Slow Refund (Return)?

[James.K.Polk]

Can anyone help me figure out next steps here?

1. I purchased an Apple Watch stainless steel model on Thursday, 10/17 with Card A.
2. On morning Friday, I went into the Apple Store and exchanged it for the titanium model, and paid the difference (~$125) with Card B.
3. On Friday evening (~5pm) I returned the Apple Watch to the Apple Store for a full refund (it had a chip, and the store didn’t have replacements).

It’s now been 6 days and I haven't seen the refund ($880.90) reflected in any statement. I called Chase Bank, and they told me the next step is to dispute. I called Apple, and they have record of the refund, but I’m concerned what they may be seeing is the “refund” that occurred when I exchanged SS for Titanium (because technically they credit you forward).

Any previous return I’ve had with Apple has taken 3 days at maximum.

 

[Strangedream]

Give it a couple weeks from the return date, most Apple refunds are instantaneous but it takes time from the bank side to show the funds back on your account.

 

[Puonti]

Edit: nevermind, I realized that you also returned the TI. My mistake.

 

[akash.nu]

Can anyone help me figure out next steps here?

1. I purchased an Apple Watch stainless steel model on Thursday, 10/17 with Card A.
2. On morning Friday, I went into the Apple Store and exchanged it for the titanium model, and paid the difference (~$125) with Card B.
3. On Friday evening (~5pm) I returned the Apple Watch to the Apple Store for a full refund (it had a chip, and the store didn’t have replacements).

It’s now been 6 days and I haven't seen the refund ($880.90) reflected in any statement. I called Chase Bank, and they told me the next step is to dispute. I called Apple, and they have record of the refund, but I’m concerned what they may be seeing is the “refund” that occurred when I exchanged SS for Titanium (because technically they credit you forward).

Any previous return I’ve had with Apple has taken 3 days at maximum.

Ideally Apple should have only one record of refund. When you exchanged the SS with TI watch, how did they process the transaction?!

 

[44267547]

Give it a couple weeks from the return date, most Apple refunds are instantaneous but it takes time from the bank side to show the funds back on your account.

They are anything but instantaneous. This is direct from Apple:

“If you paid by credit or debit card, refunds will be sent to the card-issuing bank within five business days of receipt of the returned item. Please contact the card-issuing bank with questions about when the credit will be posted to your account.”

Returns & Refunds - Shopping Help

Find out how you can return an item, how long the refund process takes, what to do if your invoice is not with your order, and much more.

www.apple.com

 

[James.K.Polk]

They are anything but instantaneous. This is direct from Apple:

“If you paid by credit or debit card, refunds will be sent to the card-issuing bank within five business days of receipt of the returned item. Please contact the card-issuing bank with questions about when the credit will be posted to your account.”

Returns & Refunds - Shopping Help

Find out how you can return an item, how long the refund process takes, what to do if your invoice is not with your order, and much more.

www.apple.com

Today is business day 5. I’m in full-on freak out mode - this is $880+ missing. Holy cow. I call Apple and they tell me to call Chase, Chase and they tell me to call Apple.

Has anyone ever had to file a dispute against Apple through their bank?

 

[thenumbersrbad]

Today is business day 5. I’m in full-on freak out mode - this is $880+ missing. Holy cow. I call Apple and they tell me to call Chase, Chase and they tell me to call Apple.

Has anyone ever had to file a dispute against Apple through their bank?

Do you have receipts for the outright return? Having that wouldclearly show if they processed the return or not

 

[James.K.Polk]

Do you have receipts for the outright return? Having that wouldclearly show if they processed the return or not

I do, of course. When I called they tell me it has been processed on their end (but I've been calling since Tuesday).

 

[noobinator]

Patience grasshopper. I'd give it another day or two.

 

[deeddawg]

Today is business day 5. I’m in full-on freak out mode - this is $880+ missing. Holy cow. I call Apple and they tell me to call Chase, Chase and they tell me to call Apple.

Has anyone ever had to file a dispute against Apple through their bank?

Patience.

Give it time.

If it isn't resolved by the time you receive your bill from Chase containing that charge, file a formal dispute on the charge. Read the details and follow the dispute process to the letter.

