Bitcoin Forum

Bitcoin => Development & Technical Discussion => Topic started by: Stn on August 24, 2013, 04:57:28 AM



Title: Is it safe to refund to (one of) output address(es)?
Post by: Stn on August 24, 2013, 04:57:28 AM
Imagine you got bitcoin transfer which you want to refund. For certain reasons you can't contact payer. Is it OK to pick originating bitcoin address (or one of them) and send bitcoins there? Won't these bitcoins end up somewhere in limbo?


Title: Re: Is it safe to refund to (one of) output address(es)?
Post by: dillpicklechips on August 24, 2013, 05:07:11 AM
Depends on what they used to send it. If it was BitcoinQT its fine or even blockchain.info. But if they sent with inputs.io they won't get the refund. Since you don't know its probably better not to risk it.


Title: Re: Is it safe to refund to (one of) output address(es)?
Post by: maaku on August 24, 2013, 05:22:45 AM
No. Don't do it. Give them an authenticated mechanism to request a new payback address.


Title: Re: Is it safe to refund to (one of) output address(es)?
Post by: gmaxwell on August 24, 2013, 05:28:12 AM
It is _never_ fine to assume this. You should get a refund address from the user.


Title: Re: Is it safe to refund to (one of) output address(es)?
Post by: MRKLYE on August 24, 2013, 06:46:21 AM
It is _never_ fine to assume this. You should get a refund address from the user.

I fully agree with this


Title: Re: Is it safe to refund to (one of) output address(es)?
Post by: b!z on August 24, 2013, 07:34:37 AM
If the address is one time use they might not be able to access the coins.