Wrong Credit Card # for Refund

[CentralParkM]

I issued a refund to a customer. On the initial transaction, it stated that the credit card number typed in ended in 2350. She said she did not get the refund and then proceeded to show me her bank statement with the original transaction, but the initial transaction was a different credit card # than showed on my end. She has made a second purchase, and it again shows the transaction was typed in with credit card #2350. She says she does not own a cc ending in that number. Trying to figure out why the wrong cc # is being shown as used. I don't think this is a fraudulent situation. It's like the cc being used is not showing up.

[TheRealChipA]

Hi there @ 

It sounds like your customer is using either Apple or Google pay.  These payment wallets use what is known as a virtual card number that provides more security.  As an example, my Apple Card ends in 7373.  But Apple uses a card number ending in 3491 when I use Apple Pay.  Both represent the same card account and are combined on the card statement.  The exact same thing is true for Google Pay transactions.  It has always been this way.  She's just never noticed it before.

Every card that we place in our wallets (Apple or Google) to pay get a virtual card number.  This keeps the real card number from being on receipts, etc, and reduces fraud.  It gets even weirder when Apple/Google Pay is used only because, then, one-time card numbers are used that only apply to that one transaction and are then burned.  Again, it's all in the name of security and fraud protection.

As for the refund, most likely she just didn't wait long enough. Refunds can take 5 or more business days to process, depending on the card holder's bank.