You'll be just fine.

 

[James.K.Polk]

Patience.

Give it time.

If it isn't resolved by the time you receive your bill from Chase containing that charge, file a formal dispute on the charge. Read the details and follow the dispute process to the letter.

You'll be just fine.

Thanks, guys. A lot of charges hit at once and I’ve never had a problem before so just a little stressed.

Will report back.

 

[noobinator]

Thanks, guys. A lot of charges hit at once and I’ve never had a problem before so just a little stressed.

Will report back.

As long as you have the return receipt, you will get your money back one way or another. I've had a few refunds that took longer than anticipated before.

 

[AddisonIII]

Thanks, guys. A lot of charges hit at once and I’ve never had a problem before so just a little stressed.

Will report back.

Am I missing something??? You said you used 2 different credit cards. 1st to make the original purchase , the second when you returned the original watch for the updated version. My thought is shouldn't you have received the credit for the first watch on the first card used, and the difference payed back to the second card???

 

[James.K.Polk]

Am I missing something??? You said you used 2 different credit cards. 1st to make the original purchase , the second when you returned the original watch for the updated version. My thought is shouldn't you have received the credit for the first watch on the first card used, and the difference payed back to the second card???

I asked Apple about this, actually - apparently they can release the refund to either card (though that may be causing a holdup, I suppose).

 

[akash.nu]

I asked Apple about this, actually - apparently they can release the refund to either card (though that may be causing a holdup, I suppose).

They could use the refund as a gift card and put it back in for the new item.

 

[Beerstalker]

Do you have the receipt from when you returned the stainless and bought the titanium watch?

You need to figure out how they did that return/purchase. Did they refund $755 on card A, and then charge $880 on card B? Or did they refund $755 to a gift card, use that to pay for most of the watch and then charge $125 to card B to make up the difference.

If they did the latter then they should have refunded $755 to you on a gift card again, and $125 to card B. By refunding $880 to card B they are going to confuse the credit card company because you are trying to refund more to them than you originally charged, and it would mean they owe you $755 for some reason they don't understand.

The receipt you posted seems to me like it is trying to refund $880 to your Chase Card, which I assume is card B. If you did not pay $880 on your Chase card to begin with this is going to confuse Chase and they are likely going to refuse the refund since it was more than the original charge.

 

[James.K.Polk]

Do you have the receipt from when you returned the stainless and bought the titanium watch?

You need to figure out how they did that return/purchase. Did they refund $755 on card A, and then charge $880 on card B? Or did they refund $755 to a gift card, use that to pay for most of the watch and then charge $125 to card B to make up the difference.

If they did the latter then they should have refunded $755 to you on a gift card again, and $125 to card B. By refunding $880 to card B they are going to confuse the credit card company because you are trying to refund more to them than you originally charged, and it would mean they owe you $755 for some reason they don't understand.

The receipt you posted seems to me like it is trying to refund $880 to your Chase Card, which I assume is card B. If you did not pay $880 on your Chase card to begin with this is going to confuse Chase and they are likely going to refuse the refund since it was more than the original charge.

Interesting, okay. When I asked the store employee she said it would not matter. Maybe the "confusion" of Chase (Card B) is the issue here. When I call Apple (and I have called both the Support line and the store directly), they read the refund as successful. So it must be a bank holdup (assuming there isn't some external issue here).

Here's the exchange transaction (the last 4 of my card are the digitally created Apple numbers from Apple Pay):

 

[Beerstalker]

Yep, I think that is your problem. Looks like rather than refunding the $755.21 to card A they left that charge stand and gave you "online credit" which I assume is pretty much like giving you a gift card without actually grabbing one and putting the money on there, and then using it and throwing it away. Then they just charged $125.69 to your Chase Card.

Now they are trying to refund $880.90 to Chase, and Chase is only seeing that they paid $125.69, so they are getting confused why the refund is bigger than the original charge. My guess is Chase will end up refusing the credit rather than suddenly owe you $755.21. Credit card companies don't like owing people money 🤣

 

[James.K.Polk]

Yep, I think that is your problem. Looks like rather than refunding the $755.21 to card A they left that charge stand and gave you "online credit" which I assume is pretty much like giving you a gift card without actually grabbing one and putting the money on there, and then using it and throwing it away. Then they just charged $125.69 to your Chase Card.

