When you make a purchase with your credit or debit card, the transaction goes through a number of different steps before it is finally processed and the funds are transferred from your account to the merchant. One of these steps is called authorization, during which the card issuer approves the transaction and puts a hold on the funds in your account for the purchase amount.
If for some reason the transaction is never completed – maybe you changed your mind about the purchase, or the merchant didn’t have the item in stock after all – the card issuer will process a reversal to remove the authorization hold from your account. This is also sometimes called a chargeback.
Card issuers have different policies for how long they will hold onto the funds from an authorization, but it is typically around three to five days. So if you make a purchase on Monday and then cancel it on Wednesday, you may not see the reversal of the authorization until Friday or Saturday.
It’s important to note that a payment reversal is not the same as a refund. A refund is when you return an item to the merchant and they give your money back; a reversal is when the card issuer takes the money back from the merchant, after the authorization has been removed from your account.
If you have any questions about payment reversals or chargebacks, be sure to contact your card issuer for more information.
What is a payment reversal?
A payment reversal is when the card issuer removes the authorization hold from your account. This is also sometimes called a chargeback.
What is a refund?
It’s important to note that a refund is not the same as a payment reversal.
If you have any questions about refunds, be sure to contact the merchant for more information.
How do I know if I am getting a refund or a payment reversal?
If you are unsure whether you are getting a refund or a payment reversal, you can always contact the card issuer or merchant for more information. In some cases, you may see both a refund and a payment reversal on your statement, depending on the policies of the card issuer and merchant.
What is the difference between a refund and a payment reversal?
If you have any questions about the difference between a refund and a payment reversal, be sure to contact your card issuer or merchant for more information.
I’m still not sure what a payment reversal is. Can you give me an example?
Here’s an example of how a payment reversal works:
Let’s say you make a purchase at a store for $100. The store will place an authorization hold on your account for the full amount of the purchase, which will typically last for three to five days.
If you then decide to cancel the purchase and return the item to the store, the store will process a refund for the $100. Once the refund is processed, the card issuer will remove the authorization hold from your account. This is what’s known as a payment reversal.