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Card acquiring

Refunds vs chargebacks: what's the difference?

18 August 2026 · 4 min read

One is your choice and cheap; the other is forced and costly. Here's how they compare.

Refunds

A refund is initiated by you. The money goes back to the customer and the relationship usually stays intact.

Chargebacks

A chargeback is initiated by the cardholder through their bank. It comes with fees, counts toward your dispute ratio and takes time to resolve.

The takeaway

When a customer is unhappy, a fast refund is almost always the better outcome for everyone.

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