- Date : 11/04/2023
- Read: 4 mins
There are three ways you can retrieve money sent to the wrong account – contact the bank or the receiver, or file a complaint on the NPCI portal.
With the increasing use of digital payments in India, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become a popular mode of instantly transferring money between bank accounts. In February 2023, the total value of UPI transactions in the country was north of Rs. 12 lakh crore, up from 8.26 lakh crore in February 2022.
However, despite its user-friendly interface, there are times when money is sent to the wrong UPI ID, leading to a sense of panic and frustration for the sender. Fortunately, if you send money to the wrong UPI ID, there are ways to retrieve it. Here's how.
Also Read: What is UPI and how does it work
1. Contact the receiver
The first and most crucial step to retrieve money sent to the wrong UPI ID is to contact the receiver. You should contact the receiver as soon as possible and request a refund of the amount.
If the receiver is unknown, you can contact them using the phone number or UPI ID provided in the transaction details and politely provide all the details to help them identify the transaction, such as the transaction ID, amount, and date.
2. Contact the bank
If you are unable to contact the receiver, the next step is to contact your bank. Contact your bank's customer care helpline or visit the nearest branch with the transaction details. The bank will initiate a chargeback process to retrieve the amount from the receiver's account.
However, it is important to note that the chargeback process can take up to 45 days to complete. Its success depends on various factors, such as the accuracy of transaction details and cooperation from the banks.
3. File a complaint on the NPCI portal
If the receiver fails to respond to your refund request and the bank cannot retrieve the amount, you can file a complaint through NPCI's Dispute Redressal Mechanism if you suspect intentional receipt of funds to the wrong UPI ID.
Select the transaction in question and raise a complaint on the UPI app used to make the payment. If the complaint remains unresolved, the matter is escalated to the respective banks and, finally, NPCI. Submit the transaction details on the Dispute Redressal Mechanism tab.
Updates on the complaint's status will be shared on your email address or the UPI app.
Also Read: NPCI slashes UPI usage fees to attract merchant transactions
Preventive measures while sending money via UPI
While it is possible to retrieve money sent to the wrong UPI ID, it is always better to prevent such situations from occurring in the first place. Here are some preventive measures you can take to avoid sending money to the wrong UPI ID:
- Double-check the UPI ID: Ensure you have entered the correct UPI ID before initiating a transaction. It is easy to make mistakes while typing, and a single wrong character can result in the wrong UPI ID.
- Use saved beneficiaries: Save the UPI ID of frequent beneficiaries to avoid the risk of sending money to the wrong UPI ID. This simple yet powerful feature, available in most UPI apps, can save you time and minimize the risk of errors while sending money.
- Verify the receiver: Always verify the receiver's details, such as the name and UPI ID, before sending money. UPI-enabled apps provide a feature to verify the receiver's details before initiating a transaction.
Conclusion
Retrieving money sent to the wrong UPI ID is possible, but it requires patience and cooperation from the receiver and the bank. Contacting the receiver and the bank should be the first step, and filing an NPCI complaint should be the last resort.
Taking preventive measures such as double-checking the UPI ID and using saved beneficiaries can prevent such situations. It is important to stay vigilant while making digital payments and to take the necessary precautions.
With the increasing use of digital payments in India, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become a popular mode of instantly transferring money between bank accounts. In February 2023, the total value of UPI transactions in the country was north of Rs. 12 lakh crore, up from 8.26 lakh crore in February 2022.
However, despite its user-friendly interface, there are times when money is sent to the wrong UPI ID, leading to a sense of panic and frustration for the sender. Fortunately, if you send money to the wrong UPI ID, there are ways to retrieve it. Here's how.
Also Read: What is UPI and how does it work
1. Contact the receiver
The first and most crucial step to retrieve money sent to the wrong UPI ID is to contact the receiver. You should contact the receiver as soon as possible and request a refund of the amount.
If the receiver is unknown, you can contact them using the phone number or UPI ID provided in the transaction details and politely provide all the details to help them identify the transaction, such as the transaction ID, amount, and date.
2. Contact the bank
If you are unable to contact the receiver, the next step is to contact your bank. Contact your bank's customer care helpline or visit the nearest branch with the transaction details. The bank will initiate a chargeback process to retrieve the amount from the receiver's account.
However, it is important to note that the chargeback process can take up to 45 days to complete. Its success depends on various factors, such as the accuracy of transaction details and cooperation from the banks.
3. File a complaint on the NPCI portal
If the receiver fails to respond to your refund request and the bank cannot retrieve the amount, you can file a complaint through NPCI's Dispute Redressal Mechanism if you suspect intentional receipt of funds to the wrong UPI ID.
Select the transaction in question and raise a complaint on the UPI app used to make the payment. If the complaint remains unresolved, the matter is escalated to the respective banks and, finally, NPCI. Submit the transaction details on the Dispute Redressal Mechanism tab.
Updates on the complaint's status will be shared on your email address or the UPI app.
Also Read: NPCI slashes UPI usage fees to attract merchant transactions
Preventive measures while sending money via UPI
While it is possible to retrieve money sent to the wrong UPI ID, it is always better to prevent such situations from occurring in the first place. Here are some preventive measures you can take to avoid sending money to the wrong UPI ID:
- Double-check the UPI ID: Ensure you have entered the correct UPI ID before initiating a transaction. It is easy to make mistakes while typing, and a single wrong character can result in the wrong UPI ID.
- Use saved beneficiaries: Save the UPI ID of frequent beneficiaries to avoid the risk of sending money to the wrong UPI ID. This simple yet powerful feature, available in most UPI apps, can save you time and minimize the risk of errors while sending money.
- Verify the receiver: Always verify the receiver's details, such as the name and UPI ID, before sending money. UPI-enabled apps provide a feature to verify the receiver's details before initiating a transaction.
Conclusion
Retrieving money sent to the wrong UPI ID is possible, but it requires patience and cooperation from the receiver and the bank. Contacting the receiver and the bank should be the first step, and filing an NPCI complaint should be the last resort.
Taking preventive measures such as double-checking the UPI ID and using saved beneficiaries can prevent such situations. It is important to stay vigilant while making digital payments and to take the necessary precautions.