Now they are trying to refund $880.90 to Chase, and Chase is only seeing that they paid $125.69, so they are getting confused why the refund is bigger than the original charge. My guess is Chase will end up refusing the credit rather than suddenly owe you $755.21. Credit card companies don't like owing people money 🤣

Understandably - what will that mean for me?

 

[AddisonIII]

I asked Apple about this, actually - apparently they can release the refund to either card (though that may be causing a holdup, I suppose).

I could see what you'r being told, but only if both cards are under the umbrella of the same card company. If they are 2 different companies and they refund an excess about what was bought I would think that would cause a flag to go up, thus a hold up of your credit to the first account. I sure hope you get this taken care of since it would stink holding the bag on that kind of money.

 

[James.K.Polk]

I could see what you'r being told, but only if both cards are under the umbrella of the same card company. If they are 2 different companies and they refund an excess about what was bought I would think that would cause a flag to go up, thus a hold up of your credit to the first account. I sure hope you get this taken care of since it would stink holding the bag on that kind of money.

What is the outcome? I can’t be out a watch and $880?!

 

[AddisonIII]

What is the outcome? I can’t be out a watch and $880?!

I’m sure things will get corrected soon. I just wonder if none of this would have occurred had you payed cash for the difference or had used the first card for the additional cost.

 

[Robejazz]

What is the outcome? I can’t be out a watch and $880?!

Heres what happened to me..... but with a charger (lot less money so less stress) - The problem is with the return... its says online credit; that's the problem and that's what happened to me.

I purchased a watch/phone charging stand and a watch online. When I went to pick it up, I decided against the charging stand and only took the watch. So we initiated a return on the charging stand. It was a new employee and I immediately thought that was an issue when I saw Online Credit, but he assured me all was OK. I waited a few days and didn't see the credit.

I returned to the store and spoke with a manager and he started to tell me all was OK, but I mentioned that in all my years (I am old and have been in the store a lot) I've never seen that and can we look into it. Turns out, the return shows on their end but the money had not been "dispersed" - he had someone go back and count ALL the charging stands of this model and they realized they had 1 more than inventory showed so he agreed that I returned it and then issued a refund to any card I wanted (need to have any physical card to do this, does not have to be the original). He believed me as the original emlpoyee was there and agreed I returned the item, but I was OK with browsing while he counted inventory!

Try that and see how it goes

 

[James.K.Polk]

Heres what happened to me..... but with a charger (lot less money so less stress) - The problem is with the return... its says online credit; that's the problem and that's what happened to me.

I purchased a watch/phone charging stand and a watch online. When I went to pick it up, I decided against the charging stand and only took the watch. So we initiated a return on the charging stand. It was a new employee and I immediately thought that was an issue when I saw Online Credit, but he assured me all was OK. I waited a few days and didn't see the credit.

I returned to the store and spoke with a manager and he started to tell me all was OK, but I mentioned that in all my years (I am old and have been in the store a lot) I've never seen that and can we look into it. Turns out, the return shows on their end but the money had not been "dispersed" - he had someone go back and count ALL the charging stands of this model and they realized they had 1 more than inventory showed so he agreed that I returned it and then issued a refund to any card I wanted (need to have any physical card to do this, does not have to be the original). He believed me as the original emlpoyee was there and agreed I returned the item, but I was OK with browsing while he counted inventory!

Try that and see how it goes

Good to know, but they obviously will not restock the edition watch I returned (both because that store doesn’t stock that mode, and because it was damaged). Man, I am so incredibly stressed on this.

Edit: I looked back at a previous exchange I had done (13” MBP to 15”) and it also doesn’t have the “online credit” language. But - the stainless steel purchase originated online. Maybe that’s why?

I honestly have no idea what to do. Apple says call bank. Bank says call Apple. Is there a way to reach someone at Apple who might handle still stuff?

 

[Robejazz]

All I can add is that the online credit language is the problem. It’s not solely because you bought online - I returned items bought online before and it didn’t use that language … It means the money is somewhere in Apple system they just need to give it to you!