Even with a powerful ally like the the CEO of Amex, KS would not bend a little. It's probably because once successfully funded, the money has been forwarded to the project starter, ie. really out of KS's filthy hands.

How did you receive your refund...chargeback to Amex from the project starter through the KS mechanism, chargeback to Amex directly from the project starter, PayPal, check, bank transfer....? In any case, even via KS interface, obviously the project starter has control over the amount refunded as evidenced by the our different experience.

The only good thing for a project starter to refund via KS is that there is a formal record the backer is not legally owed anything. I suppose a KS backer is not legally owed anything in the first place after pledging and successful funding. The only remedy in case of dispute being civil court individually or a good ol' class action.