Refund Date Passed, but Status Never Changed — What Now?

You were given a refund date.

You waited.

The date passed.

But the status still hasn’t changed.

It still shows:

  • Pending
  • Processing
  • Refund Initiated

It feels like the system froze.

In many systems, the “refund date” is an estimate — not a guarantee.


What “Refund Date” Usually Means

  • The day the merchant submits the refund
  • Not the day your bank posts the credit
  • Not including weekends or bank holidays

A posted refund depends on bank and network processing.


Why the Status Can Stay the Same

  • Refund is sent, but posting is delayed
  • Payment processor queue backlog
  • Risk checks or manual review
  • Cross-border settlement delays

Status updates often lag behind real processing.


How Long You Should Wait

  • Domestic refunds: up to 10 business days
  • International refunds: up to 30 business days

If the timeline is still within the bank window, it may be normal.


What to Ask Support for

  • Refund confirmation timestamp
  • Transaction reference number
  • ARN (Acquirer Reference Number) for card refunds

If they can’t provide trace details, the refund may not be fully submitted.

A passed date looks final — but refunds move on bank time.