'You can't do that': Customer loses thousands of dollars after filing a chargeback despite being offered full refund for purchase

Eleonora Bader

May 19, 2023 1:00 PM EDT

Customers often play a dangerous game in terms of refunds, and this game can ultimately result in some bitter consequences. In this case, a customer bought a designer item online, and when it arrived she sent a rude message to the seller, OP, demanding a full refund, threatening OP with filing a chargeback. The catch was Karen wanted OP to Venmo her the money, which is a huge, blaring red flag. OP said they would refund the money if the item was returned, per company guidelines. Karen discarded OP's offer and filed a chargeback anyway. Karen also left a scathing review, which OP knew would ham their credibility in sales.

Luckily, OP knew that Karen had just done something very illegal… it's considered fraudulent to file a chargeback when the retailer has offered a full refund. OP appealed the case, won, and was able to keep the money. A few weeks later, the item arrived right back on her doorstep, undamaged. OP was given the opportunity to refund Karen, seeing as the item was intact. But… well, OP decided to enact some petty revenge. Scroll down to read what happened next.

For more, here is a tenant who was denied a refund after paying for a broken boiler part; the tenant got back at the landlord by taking the boiler part with him, rendering the boiler completely useless.