How Long Does a Credit Card Refund Take? (UK Guide)

Quick answer: How long does a credit card refund take? Once a retailer processes a refund, it usually appears on your credit card within a few working days. Chase UK, for example, says it takes an average of 1 to 3 working days and sometimes up to a week, and your own provider may differ. Much of the delay is usually on the retailer’s side, before the refund is even sent. In the UK, if you cancel an online, phone or mail order, the seller has to refund you within 14 days of getting the item back.

This guide covers how credit card refunds work in the UK, why they take time, your rights if a refund is late, and what to do next. There is a short section for US readers at the end.

Table of Contents

How long does a credit card refund take?

There are two stages:

The retailer processes the refund. This can be same-day in a shop, or days to weeks for online orders while the returned item arrives and is checked.
The refund reaches your card provider. Chase UK says that once a refund has been processed it should take an average of 1 to 3 working days to reach your account, and in some cases up to a week. Weekends and bank holidays do not count as working days.

Providers differ, so check your own provider’s help pages. If you are waiting for a refund that has not appeared, contact the retailer first to make sure it has been processed. Chase UK says the same.

Why credit card refunds can seem slow

A purchase is authorised instantly, but a refund is only sent once the retailer processes it. Many online retailers wait until the returned item has been received and checked.
Working days only. Weekends and bank holidays do not count.
Overseas retailers may take longer, and the amount can change slightly because of exchange rates.

Your refund rights in the UK

Online, phone and mail orders. GOV.UK says customers who buy this way can cancel even if the item is not faulty. You need to tell the seller within 14 days of receiving the item, and you then have another 14 days to send it back. The seller must refund you within 14 days of receiving the item back. Citizens Advice explains the cooling-off period and exceptions such as bespoke items.

Shop purchases. For items bought in a shop, a refund is usually only due if the item is faulty. Otherwise you are relying on the shop’s own returns policy.

If the retailer will not refund you.

Section 75: for a single purchase between £100 and £30,000 paid for on a credit card, your card provider can be jointly liable with the retailer. Citizens Advice explains how to claim.
Chargeback: for smaller amounts, or debit cards, you can ask your card provider to try to reverse the payment through the card scheme. There can be time limits, so ask promptly.

Where does the refund go?

A refund goes back to the card you paid with, not to your bank account.

You have already paid off the purchase: the refund creates a credit balance on your card. You can spend it or ask your provider to pay it back to you.
You have not paid yet: the refund reduces what you owe.
Your card has been replaced: check with your provider that the refund will follow your account to the new card.
Your account is closed: contact your provider about how to get any credit balance returned.

Will I get the interest back?

Not automatically. If you carried a balance and paid interest before the refund arrived, the refund reduces your balance from then on, but interest already charged is not necessarily reversed. If the delay was the retailer’s fault, it is worth asking your card provider.

What to do if your refund has not arrived

Check the dates. Has the retailer confirmed the refund was processed, and has more than a week passed since then?
Ask the retailer for any refund reference or proof of the refund. Your card provider may be able to use it to trace the payment.
Contact your card provider with the reference and dates.
Escalate if needed: a Section 75 claim or chargeback request (see above).
Keep records of emails, return receipts and tracking numbers.

Knowing your statement dates helps you spot missing refunds early. Our guide on how to pay your credit card bill explains statements and due dates, and credit card vs debit card compares the protection each card type gives.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a refund take to go back on a credit card?

Chase UK says an average of 1 to 3 working days after the retailer has processed it, and sometimes up to a week. Other providers may differ.

Why is my refund still pending?

The retailer may not have processed it yet, or it may not have fully posted to your account. Contact the retailer first, then your card provider if more than a week has passed.

Do credit card refunds take longer than debit card refunds?

Both mainly depend on when the retailer processes the refund. Your provider’s help pages will give its own timings. For other differences between card types, see can you use a debit card as a credit card?

Can a shop refund me in cash if I paid by credit card?

Retailers usually refund to the card you paid with. Some offer store credit for non-faulty returns, so check the returns policy.

How long does a retailer have to refund me in the UK?

For online, phone and mail orders cancelled within the cooling-off period, GOV.UK says the seller must refund you within 14 days of receiving the item back.

For US readers: a short note

In the US, there is no general federal right to return an item because you changed your mind, so the store’s returns policy applies. If you were charged for something you returned or never received, the FTC explains how to dispute credit card charges: write to your card issuer within 60 days of the first bill with the error, and the issuer must acknowledge your letter within 30 days and resolve the dispute within 90 days. The CFPB covers getting a refund on a credit card purchase. If a refund leaves a credit balance of more than $1, Regulation Z section 1026.11 says the card company must refund it within seven business days of a written request.

The bottom line

A credit card refund usually shows up within a few working days once the retailer has processed it, and the retailer’s own processing time is often the real delay. In the UK you have the 14 day refund rule for online, phone and mail orders and, for larger purchases, Section 75. If a refund is late, ask for a reference, contact your card provider and escalate promptly.

This article is for general information and education only. It is not personal financial advice or legal advice. Rules and timescales vary by retailer and card provider, so check official sources and your own agreement. See our Disclaimer and Editorial Policy. Last reviewed October 2026.