Charged by a QR Code Creator? Here’s How I Requested a Refund

Recently I had a frustrating experience with an online QR code create service, so I decided to share it in case it helps someone else.

In my case, I believed I was charged in a way that felt unfair. Billed annually and Billed twice.
When I contacted support, they told me that if I could explain the issue, they would process a refund.
I provided the explanation they asked for.

After that, I did not receive any reply for about a week.

Because the company appeared to be based in Ireland, I even tried contacting an Irish consumer protection office. Their website mentioned that they usually respond within a few days, but I still have not received a response.

At that point, I decided to contact my bank and request a dispute for the transaction. The bank accepted my request and opened a review.

Interestingly, before I opened the dispute, the company did not cancel my subscription even though I asked multiple times. However, once the dispute was filed, they suddenly contacted me and told me that my bank had opened a review and that I should communicate with the bank instead. They cancelled the plan, but the refund has still not been processed.

Everyone’s experience may be different. If you are satisfied with a service, of course you can continue using it.

However, if you feel that a charge was unfair, or if you requested a refund and did not receive a response, you may want to contact your bank and ask about a chargeback or dispute.

A chargeback is a consumer protection process offered by banks and card networks such as Visa or Mastercard. If you have records showing that you requested a refund within a certain time period (for example within about 14 days after the payment), you may still be able to dispute the transaction. In many cases, disputes can be opened within about 90 to 120 days from the transaction date, depending on the card provider.

If you request a chargeback, your bank or card provider will review the transaction to determine whether the charge was valid. During this process, the card network may temporarily hold or reverse the payment while they investigate the situation. If the charge is found to be improper or misleading, the payment can be returned to the customer. In some cases, the merchant may also face additional fees from the payment processor as a result of the dispute.

During this process, it is helpful to keep records of emails, support messages, and screenshots.

One thing I also learned is that QR code generation itself is actually very simple technology. In the country where I live, large portal platforms allow users to create unlimited QR codes and even track usage statistics for free. In some cases, QR codes can even be generated instantly by simple online tools.

Looking back, I should have researched more before using a paid service.

However, consumers also have rights.
If you believe a charge was unfair, you should not feel afraid to contact your bank and ask about the dispute process.

I hope this information helps someone who might be dealing with a similar situation.