How long does a debit card refund take?

You’ve bought a gift for someone you care about but it’s perhaps not the right size? Or the recipient didn’t really like it?

Now it’s time to return it but you’ve paid with a debit card.

So, how do you get a refund for a purchase made with a debit card and how long does this take? 

Find out in this blog post!

What is the usual time frame for a refund?

A debit card refund takes a couple of days to process. In fact, the time frame is generally between 7-10 business days. In the best-case scenario it could take up to 3 days depending on your bank.

You might be wondering why your purchase goes through immediately, but the refund takes longer?

The reason behind this is that it takes some time for the purchase amount to reflect in the merchant’s account and it’s not an instantaneous process, as it is with myPOS. 

Moreover, merchants who undertake the refund first need to see that the money reflects in their account and only then attend to your transfer. This takes several days.

They can do this with bank transfers, in general, although if you’ve paid in cash, you might get cash or a gift card back or even a credit note.

However, it’s a different case for debit cards.

Choose the right card machine for your business!

Accept card payments via your traditional or smart card machine and enjoy instant access to your funds.

Buy card machine

Fraud vs. refunds

You should also be aware of the difference between regular refunds and refunds related to fraud.

With cases related to fraud, this means you do not know or have not given the person in question the right to use your card.

In the event of a purchase having been made this way, this subsequently means that your bank will be able to offer you some form of compensation for such fraud, depending on the amount and the financial institution you are dealing with.

Embrace the power of myPOS and revolutionize your payment experience! Unlock the potential of accepting card payments seamlessly and effortlessly. Discover a wide range of card machines meticulously designed to cater to your unique business requirements.

Conclusion

Whatever the reason, refunds are an important and necessary part of shopping and you need to ensure that you can get your money back if the recipient of the purchased product is not satisfied with it.

However, if you’re paying by debit card, you should be aware that such refunds can take quite some time to process, namely, up to 10 business days.

If it takes longer than the 10 business days stated above, you should consider calling your bank or financial institution for more information and assistance.

Disclaimer: Please be aware that the contents of this article and the myPOS Blog, in general, should not be interpreted as legal, monetary, tax, or any other kind of professional advice. You should always seek to consult with a professional before taking action, since the particulars of your situation may materially differ from other cases.

Learn more about card payments and card machines

• PDQ machines: What are they?
• Why your contactless payments might not be working
• How do Chip and PIN machines work?
• How is a credit card payment actually processed?