George E. Cawthon wrote:

Wanta bet? That's the way it is supposed to be, but if you pay off all
but the contested charge, they will charge interest on the contested
charge, and then the next month when you don't pay it, they will charge
a late fee and interest, etc. You should get it back, but in the mean
time your credit rating goes down and the interest rate increases.

Either you need a new credit card provider, you're not in the US, or
there is more to this story.

Barry