Refund Never Arrived? What to Do (Card Refunds, Part 3)
The refund date has passed and there's still no money? Get the confirmation in writing, ask for a refund tracking or acquirer reference number, and if the shop stops responding, ask your bank about disputing the charge — time limits apply.
Transcript
What should you do if your refund hasn't arrived?
The shoe shop promised a refund, but the date they told you it would arrive by has already passed.
First, make sure that you have confirmation in writing, not just something verbal, and ask them when they approved it.
Ask for a refund tracking reference or an acquirer reference number. That can help your bank track it down if it's just lost in the process.
If the shop hasn't sent the refund or stops responding, ask your bank about your option to dispute the charge.
Make sure to keep all the receipts and messages with the shop and act promptly, because time limits do apply.
Remember, Demivolt is the proud creator of Fintech Explained, making complex fintech topics simple and accessible to all of us. Follow for more Fintech Explained by Demivolt.
About this episode
The shop promised a refund and gave you a date, and that date has come and gone. Refunds do take time to travel back through the payment system, but once the promised date has passed it's worth acting rather than waiting.
Start with the shop. Make sure you have the refund confirmed in writing, not just a verbal promise, and ask when it was approved. Then ask for a refund tracking reference or an acquirer reference number (ARN). That reference lets your bank trace the refund if it has simply got lost along the way.
If the shop never sent the refund, or stops replying, speak to your bank about disputing the charge. Keep every receipt and every message you've exchanged with the shop, and don't leave it too long: disputes have time limits. This is the final part of the series — part one explains why refunds take time, and part two follows the money back to your account.
Key takeaways
- Get the refund confirmed in writing, not just verbally, and ask when it was approved.
- Ask for a refund tracking reference or an acquirer reference number (ARN) — it helps your bank trace a refund that's got lost.
- If the shop hasn't sent the refund or stops responding, ask your bank about disputing the charge.
- Keep all receipts and messages, and act promptly — time limits apply.
Related from Demivolt
Why is my refund taking so long?
Part one: why an approved refund still takes days to weeks.
Learn moreHow does a card refund get back to your account?
Part two: every stop the money makes on its way back to you.
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