💳 Refunds and Reversals in SiFi

💳 Refunds and Reversals in SiFi

🔄 What’s the Difference Between a Refund and a Reversal?

When using your SiFi Mastercard, you may see Refunds or Reversals in your account.

Although they sound similar, they are quite different in how they work and what you should expect.


✅ What is a Refund?

A Refund occurs when a settled transaction (money has already left your account) is returned to you by the merchant.

Common Reasons for Refunds:

  • You returned a product

  • A booking or service was cancelled

  • A merchant was unable to deliver the promised service

  • A billing error (e.g., double charge) was corrected

Refund Amounts

  • Can be full or partial, depending on the situation

  • Credited back in SAR (local currency) to your SiFi Primary Wallet

  • Displayed as a new transaction in your account


⏱ Refund Timelines

Refunds are initiated by the merchant, not by SiFi.

  • Typical timeline: 5–7 business days after the merchant processes it

  • Possible delays: Some merchants may take up to 30 days (e.g., airlines, hotels)

  • International refunds: FX fees are not always fully refunded due to network costs


📌 Important: If your refund hasn’t appeared, always check with the merchant first. If unresolved, contact support@sifi.sa and our team will help investigate.


💰 Refunds and Fees

  • Refund Amount → Credited in SAR equivalent based on Mastercard’s exchange rate at the time of refund

  • Cashback/Rewards → Already credited, so these remain untouched

  • Network & FX Fees → Non-refundable (these are charged by the payment network to process international transactions)


🔁 What is a Reversal?

A Reversal happens when a transaction is cancelled before it is settled.

This means no money actually leaves your account — only the authorisation hold is released.

When Reversals Happen:

  • The merchant cancels a transaction before settlement

  • The authorisation fails (e.g., insufficient funds, declined by issuer)

  • The merchant’s fraud prevention system blocks the payment


⚠️ Important Notes for SiFi Users

  1. Merchant Controlled → Both refunds and reversals are merchant-initiated.

    SiFi cannot manually refund or reverse transactions.

  2. Check Before Disputing → Always try resolving with the merchant first. This is usually the fastest way.

  3. International Refunds → Expect exchange rate differences and possible non-refundable network fees.

  4. Pending vs. Reversed → Sometimes, you’ll see a “pending” transaction that later disappears — this is a reversal, not a refund.


📝 Example Scenarios

  • Refund: You paid SAR 200 for a subscription. The service was cancelled, so the merchant refunds SAR 200 (minus non-refundable international fees, if any).

  • Reversal: You attempted to pay SAR 200, but the merchant declined the transaction. The SAR 200 was never debited; the temporary hold was simply released.


🛡️ What Should You Do?

  • For Refunds → Track merchant communication, wait for the refund, and check your SiFi statement.

  • For Reversals → No action is needed; the pending hold will disappear automatically.

  • If delayed beyond expected timelines → Contact SiFi Support with transaction details.


📧 Email: support@sifi.sa

📞 Phone: 920 031 030


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