How can I get a refund on a product or service I purchased with my credit card? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024)

FAQs

How can I get a refund on a product or service I purchased with my credit card? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? ›

How can I get a refund on a product or service I purchased with my credit card? First, reach out to the company that sold the product or service to you. Explain the issue—for example, the product you received was defective or wasn't what you ordered. Ask the company to refund the money or undo the charge.

When you need a credit card refund, the best place to start is the place you made your purchase. You can contact the merchant and explain your situation. If the merchant agrees to the refund, you'll get a credit to your account. It might take some time for the credit to show up on your account.

Call up your credit card provider and tell them what happened, and be ready to provide details of the time of the transaction and value of the purchase, and what went wrong. They might have to speak to the merchant first and take a few days to decide, or they could simply give you a refund on the spot.

Making a chargeback claim

You can find their contact details on their website. It's best to ask in writing. Your card provider might call chargeback something else, for example 'disputed transactions'. If you ask for chargeback they will know what you mean.

Send a written refund request to your bank or credit card company. Tell them how you want the refund paid (e.g., cash, check, money order, or credited to a deposit account). Once the written request is received, the bank must refund the money within seven business days.

How to get cash from an ATM with your credit card. You can request a cash advance with your credit card from most ATMs. Simply insert your credit card into the ATM as you would any other card. Enter your PIN, and you should see an option for a cash withdrawal or cash advance.

If asking the merchant for a refund didn't work, request a chargeback with your credit card issuer. Many card issuers let you dispute transactions by phone, mail or online. You may also be able to submit a dispute directly through your card issuer's mobile app.

What to do if a retailer won't refund you? ›

If you can't get the support you need from the retailer in the form of a refund, repair or replacement, you can file a complaint with the company. If that still doesn't help, you can contact the Consumer Ombudsman.

Can I dispute a credit card charge I willingly paid for? You should never dispute a credit card charge you willingly paid for. Not only is doing so unethical, but you won't be able to keep the initial credit you receive if you don't deserve it.

When you request a credit card refund, the merchant or retailer sends the refund to your credit card issuer first. Your credit card issuer then applies the refund to your statement or balance as a credit.

The merchant refunds the purchase amount back to your credit card issuer, and the card issuer then credits your account for the returned amount, removing it from your statement balance. Depending on the merchant's return policy, you may have to meet certain requirements to get a refund.

To initiate the process of Credit Card refund after payment, the customer needs to contact the merchant. You need to go through the merchant's return and refund policy. After the merchant initiates the refund, it may take around 5-10 business days for it to be reflected in your Credit Card statement.