FR 51230).
- 09
OTA vs airline. If an OTA charged the card, pursue both. 260.6 keys carrier duty to the merchant of record. Screenshot the descriptor.
- 10
Stack clocks. Post-sale premium on a card = A and B. Debit airline ticket = D and C if they do not reverse. Freeze a stolen debit card — that freeze does not replace the 2-day / 60-day notices.
- 11
Escalate on the clock. Track A miss → state DOI. Track B/C miss → CFPB. Track D miss → DOT air-consumer complaint. A second phone call does not restart the statute.
04Checklists
Wrong-charge and policy refund recovery
- Track identified (A / B / C / D); stacked if two instruments
- Clocks calendared from the right start date (statement sent, cancel received, flight departure)
- Written cancel / billing-error / EFT / refund-rejection sent; proof of delivery kept
- Unearned premium computed pro rata; FL 10% retention only if the insured cancelled a motor-vehicle policy
- Sale paperwork attached on a post-closing homeowners bill
- FCBA letter to the billing-error address, to arrive within 60 days of the first statement
- Undisputed amounts paid; disputed amounts withheld under FCBA
- Debit: 2-business-day notice if lost/stolen; 60-day statement notice in every case
- Flight: original vs new times; written voucher rejection; 7-business-day / 20-calendar-day clock
- DOI / CFPB / DOT complaint filed if the clock is missed
- Replacement insurance in force before the old policy’s cancel date
05Questions to ask
- Q01
(A) “Cancel policy [number] effective [closing date]. What is the unearned amount and refund date? Texas § 558.002(d) is the 15th business day; Florida § 627.7283 is 30 days/90% if I cancelled, 15 days/100% if you cancelled.”
- Q02
(A) “Who told you this policy should remain in force after [sale date], and on what document?”
- Q03
(B) “What is the billing-error address, and on what date was the statement that first showed $[amount] transmitted?”
- Q04
(B) “Acknowledge within 30 days and resolve within two complete billing cycles (12 CFR 1026.13). Do not report the disputed amount as delinquent.”
- Q05
(C) “This is notice of an unauthorized EFT under 12 CFR 1005.6 and 1005.11. Provisionally credit within 10 business days if you need more time.”
- Q06
(D) “This itinerary is cancelled / significantly delayed under 14 CFR 260.2 (domestic 3h / international 6h). I reject the rebooking and any voucher. Refund to the original form of payment within 7 business days (card). Are you the merchant of record?”
06Red flags
“The mortgage company was supposed to cancel it” used as a reason not to send your own cancel letter
Short-rate penalty on a Florida auto policy the insurer cancelled (they owe 100% of unearned)
FCBA letter mailed to the payment address, or waiting to write because a phone agent “opened a case”
Debit card unused for three months after an unauthorized ACH — unlimited-liability territory
Airline voucher accepted without the 14 CFR 260.8 refund-rights disclosure
OTA sending a 12-month credit when Part 260 requires a refund to original form of payment
Paying a cancellation-balance invoice that is actually unearned premium you are owed
07Scripts
I sold [address] on [closing date] (deed/CD enclosed). Cancel policy [number] effective that date. Refund all unearned premium to [name/account]. Tex. Ins. Code § 558.002(d): residential unearned due by the 15th business day (28 TAC § 5.7015: later of receipt or cancel date). Florida motor-vehicle § 627.7283: 30 days, ≥90% if I cancelled. If you refuse I will file with the DOI and, if the premium hit a credit card, an FCBA notice.
[Billing-error address — not the payment address] Re: Billing-error notice, account ending [last four], 12 CFR 1026.13 The statement transmitted [statement date] shows [merchant], [date], $[amount]. This is a billing error because [unauthorized / wrong amount / cancelled [date] and not delivered as agreed / missing credit]. Enclosed: [statement page, cancellation]. Acknowledge within 30 days; resolve within two complete billing cycles, never later than 90 days. I am withholding the disputed amount. Do not report it as delinquent.
