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How fast must a bank refund an unauthorised card payment in Denmark?

Short deadlines for the bank, longer ones for you.

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Short answer

If you report a payment you did not approve, the bank must refund it immediately and at the latest by the end of the following business day. You must contact the bank as soon as possible after you discover the payment, and a complaint within 14 days counts as soon as possible. The absolute limit is 13 months after the amount was taken from your account. If you deny approving a payment, the bank must prove it was recorded correctly, and the use of the card alone is not proof.

Practical info

Why

  1. The refund rule is in § 99 of the Payments Act.
  2. The 13-month limit is in § 97.
  3. After 13 months the money is lost for good.

Details

Seeing the payment on a bank statement does not by itself count as knowing about it: what matters is when you actually realised it was misuse.

Tip

Write to the bank instead of only calling, so you can show the date of your complaint.

What may differ

If you knew about the misuse and waited, you can lose the right to a refund before the 13 months have passed.

Common misconception

The bank can take weeks to investigate before you get your money back.

What actually happens

The money must come back by the end of the next business day, and the bank can then investigate the case.

People also ask

  • How much do you pay if your card is misused in Denmark?
  • What is chargeback and when can you get your money back?
  • Where can you complain about your bank in Denmark?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Payment rules, limits and fees change, so check the official sources or your bank before you pay.

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