Customer ordered heating oil. She was past due on her account and the oil co. wouldn't deliver unless she paid up. According to the oil company she authorized them over the phone to debit her acct, by giving them her debit card number. They debited her for the oil delivery & did a separate debit for partial payment of her outstanding balance. She's disputing the partial payment. Can she?

She can dispute anything she wants. I'm assuming she's claiming the partial payment debit wasn't authorized. My guess is that she authorized it, or at least that's the claim the oil company will make.

If she received credit at the oil company toward her account, the transaction will not fit the definition of "unauthorized" in Regulation E.

Her gripe is with the oil company and you need not allow the bank to be put in the middle in this case.

That is a slick answer, John. A bit crude, but I agree.

Andy, Andy, Andy - slow shake of head back and forth

Hey, Randy! You and Andy are both in Texas. At least you can understand one another!