Sent Money to the Wrong Person? Don’t Panic!
We’ve all been there. You hit send on a UPI money transfer, only to realize you entered the wrong information. Here’s how to navigate getting your money back:
Understanding Incorrect Money Transfers
An incorrect money transfer simply means sending money via UPI to an unintended recipient. Unfortunately, reversing a UPI transaction isn’t guaranteed, but there are steps you can take to increase your chances of recovering the funds.
Taking Action on a Wrong Transfer
- Contact Your Bank Immediately: Time is crucial. Call your bank as soon as possible and report a “wrong credit chargeback.” Be prepared to provide the Unique Transaction Reference (UTR) number for the payment. This unique identifier helps track the specific transaction.
- Bank’s Role in Recovery:
- Same Bank Recipient: If the recipient has an account with the same bank as you, the recovery process gets easier. Your bank can directly contact them on your behalf and request a reversal of the transaction, crediting the funds back to your account.
- Different Bank Recipient: If the recipient banks elsewhere, your bank’s role becomes more facilitative. They can provide details about the recipient’s bank branch and contact information. You’ll then need to reach out to that specific branch and explain the situation, requesting their assistance in retrieving the funds.
- Receiver Cooperation is Key: Recovering the money ultimately hinges on the recipient’s cooperation. If they agree to reverse the transaction, you’ll typically get your funds back within 7 days.
- Unresponsive Recipient or Failed Retrieval: If the recipient doesn’t respond to your request or your bank is unable to recover the funds, don’t give up. You can file a complaint on the NPCI portal, the governing body for UPI transactions in India (https://www.npci.org.in/register-a-complaint).
- Escalation After 30 Days: If the NPCI complaint remains unresolved after 30 days, you have the option to escalate the issue to the Banking Ombudsman. This is an independent authority that can intervene and help resolve disputes between banks and their customers.
Understanding Pending Transactions
A pending transaction occurs when money is deducted from your account but hasn’t yet reached the intended recipient. This can happen due to various reasons, such as temporary network issues or discrepancies in beneficiary details.
Handling Pending Transactions
In most cases, pending transactions simply require patience. The money is usually safe and will be credited back to your account within a short period. Here’s what you can do:
- Be Patient: Give the transaction some time to process and settle. In many instances, the issue resolves itself, and the money reaches the recipient’s account.
- Report the Issue: If you’re concerned about a pending transaction, especially if it persists for an extended period, report the issue within the PhonePe app. This helps PhonePe track the progress of the transaction and identify any potential problems.
- Wait 48 Hours: Allow 48 hours for your bank to update the final status of the transaction.
- Successful Transaction: If the transaction is successful, the money will be deposited into the recipient’s account.
- Failed Transaction: If the transaction fails, the deducted amount will be reversed back to your account within 3-5 business days, depending on your bank’s processing timelines.
- Contact Your Bank (Optional): For a faster resolution, especially if the wait time seems excessive, consider contacting your bank directly. Provide them with the UTR number for the transaction to expedite the process.
- Escalate After Waiting: If the issue persists after the stipulated waiting period (as outlined by PhonePe or your bank), escalate it within the PhonePe app. Their customer support team can investigate further and initiate appropriate actions to resolve the transaction.
Remember: For contacting PhonePe support, you can use the app’s “Help” section, visit their website at support.phonepe.com, or reach out via Twitter. By following these steps and remaining persistent, you can increase your chances of recovering your funds in case of a wrong UPI transfer or a pending transaction.