Refund methods
Refund methods are the means by which money is given back or credited to customers returning merchandise. Refund methods can be the same as payment methods, but not necessarily (there is no automatic pairing of refund method to payment method). For example, a merchant might decide that credit cards are the only form of refund permitted and that no cash refunds are allowed. Typically, merchants will issue refunds using the same payment method as the one used for the purchase. Available refund methods are defined in contracts and are usually limited and sometimes constrained by payment terms and conditions.
A refund method can have the same name as a payment method (for example, the name of a particular credit card brand), but internally they are considered separate methods.
In WebSphere Commerce, Payment Rules are provided to support the following refund methods:
- Credit card: For example, VISA, AMEX, Master Card
- Line of credit
The refund actions performed during the life cycle of a WebSphere Commerce return are influenced by the configured refund methods. Refund method and payment method choices are configured through the WebSphere Commerce POLICY database table through Payment and ReturnPayment policy types.
The XML file containing refund method properties (the refund method "configuration") is included in a set of XML files or payment configuration. A store is associated with a payment configuration ID through a payment business policy.
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