In plain English
It indicates that money was meant to go back to the person who paid, but that return did not go through. The term names the result of an unsuccessful refund attempt.
In context
Here, "refund failed" communicates that the attempt to send money back from a payment to the payer did not complete successfully.
- Situation
- Handling verification holds, payment disputes, chargebacks, reversals, and failed refunds
- What it communicates
- labels a refund attempt that did not complete successfully
Meaning limits
By itself, this status does not say why the refund attempt was unsuccessful or whether any later outcome will differ.
Examples
“After the seller tried to return the duplicate charge, the payment moved to refund failed instead of refunded.”
“When the landlord attempted to send back the holding deposit, the transaction came back as refund failed.”