Apple Pay refund to closed debit card

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Apple Pay refund to closed debit card

I made some online purchases with apple pay with multiple debit cards that were refunded, these debit cards were closed before the refund. I understand that the refund will still go to my account and that apple pay doesn't accept the refund. However, does apple pay receive the refund encrypted data information? The same way it send encrypted info for the purchases? The reason I ask is because I am missing $130 from these multiple refunds that were issued. I'm wondering if there is a way to tell which account the refunds went to.

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Posted on Oct 12, 2025 9:22 PM

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Answer 1

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Mac Jim ID

Level 9

55,544 points

Oct 12, 2025 10:00 PM in response to pandagrl91

Apple does not receive any information from a refund and that transaction does not even go through Apple Pay. When you made the purchase, you provided the merchant the unique token that the bank of the card sends to your device when the card is added. It is that token that is used by the merchant for the refund in the same way that would have been done if you had provided the merchant your actual credit card number. Of course the difference is that instead of the merchant having your account number that can be compromised, they use that token to communicate with the PNO (Mastercard, VISA, etc) who is able to decode the token and route the refund to the bank that issued the card. It does not involve Apple at all.

Contact the merchant who initiated the refund and request the ARN (Acquirer Reference Number). This is a number that is used to track credit card transactions, then contact your bank who will be able to provide you the status of the refund.

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