Notice under 12 CFR 1005.6 and 1005.11 of unauthorized EFTs on account ending [last four]: [dates, amounts, merchants]. I learned of [the loss / the transfers] on [date]. Investigate, provisionally credit within 10 business days if you need more time, and explain in writing.
PNR [locator], ticket [number], [flight/date]. The flight was [cancelled / delayed 3+ domestic or 6+ international hours / different airport / downgraded]. I reject the rebooking and any voucher. Under 14 CFR 260.6 and 49 U.S.C. § 42305, refund fare, taxes, and unused ancillaries to the original form of payment within 7 business days (card) or 20 calendar days (other). No processing fee. If you are not merchant of record, identify who is. I will file at airconsumer.dot.gov if this does not post by [date].
08Tools
Callable over MCP once connected. Your agent passes the inputs and gets structured results back.
unearned_premium_calculatorUnearned-premium calculator- Refund on a cancelled insurance policy: pro rata unearned = premium × remaining days / term days. Florida auto: insured cancels → at least 90% within 30 days; insurer cancels → 100% within 15 days; late refunds earn 8% (§ 627.7283). Texas residential: due by the 15th business day after the later of receipt or the cancel date (Ins. Code § 558.002, 28 TAC § 5.7015; enter Texas state holidays).
fcba_reg_e_deadline_calculatorFCBA / Reg E deadline calculator- Credit card billing errors (Reg Z § 1026.13): written notice must be received within 60 days of the statement; acknowledgment in 30 days; resolution within two billing cycles and never more than 90 days. Debit/EFT (Reg E § 1005.6): $50 if reported within 2 business days of learning of loss/theft, up to $500 after, unlimited for transfers after 60 days from the statement; bank investigates in 10 business days or provisionally credits and takes 45 (90 for new accounts, POS, foreign).
dot_refund_eligibility_checkerDOT refund eligibility checker- Airline refund rights (14 CFR Part 260): a 'significant change' is a departure ≥3 hours earlier or arrival ≥3 hours later (domestic) / ≥6 hours (international), a cancellation, a different airport, more connections, or a cabin downgrade. If you did not fly and did not accept a voucher, the refund is due in 7 business days (card) or 20 calendar days (other).
09Formulas & rules
- Pro rata unearned. Unearned = P × (D_remaining / D_term). Worked: $2,400 annual, cancelled day 180 (185 remain). 2,400 × 185/365 = $1,216.44.
- Texas 15-business-day. Cancel Friday Oct 2, 2026; notice received that day. Skip weekends/Texas holidays ≈ Oct 23, 2026.
- Florida auto, insured cancels. Same $1,216.44 unearned. Retain 10% = $121.64; refund ≥ $1,094.80 within 30 days. Insurer cancels: $1,216.44 within 15 days. Late: 8%. Worked: $1,094.80 unpaid 60 days = 1,094.80 × 0.08 × 60/365 = $14.39.
- FCBA 60-day. Statement transmitted Oct 1, 2026, $189.40 error. Written notice must be received by Nov 30, 2026. Ack 30 days; resolve two complete cycles, ≤ 90 days. Worked: notice received Nov 10 → 90-day cap Feb 8, 2027.
- Reg E tiers. Lost debit, $1,200 stolen. Learned Monday 9 a.m.; called Wednesday 9 a.m. (2 business days) → liability $50. Called the following Monday → up to $500 if the bank shows an earlier call would have stopped the extra. Statement sent Jan 5; notice June 1 → unlimited liability for later transfers the bank could have stopped after March 6.
- DOT significant delay. Domestic 8:00 a.m. moved to 11:30 a.m. (3.5h) → significant. International arrival moved 5h → not (threshold 6). Reject voucher Friday Oct 30, 2026 → card refund due Monday Nov 9, 2026. The r/homeowners $7,000 is the billed figure — run pro rata on the declarations.
