The end-to-end webhook sequence when a settled transaction is later returned to the cardholder.
A refund returns funds to the cardholder after the original transaction has settled. It is processed as its own, separate transaction event — it does not delete or revert the original approved/cleared transaction. A refund can also arrive without referencing an earlier authorization at all (see Non-Standard Transaction Scenarios); the flow below shows the common, referenced case.
Sequence
sequenceDiagram
participant Cardholder
participant Merchant
participant Altery
participant Partner as Your System
Cardholder->>Merchant: Presents card / places order
Merchant->>Altery: Authorization request
Altery->>Partner: CardAuthorizationRequest (sync, 2s timeout)
Partner->>Altery: authorize: "true"
Altery-)Partner: CardTransactionApproved (notification)
Note over Merchant,Altery: 1-3 days later, or longer
Merchant->>Altery: Clearing / settlement received
Altery-)Partner: CardTransactionCleared (notification)
Note over Cardholder,Merchant: Cardholder returns goods /<br/>merchant issues a refund
Merchant->>Altery: Refund
Altery-)Partner: CardTransactionRefunded (notification)
Webhooks in this flow
| Step | Webhook | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CardAuthorizationRequest | Request | Sent in real time; your response approves or declines the transaction |
| 2 | CardTransactionApproved | Notification | Sent once the authorization is approved and the transaction is created |
| 3 | CardTransactionCleared | Notification | Sent when the processor confirms settlement |
| 4 | CardTransactionRefunded | Notification | Sent when a previously approved (and usually settled) transaction is refunded |
Amount in this flow
The amount on CardTransactionRefunded is the amount being returned to the cardholder. It is independent of the original authorization or settlement amount — a refund can be partial, and the original transaction is never deleted or reverted by it. See CardTransactionRefunded for the field-level explanation.
A refund is not a reversal: a refund returns funds after settlement, while a reversal (see Reversal flow) cancels an authorization before it ever settles.