 TITLE: How Long Does a Credit Card Refund Take? CONTENT: How Does a Refund Affect Your Credit Card Account?\n--------------------------------------------------\nTo understand how a refund works, it helps to understand how credit card payments are processed. When you make an online purchase using your credit card, the merchant requests payment from your card company. Your card issuer makes a payment on your behalf and adds that amount to your card balance, reducing your available credit line. In effect, they're loaning you the money to buy the item. This is why most merchants will only issue a refund to the card you used for the original purchase—the money part of your transaction happened with the card company and not you.\nAny money refunded to your account is treated as an account credit. It does not count as a payment or partial payment. And you won't receive it as a separate payout: The card company won't send you a check for the refund. It's simply a credit on your account.\nSay you bought a $2,000 mattress with a yearlong return policy. Three months later, you decide it's ruining your sleep and return it for a refund to your credit card:\n*   You are responsible for payments that are due on this balance for the three months you own the mattress.\n*   You are also responsible for any payments that might be due while you're waiting for the mattress company to issue a refund and for the card company to credit your account.\n*   You will still be liable for any interest charged against the $2,000 is you carried a balance during the three months you owned the mattress. This money will not be refunded to you.\n*   If you scored any credit card rewards points with your purchase, they'll be reversed when the refund goes through.\nIf you aren't already using a mobile app to check account activity, now is a good time to start. You'll be able to track your refund—and view transactions, due dates and notifications. Monitoring your account activity is an important part of managing your credit cards and key to staying current on your payments and understanding your interest payments. END