10State variation
- Texas 558.002(d) / 28 TAC 5.7015: 15 business days on personal auto and residential property; “business day” excludes Saturday, Sunday, and Texas holidays.
- Florida 627.7283: 30/15-day clocks, 10% retention only when the insured cancels a motor vehicle policy, 8% interest, 624.155 after 45 extra days. Homeowners unearned timing is not in 627.7283.
- FCBA 1026.13 and Reg E 1005.6/.11 unchanged as of eCFR Oct 2026.
- 14 CFR Part 260 in force (final Apr 26, 2024, 89 FR 32832; eCFR through Oct 27, 2026). DOT discretion for mere flight renumbering extended to July 7, 2026. Delay-cash ANPRM withdrawn Nov 17, 2025 (90 FR 51230); no U.S. cash delay compensation as of Oct 30, 2026.
- NFIP flood cancellation is a separate rule; do not use 558.002 math on an SFIP without reading the flood policy.
11Community tactics
- “Call and provide the sales paperwork” (713 upvotes) — Partly. Paperwork is the right exhibit; written cancel starts Texas’s 15-business-day clock (28 TAC 5.7015 keys to receipt).
- “Bring it to whoever manages insurance in your state” (302 upvotes) — Verified for Track A. Neutral: NAIC DOI map.
- “Your responsibility to cancel, not the mortgage company” (238 upvotes) — Verified as the default. Mortgagee is a loss payee; force-placed is a separate CFPB Regulation X product (12 CFR 1024.37).
- last30days had only those three tactics.
12Fact-check notes
- last30days cited only the r/homeowners thread. No CFPB, FMCSA, PA PID, NBC, or ProPublica URL there. CFPB pages were opened independently for Tracks B and C.
- 12 CFR 1026.13 — WORKS (60-day notice, 30-day ack, two-cycle/90-day). 12 CFR 1005.6 — WORKS ($50 / $500 / unlimited; 60-day statement rule).
- Tex. Ins. Code § 558.002 — WORKS (15th business day). Fla. Stat. § 627.7283 — WORKS (30/15-day, 10% insured-cancel retention, 8% interest).
- 14 CFR Part 260 — WORKS (eCFR through Oct 27, 2026; 3h/6h; 7-business-day / 20-calendar-day).
- No FMCSA URL belongs here. Dropped: treating $7,000 as a verified statutory refund; dropped any invented national “20% short-rate.”
13Tools to implement
Show the tool specifications
- Unearned-premium calculator. Inputs: written premium, term dates, cancel date, date notice received, state, who cancelled, auto vs HO. Logic: pro rata; FL auto 90%/100% and 30/15-day; TX 15-business-day with 5.7015 later-of. Sources: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/IN/htm/IN.558.htm ; https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/627.7283 ; https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/texas/28-Tex-Admin-Code-SS-5.7015.
- FCBA / Reg E deadline calculator. Inputs: statement-sent date, date learned of loss/theft, credit vs debit, amount. Logic: 1026.13 60-day receipt + 30-day ack + 2-cycle/90-day; 1005.6 $50/$500/unlimited + 1005.11 10-day / 45-day provisional. Sources: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/section-1026.13 ; https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1005/6/ ; https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-should-i-do-if-i-find-a-mistake-on-my-credit-card-bill-en-51/.
- DOT refund eligibility checker. Inputs: original vs new times, domestic vs international, airports, cabin, form of payment, merchant of record, flew Y/N, voucher accepted Y/N. Logic: 14 CFR 260.2 / 260.6 / 260.10. Sources: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-260 ; https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/ticket-refunds ; https://airconsumer.dot.gov/escomplaint/ConsumerForm.cfm.
14Sources
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10
Demand evidence r/homeowners “Sold my home 6 months ago… now owe $7,000” (238 pts, 241 comments); Demand 18 = F2 × P3 × S3. **Kept and deepened** into four tracks rather than swapped: (A) unearned premium, (B) FCBA, (C) Regulation E, (D) DOT 14 CFR Part 260.