Cross-border payments differ significantly from domestic payments.
Unique Factors in Cross-Border Payments and Refunds:
Currency Conversion Processing
Foreign exchange conversion and exchange rate settlement required
Clearing between different currencies requires additional time
Exchange rates need to be determined on the settlement date
Cross-Border Payment Clearing
Involves international card organizations (Visa/Mastercard/American Express, etc.)
Must go through multiple stages including issuing banks, acquiring banks, international clearing networks, etc.
Cross-timezone processing leads to extended timelines
Foreign Exchange Controls and Compliance Review
Must comply with foreign exchange management regulations of both countries
May involve anti-money laundering (AML) and anti-fraud checks
Large transactions may require additional審核 (review)
Longer Settlement Cycles
International credit card transactions typically require 3-7 business days
In some cases may take 10-15 business days
Holidays will further extend processing time, potentially reaching 21 business days
Technical Processing Stages:
Pre-authorization to Deduction
First, pre-authorization freezes funds
Actual deduction occurs only after merchant confirmation
"Settlement in progress" status displays between these two stages
Merchant Account Processing
Acquiring institution needs to settle with merchant
May process in batches (daily/weekly)
Funds arrive in account only after deducting handling fees
Risk Control:
Fraud Detection
Cross-border transactions carry higher risk, requiring stricter risk controls
Unusual transaction patterns trigger manual review
First-time purchases at certain merchants may require additional verification
Dispute Period Protection
Time reserved for handling potential refunds or disputes (Chargeback)
Provides cardholders with a certain appeal period
Purchase Order Processing Recommendations:
Normal situation: 3-7 business days is a reasonable timeframe
Exceeding 10 business days: Recommend contacting issuing bank or merchant customer service for inquiry
Check statement: Review credit card statement to see if transaction has been posted
Keep records: Save transaction confirmation emails and order information