Card refunds

Return PIN is a way to get money back into your bank account via your debit card, for example when you return a purchase in a shop. It is a safe and convenient alternative to cash refunds.

What is Return Debit?

With Return Pins, a retailer refunds an amount via a customer’s debit card, using their payment terminal. This can be done, for example, for a purchase or rental items that a customer returns to the shop. The customer does not receive cash, the amount is refunded via his payment card. The amount is then usually in the customer’s payment account the next business day.

Returns debit cards can be used with any debit card, it does not have to be the same one the customer used to pay for the purchase or deposit earlier.

Return debit cards work with card brands Maestro, V PAY, Debit Mastercard and Visa Debit. It does require retailers to enter into a separate contract with their payment service provider.

‘Card Refund‘ is not the same as Return PIN!

Some payment service providers, instead of Return Debit, offer retailers something else called ‘Card Refund‘. This differs from Return Debit in a few ways:

Refund can only be done using the same payment card the customer paid with earlier.
The customer does not have to offer a payment card; the payment service provider uses the card details of the previous card payment in its records for refunding.
Refunds can also be made via a customer’s credit card, if that customer originally paid for the purchase or deposit with it.
Card Refunds are also possible after online card payments, for example in online shops.

How does Return Debit work?

The merchant enters the return amount on the payment terminal.
The customer holds a debit card against the machine, or inserts it into the machine.
The customer checks the amount and confirms the transaction.
The merchant provides a debit receipt with a stamp or signature.
The customer keeps the debit receipt until the amount is in his or her checking account.

The return amount is usually in the customer’s checking account the next business day.

Advantages of debit card returns

Easy: it can be done with any debit card.
Safe: the retailer does not need cash at the till and the customer does not have to walk the streets with cash.
Fast: the customer usually receives the refund the next working day.
Clear: the refund appears on a transaction statement of the merchant and on a bank statement of the customer.

Is return payment always possible?

Not always. For a start, a retailer has to enter into a separate contract for this with its payment service provider. A retailer that does not sell or rent anything that customers can return does not need Return Debit.

Banks and payment providers also apply rules to prevent abuse and money laundering. In principle, a retailer may only offer return PIN payments for a purchase or deposit that was previously paid for digitally, for instance with a (different) debit card, credit card, iDEAL or giro transfer. If a customer bought something with cash, the retailer must also refund that customer with cash.