San Jose man struggling to receive Walmart refund calls 7 On Your Side

One of the most common complaints Michael Finney gets on 7 On Your Side are requests for help in getting a promised refund.

When it comes to getting promised refunds, persistence sure pays off.

San Jose resident Steve Sarsfield uses gift cards like some people use credit cards. In May of last year, Sarsfield made a purchase on Walmart.com using four gift cards of various denominations, totaling $100.

When he cancelled his order two weeks later on May 13, the amount spent was credited back onto his gift cards.

"They did credit my gift cards back," said Sarsfield. "But the same day they made another debit for the same amount, so I never received my refund."

His records confirmed that.

Sarsfield didn't think it was a big deal and figured he would just contact Walmart, point out the mistake, and everything would be taken care of. It didn't work out that way.

"They responded by saying, 'You got a refund on this date. You received a refund,'" he said.

Sarsfield received an email stating that, according to Walmart's records, his four shopping cards were refunded on May 13.

Sarsfield tried several more times to explain the error, but he had no luck.

"This went on and on and on. Just every time I emailed them, they got the same response," he said.

He had nearly a dozen contacts via email and over the phone with Walmart. Finally after a year, he called 7 On Your Side.

7 On Your Side contacted Walmart and the retailer credited the $100 back onto his gift cards.

"We were happy to get it resolved," Walmart said.

Sarsfield was happy to get the matter resolved as well.

"I would have probably eventually got it solved on my own, maybe. But it would have taken a lot more emails, a lot more calls," he said.