How long does a company have to refund me?

It depends where you are and what you bought. In much of Europe a trader has 14 days from accepting a cancellation. Rather than argue the law in the letter, name a date and say what you will do after it.

What if they keep saying it is processing?

Ask for the date it was issued and the reference. A refund that has genuinely been sent has both, and your bank can trace it. One that has neither has not been sent.

Can my bank get the money back?

Often, yes. Card payments can be disputed through chargeback, and in some countries larger purchases carry additional protection. Card issuers usually expect you to have asked the seller first.

Should I threaten legal action?

Only if you mean it. Name a concrete next step you will actually take, such as a chargeback or an ombudsman, because an empty threat weakens everything else in the letter.

Change letter type

Refund request letter

You are owed money back and it has not arrived.

A refund request works when it is specific: the amount, the order, the date you returned or cancelled, and the date you expect the money by. Vagueness is what lets a refund sit in someone's queue.

If you paid by card and the seller does not respond, your card issuer is usually the next step. Write first, keep the letter.

Tone

Firm is still professional. It states a date and what happens after it, rather than raising its voice.

About you

Your full name

Your address (optional)

Who owes you the money

Named person, if you have one (optional)

The refund

What it was for

Amount owed

Order or booking reference (optional)

Date you paid (optional)

Why you are owed it

Date that happened

What you were told about timing (optional)

How you paid (optional)

What you want

Days you are giving them (optional)

What you will do if it does not arrive (optional)

Only used in the firm version.

Date format

Your letter is never uploaded, because it's built in your browser. Nothing you type here is saved, so refreshing starts again.

24 August 2026

Refund of

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am owed because.

The money has not reached me yet.

Could the be returned to the original payment method. Do let me know if you need anything from me to release it.

Thank you for sorting this out.

Yours faithfully,

Still to fill in: your full name, who owes you the money, what it was for, amount owed, why you are owed it, date that happened.

A finished example

The same template with every field filled in. The names and details are invented.

Owen Pritchard

9 St Mary's Lane

Cardiff CF10 3RS

Customer Services

Harbourside Events Ltd

PO Box 812, Cardiff

24 August 2026

Refund of £164.00, order HS-2026-44190

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am owed £164.00 because you cancelled two tickets to the Harbourside Festival on 18 June 2026. The original payment was made on 2 April 2026 by Visa card ending 4417.

I was told in your cancellation email that refunds would be processed within 10 working days. The money has not reached me yet, so I wanted to check where it is.

Could the £164.00 be returned to the original payment method by 7 September 2026. Do let me know if you need anything from me to release it.

Thank you for sorting this out.

Yours faithfully,

Owen Pritchard

Refund of £164.00, order HS-2026-44190 Dear Sir or Madam, I am owed £164.00 because you cancelled two tickets to the Harbourside Festival on 18 June 2026. The original payment was made on 2 April 2026 by Visa card ending 4417. I was told in your cancellation email that refunds would be processed within 10 working days. The money has not reached me yet, so I wanted to check where it is. Could the £164.00 be returned to the original payment method by 7 September 2026. Do let me know if you need anything from me to release it. Thank you for sorting this out. Yours faithfully, Owen Pritchard

Questions

How long does a company have to refund me?: It depends where you are and what you bought. In much of Europe a trader has 14 days from accepting a cancellation. Rather than argue the law in the letter, name a date and say what you will do after it.
What if they keep saying it is processing?: Ask for the date it was issued and the reference. A refund that has genuinely been sent has both, and your bank can trace it. One that has neither has not been sent.
Can my bank get the money back?: Often, yes. Card payments can be disputed through chargeback, and in some countries larger purchases carry additional protection. Card issuers usually expect you to have asked the seller first.
Should I threaten legal action?: Only if you mean it. Name a concrete next step you will actually take, such as a chargeback or an ombudsman, because an empty threat weakens everything else in the letter.