Refunds but zero balance on credit card

Disneysocks · 19 Mar 20, 01:17 PM

Just thinking ahead.

We have booked and paid for everything separately on a credit card. We paid off in full each time we paid for anything.

If our July flights and holiday end up being cancelled, I assume the companies will refund straight back to the card we paid on.

The problem is that we have zero balance and in effect the credit card company will owe us thousands if they get the refunds!

Has anyone ever experienced this and have any advice?

SMAX · 19 Mar 20, 01:18 PM

Yes. They will transfer it back to your bank if you ask them. It happened to us with 9/11 as that Virgin Holidays trip was cancelled automatically.

Ricky_Spanish · 19 Mar 20, 01:26 PM

I have similar issues. Some money is due to refund onto a Tandem card, but this is in the process of being closed. I'm due to pay my Amex balance tomorrow and was hoping a refund would go through in time so I don't have to, otherwise they will owe me a few grand.

John · 19 Mar 20, 01:27 PM

As SMAX have stated, they will refund, just ask for a credit balance refund, however some card companies do not allow you to have large credit balances and may refund to you anyway, so best tell them first as they may send you a cheque.

Disneysocks · 19 Mar 20, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by SMAX

Yes. They will transfer it back to your bank if you ask them. It happened to us with 9/11 as that Virgin Holidays trip was cancelled automatically.

The answer might be obvious but does the refund go to the card first then I request the transfer to the bank? Or do I request the transfer to the bank from the flight / holiday companies?

goldendelicious · 19 Mar 20, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Disneysocks

The answer might be obvious but does the refund go to the card first then I request the transfer to the bank? Or do I request the transfer to the bank from the flight / holiday companies?

I think any refund has to be made back to where the original payment was taken,we've just had a refund to our cc which has created a positive balance I suppose we'lljust use it for food shopping.

SMAX · 19 Mar 20, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Disneysocks

The answer might be obvious but does the refund go to the card first then I request the transfer to the bank? Or do I request the transfer to the bank from the flight / holiday companies?

As above it will go to the card first.

Guest · 19 Mar 20, 02:01 PM

I have just cancelled a different holiday package and was able to explain the cc didn't allow positive balances and requested a bank transfer. They said yes, but I haven't had it yet. I always thought they had to go back to the cards too. Perhaps different ones take different approaches ?

The prob for going back to credit card is you can only transfer out money that is over and above your negative debt. So debt of 1000, refund of 5000, can BT out 4000 and your debt on the card will be 0.

Gemini157 · 19 Mar 20, 02:43 PM

This happened to me with the Thomas Cook tickets.
I then bought everything I needed on that card (including our park passes) until the credit was used up.

Disneysocks · 19 Mar 20, 03:59 PM

Thank you all for your help. I will contact the cc company if / when it all looks like it is getting cancelled.

19 Mar 20, 01:17 PM	#1
	19 Mar 20, 01:17 PM Disneysocks Proud to wear my Ears
Disneysocks Proud to wear my Ears Join Date: Jul 18 Location: North	Refunds but zero balance on credit card Just thinking ahead. We have booked and paid for everything separately on a credit card. We paid off in full each time we paid for anything. If our July flights and holiday end up being cancelled, I assume the companies will refund straight back to the card we paid on. The problem is that we have zero balance and in effect the credit card company will owe us thousands if they get the refunds! Has anyone ever experienced this and have any advice?

19 Mar 20, 01:18 PM	#2
	19 Mar 20, 01:18 PM SMAX Imagineer
SMAX Imagineer Join Date: Mar 02 SMAX's Reviews Hotel Reviews: 4 Restaurant Reviews: 3 theDIBB Guidebook Pages Created: 13 Guidebook Photos: 69	Yes. They will transfer it back to your bank if you ask them. It happened to us with 9/11 as that Virgin Holidays trip was cancelled automatically.

19 Mar 20, 01:26 PM	#3
	19 Mar 20, 01:26 PM Ricky_Spanish Stuck in the Tower of Terror
Ricky_Spanish Stuck in the Tower of Terror Join Date: Jul 18	I have similar issues. Some money is due to refund onto a Tandem card, but this is in the process of being closed. I'm due to pay my Amex balance tomorrow and was hoping a refund would go through in time so I don't have to, otherwise they will owe me a few grand.

19 Mar 20, 01:27 PM	#4
	19 Mar 20, 01:27 PM John Imagineer
John Imagineer Join Date: Jul 03 Location: Scotland John's Reviews Hotel Reviews: 3	As SMAX have stated, they will refund, just ask for a credit balance refund, however some card companies do not allow you to have large credit balances and may refund to you anyway, so best tell them first as they may send you a cheque.

19 Mar 20, 02:01 PM	#8
	19 Mar 20, 02:01 PM Guest Guest
Guest Guest	I have just cancelled a different holiday package and was able to explain the cc didn't allow positive balances and requested a bank transfer. They said yes, but I haven't had it yet. I always thought they had to go back to the cards too. Perhaps different ones take different approaches ? The prob for going back to credit card is you can only transfer out money that is over and above your negative debt. So debt of 1000, refund of 5000, can BT out 4000 and your debt on the card will be 0.

19 Mar 20, 03:59 PM	#10
	19 Mar 20, 03:59 PM Disneysocks Proud to wear my Ears Thread Starter
Disneysocks Thread Starter Proud to wear my Ears Join Date: Jul 18 Location: North	Thank you all for your help. I will contact the cc company if / when it all looks like it is getting cancelled.