Having an expired card can be frustrating, especially if you need to get a refund for a purchase you made with that card. The good news is that getting a refund when your card has expired is usually possible with some extra steps. In this article, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about getting refunds on expired cards.
Can I get a refund if my card is expired?
Yes, you can still get a refund if your card is expired. The store or merchant you made the purchase from is required to process refunds even if the original card is no longer valid. However, they will need an alternative method to refund you since they can’t credit the expired card.
How do refunds on expired cards work?
When you request a refund on an expired card, the merchant will first try to process it back to the original card. When the refund is declined due to an invalid card number, they will ask you for an alternative method to receive the refund.
The most common options for expired card refunds include:
- Refund to a new valid credit or debit card
- Refund via check or money order
- Refund to an online wallet or gift card
- Store credit
The refund method you can use will depend on the policies of the specific merchant. Make sure to ask them what alternatives they offer so you can choose the one that works best for you.
How to get a refund on an expired debit card
For expired debit card refunds, the easiest option is to have the refund processed to a new and valid debit card that you own. You will need to provide the new card details including the card number, expiry date, and CVV security code.
If you don’t have another debit card, the merchant can process the refund as a check or money order. This may take an additional 1-2 weeks to receive the refund payment. Some online merchants also allow refunds to a PayPal account, which is quite fast and convenient.
How to get a refund on an expired credit card
The process for credit card refunds is similar. If you have a new credit card from the same provider, the funds can simply be transferred to the new card account. For example, if your old Visa card expired, the refund can be issued to your new active Visa.
For credit card refunds to a different provider, such as a Mastercard, you may need to provide additional ID verification for security purposes. Once verified, the refund can be processed to the new credit card account.
Helpful tips for getting expired card refunds
Here are some tips to make getting a refund on an expired card easier:
- Keep old card statements – Having a statement with your expired card details makes verification easier if needed.
- Refund to the same card type – Refunds tend to process faster when going back to the same provider (i.e. Visa to Visa, Mastercard to Mastercard, etc).
- Call the merchant ahead of time – Ask them what information you’ll need to provide for an expired card refund before requesting it.
- Save refund confirmation – Keep any refund confirmation codes or references the merchant provides in case you need to follow up.
- Follow up if needed – If the refund takes longer than expected, follow up with the merchant to ensure it is being processed.
Helpful questions to ask the merchant
When you are requesting a refund on an expired card, here are some helpful questions to ask the merchant or retailer:
- What are my options for receiving the refund?
- Is there an additional processing time for expired card refunds?
- What information do you require from me to process the refund?
- Will I be provided with a refund confirmation or reference number?
- How long does it take for the refund to be processed after approval?
- Who can I contact to follow up on my refund status?
Getting answers to these questions upfront will help ensure the refund process goes smoothly and limit any delays in getting your money back.
Potential issues with expired card refunds
While getting a refund on an expired card is possible, there are a few potential issues to be aware of:
- Extra processing time – Refunds to an alternate method may take 1-2 weeks longer than refunds to the original card.
- Security verification – You may need to provide extra ID or personal details if refunding to a new card account.
- Non-refundable purchases – Some purchases like travel insurance or event tickets may have a no refund policy.
- Store credit only – Some merchants may only offer in-store credit instead of a refund to actual funds.
As long as you are prepared to provide new payment details or verification, getting your refund should go smoothly in most cases.
When to request a new card to avoid refund issues
To avoid the hassle of getting expired card refunds in the future, make sure to request a new card before the old one expires. Here is a general timeline to follow:
- Debit cards – Request new card 2 months before expiration.
- Credit cards – Request new card 3 months before expiration.
- Store-specific credit cards – Request 4-5 months before expiration, as they may take longer to replace.
For credit cards, you can usually call the bank to request a replacement card be issued with the same card number and account details. For debit cards, you typically need to request a whole new card and number from your bank.
Getting a new version of the card before expiration makes it less likely you’ll need to deal with refunds to an invalid card later on.
How can I avoid this issue in the future?
Here are some tips to avoid having to get refunds on expired cards in the future:
- Track expiration dates – Mark your calendar with card expiration dates so you remember to request new cards in time.
- Update payment info – If you have any recurring payments set up online, update the card details before expiry.
- Sign up for alerts – Many banks offer email or text alerts about soon-to-expire cards that prompt you to update.
- Store new card – Have the new replacement card details saved in your favorite online shops to avoid declined charges.
- Use digital wallets – Services like Apple Pay and Google Pay tokenise your card so it never appears expired.
Being proactive about getting new cards before expiration and updating any recurring payments will help minimize situations where you need to get a refund due to an expired card.
Conclusion
Getting a refund when your card has expired is definitely possible with a few extra steps. The key things to remember are:
- Merchants are required to process refunds even on expired cards
- You will need to provide alternate payment details to receive the refund funds
- Refunds may take 1-2 weeks longer than usual
- Call ahead to ask the merchant what information they require
- Be prepared to verify your identity or provide additional details
As long as you follow up promptly and give the merchant an alternative way to send your refund, you should be able to successfully get your money back even with an expired card. Knowing the right questions to ask and following refund protocols will ensure you get the great customer service you deserve.