Consumer complaint received 2015-11-17
Company: DISCOVER BANK
State: WI
Product: Credit card
Issue: Identity theft / Fraud / Embezzlement

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXXI am writing to you about a problem that I faced today. I have this problem, that could have been yours or Mr. Obama 's. 
Let me explain : Scenario 1. 
If # potus went to a store and bought apples for {$20.00} using cash. The very next minute he saw his spouse carrying apples that she just bought. He would go back to the cashier and return the apples and get the XXXX dollar bill. 
You 're with me - Right. Good now let 's seeScenario 2. 
If you go to a store and buy apples for {$20.00} using credit card. The very next minute you see your spouse carrying apples that he/she just bought. You go to the cashier and return the apples and get refund back on the card ( typically a receipt showing it was credited back to your credit card-right ), well then you throw that receipt and forget about it. 
You 're still with me - correct. 
FACT ~ if you log into your credit card account, you 'll see that you were charged {$20.00} ; but you 'll not see the refund amount for days and weeks & if it never got posted, you threw the receipt, do n't remember the amount, its date etc. its money gone into thin air. Someone pocketed it, you 'll never know or recall & you 'll end up paying the credit card company ( regardless of the actual situation ) till such time you do not get the credit from the vendor. 

I had this situation with XXXX XXXX XXXX on XXXX/XXXX/2015. They said they had refunded the wrongly charged amount of {$520.00} right away, but it is still not showing on Discover.com even as I write this article on XXXX/XXXX/2015 ( today being the XXXX day ). 
Here is a screen shot. 


I called Discover and they said it may take around 15 days and if you still do not get the credit then let us know. 
If you swipe you credit card at a store and simultaneously log into your credit card account on your smartphone or any smart device like XXXX, you 'll see that the CHARGED amount shows up in less than a minute, but the REFUND TAKES DAYS OR WEEKS. 
Something is fishy right here. 
What if you walk out of a store with a piece of paper showing the refund amount and then you lose that refund receipt & you did not get the credit back in your account? Money gone!! Bye Bye ... ... 
I have a return receipt of {$9.00} dated XXXX/XXXX/2015 from XXXX store XXXX. XXXX, printed at XXXX hours, by associate XXXX. XXXX, transaction number XXXX. I do n't see the refund amount on the credit card company website, whereas my understanding is that I was issued the refund right away as I returned the merchandise. 
Now - If I lose the refund receipt, I would not know the exact amount of the refund? How will I ever be able to claim a refund from an invoice that had XXXX items and XXXX item got refunded. 
Who is holding my money for 15 days and why? 
If the charge was posted on the last day of the billing cycle - I will have to pay the credit card company for merchandise that was returned and refund issued & if I do n't pay the entire amount to the credit card company, then I have to bear interest on short payment. 
Scenario 3. Ideally - If I swipe my credit card for {$20.00} & XXXX dollars shows up online as a debit or as a charge ( almost within a few seconds ) then return refund amount SHOULD SHOW UP dynamically too. 
The credit card company benefits and I can prove it. Consumers are being milked. I have to pay the money even when I did not buy the merchandise, was issued a refund. Now If I lost the refund receipt. I can forget that money. It 's not fair and # FTC should probe into it. XXXX is just a # whistleblower. I can get this issue fixed for all the credit card companies. # FTC should initiate action right away. 
XXXX has a solution to a MUCH BIGGER problem that # FTC and # XXXX is facing daily. Meet up with me and you 'll love the technologically advanced innovative solution I have for you - I am certain you 'll have a big smile on your face.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation