Shop would give me a refund …Aibu ?

lulu55xxx · 2026-02-25T12:03:39+00:00

I had bought a item from H&M. I bought it on Saturday and had my receipt. I paid contactless. Today on my break I nipped out (work in town )Took my bank card and left my phone on charge (didn’t think I needed it ) Went in and she asked for card I paid with…showed her. She said numbers didn’t match …I explained I paid contactless. She refused refund as she said I had no proof that was card used. I had to go back to work and get my phone. Show her my card on my Apple wallet ..click the dots to show contactless card details. Then it was refunded Is this normal ? Aibu to be annoyed

TooBored1 · 27/02/2026 17:25

Weightloss2026 · 25/02/2026 15:52

Next do not do this

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I was asked just 2 weeks ago to show my card on my app to obtain a refund in Next.

GoldenCupsatHarvestTime · 26/02/2026 17:06

Yes that’s normal. The card ID number for phone payment is different and they can’t do anything about that.

GoldenCupsatHarvestTime · 26/02/2026 17:06

Yes that’s normal. The card ID number for phone payment is different and they can’t do anything about that.

GoldenCupsatHarvestTime · 26/02/2026 17:06

Yes that’s normal. The card ID number for phone payment is different and they can’t do anything about that.

Thatoldchestnutagain · 26/02/2026 16:44

Oreosareawful · 25/02/2026 12:16

This is normal, it's a common money laundering trick to use a different card for a refund

It's a common way thieves obtain a refund on shopping that doesn't belong to them..or has been bought with a lost or stolen card. So many genuine customers lose or get their cards stolen everyday. It's the stores onus to prove they are not being complicit so why they ask for the card. 'Customers' genuine or not will stand and argue while holding up the queue. At the end of the day the store policy is what the customer signs up to when purchasing. If you are not proven to be the actual paying customer, (aka not holding the same card) because it was a gift, or you've had your card replaced or the goods are potentially stolen you don't have a legal leg to stand on. Some cashiers will use their judgement or common sense to avoid the flack though (and to move the queue on)

MummyWillow1 · 26/02/2026 15:39

lulu55xxx · 25/02/2026 16:00

@nomasi tapped my debit card ..the receipt showed a different last 4 digits then physical card and Apple Pay card

Apple Pay generates a different card number to protect your card details. So regardless your actual card and Apple Pay transactions won’t match.

P00hsticks · 26/02/2026 10:36

NailsForChristmas · 25/02/2026 18:11

The Op paid for with her card, then tried to get refunded via her mobile.

There is no law that says shops have to refund using the same payment method, but they do have a duty to stop money laundering and it is used for other fraud prevention methods which is why this is the usual internal rule as it helps them meet their statutory requirements.

The reason it shows different is as others have said the card number stored in the phone app is different to the physical card. Its annoying but one of those things.

There may be no law against it, but I'm pretty sure that it's in the rules and regulations of the card companies (Visa, Mastercard etc) that the retailers have ot sign up to that refunds must go back to the same card.

Helen1625 · 25/02/2026 20:32

nomas · 25/02/2026 20:15

They cannot store your card details without your permission.

Just because they have your email saved, it doesn’t mean they have your card details saved.

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As I've said already, I paid with my card and my email address popped up on their system without me telling them.

They already have my email address as I've given it to them in the past for a receipt to be sent. What I'm saying is, on one occasion I paid with my card and they said "Is your email address xxxxx" so somewhere along the lines, my card and my email are linked and stored in their system.

nomas · 25/02/2026 20:15

Helen1625 · 25/02/2026 20:13

At what point did I agree to them storing my card details?

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They cannot store your card details without your permission.

Just because they have your email saved, it doesn’t mean they have your card details saved.

Helen1625 · 25/02/2026 20:13

nomas · 25/02/2026 18:15

But that’s because you’ve specifically agreed for them to store your card details.

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At what point did I agree to them storing my card details?

nomas · 25/02/2026 18:50

busyd4y · 25/02/2026 18:49

As am I with my bank, I was wondering what negative aapect you could see to them having a security measure, why would that put you off?

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Just convenience, I wouldn’t want to have OP’s issue.

Although when everything goes digital, we may not have debit cards in the future.

busyd4y · 25/02/2026 18:49

nomas · 25/02/2026 18:45

I’m happy with the security of my non-Barclays banking. No issues for decades.

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As am I with my bank, I was wondering what negative aapect you could see to them having a security measure, why would that put you off?

nomas · 25/02/2026 18:45

busyd4y · 25/02/2026 18:42

Because they are trying to keep your account secure?

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I’m happy with the security of my non-Barclays banking. No issues for decades.

busyd4y · 25/02/2026 18:42

nomas · 25/02/2026 18:39

Good reminder to avoid Barclays.

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Because they are trying to keep your account secure?

nomas · 25/02/2026 18:39

ActoBelle · 25/02/2026 18:32

Apparently it protects your card details

Your Barclays contactless payment (via phone, watch, or in-app) often shows different last four digits to your physical card due to
tokenization. A unique, virtual "Device Account Number" is created for digital wallets, enhancing security by ensuring your actual card number is never shared with merchants

I am always asked for the same card, sales assistant will say have you got the card ending in xxxx.

Good reminder to avoid Barclays.

busyd4y · 25/02/2026 18:36

nomas · 25/02/2026 18:32

Sounds like a pain. I use contactless and my debit card always matches the receipt.

Edited

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Yes, I don't use that card if I think I might need to take something back

@ActoBelle has provided the explanation

ActoBelle · 25/02/2026 18:32

Apparently it protects your card details

Your Barclays contactless payment (via phone, watch, or in-app) often shows different last four digits to your physical card due to
tokenization. A unique, virtual "Device Account Number" is created for digital wallets, enhancing security by ensuring your actual card number is never shared with merchants

I am always asked for the same card, sales assistant will say have you got the card ending in xxxx.

Before you continue to Google Search

https://www.google.com/search?q=tokenization&client=safari&hs=zekU&sca_esv=b279387295a54f15&hl=en-gb&sxsrf=ANbL-n7cAJIgHgTAYsnH2ocGNmLIzp3cCg%3A1772044195770&ei=oz-fafrELvTRhbIPpb_o4AI&biw=1180&bih=692&ved=2ahUKEwjC9K6co_WSAxUOW0EAHQvpFU8QgK4QegQIARAB&uact=5&oq=why+does+my+barclays+debit+contactless+payment+card+have+a+different+last+four+digits+to+my+physical+card&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiaXdoeSBkb2VzIG15IGJhcmNsYXlzIGRlYml0IGNvbnRhY3RsZXNzIHBheW1lbnQgY2FyZCBoYXZlIGEgZGlmZmVyZW50IGxhc3QgZm91ciBkaWdpdHMgdG8gbXkgcGh5c2ljYWwgY2FyZEgAUABYAHAAeAGQAQCYAQCgAQCqAQC4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgCgAgCYAwCSBwCgBwCyBwC4BwDCBwDIBwCACAA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

nomas · 25/02/2026 18:32

busyd4y · 25/02/2026 18:28

It's not bizarre, I've had the same thing happen, it's the way some banks work, they generate a different number each time

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Sounds like a pain. I use contactless and my debit card always matches the receipt.

busyd4y · 25/02/2026 18:31

Januaryasnowhite · 25/02/2026 18:24

I never used same card for refunds, I always use different one, never had issues and nobody ever asked me …

And...?

ActoBelle · 25/02/2026 18:29

I’ve had similar in tkmaxx. The sales assistant said if you pay contactless (not Apple Pay) then the last 4 digits are different to your physical card. Sounded odd to me but she was asking me for a card which ended in 4 digits which I didn’t have/never heard of before. She then asked if I’d paid contactless and I said yes and she said she would have to refund via contactless, which we did and the numbers matched. I have no idea why the numbers are different but I only have one bank card so I knew it was that card.

busyd4y · 25/02/2026 18:28

nomas · 25/02/2026 16:02

Oh that's bizarre then. I would contact your bank asap.

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It's not bizarre, I've had the same thing happen, it's the way some banks work, they generate a different number each time

NailsForChristmas · 25/02/2026 18:28

My bad, misread that trying to multitask!

Januaryasnowhite · 25/02/2026 18:24

I never used same card for refunds, I always use different one, never had issues and nobody ever asked me …

nomas · 25/02/2026 18:21

SkylarkKitten · 25/02/2026 18:17

That's not what she said

She said she paid with a physical card via contactless, and tried to get a refund with the card
(She'd left the mobile in the office)
But the card she used, and the numbers on the receipt didn't match
So she went back and showed her mobile, which had a stored card with the receipt number

That's why I'm confused
Where is the card relating to the receipt?
She is insisting she paid via physical card and not ApplePay

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Maybe the staff member was new and was looking at the wrong 4 digits on the receipt.

SkylarkKitten · 25/02/2026 18:17

NailsForChristmas · 25/02/2026 18:11

The Op paid for with her card, then tried to get refunded via her mobile.

There is no law that says shops have to refund using the same payment method, but they do have a duty to stop money laundering and it is used for other fraud prevention methods which is why this is the usual internal rule as it helps them meet their statutory requirements.

The reason it shows different is as others have said the card number stored in the phone app is different to the physical card. Its annoying but one of those things.

That's not what she said

She said she paid with a physical card via contactless, and tried to get a refund with the card
(She'd left the mobile in the office)
But the card she used, and the numbers on the receipt didn't match
So she went back and showed her mobile, which had a stored card with the receipt number

That's why I'm confused
Where is the card relating to the receipt?
She is insisting she paid via physical card and not ApplePay