You received a refund confirmation email.
It says the refund was approved.
So you check your bank.
Your card.
Your payment history.
Nothing appears.
No refund.
No pending credit.
It feels like the refund doesn’t exist.
An approval email doesn’t always mean the refund was fully submitted.
Approval vs Submission — What’s the Difference?
- Approval = merchant authorized the refund
- Submission = refund sent to payment processor
- Processing = bank settlement begins
The email usually confirms approval — not settlement.
Why No Transaction Appears Yet
- Refund batch processing delays
- Processor submission queues
- Card network routing time
- Bank posting lag
Refund visibility starts only after submission.
How Long Before a Refund Shows
- Pending transaction: 2–5 business days
- Posted refund: 5–10 business days
- International refunds: up to 30 days
Email confirmation usually arrives before bank visibility.
What to Request From Support
- Refund submission date
- Processor transaction ID
- ARN for card refunds
No trace ID often means the refund hasn’t been transmitted yet.
An approval email signals intent — not completed movement.