Sent money to the wrong account? Here’s what you should do

In our digital age, banking services have become undoubtedly quicker and easier, with many transactions taking just a few seconds, especially financial transfers. However, this speed and convenience can also lead to mistakes. A simple error, like entering the wrong number or letter, can result in sending money to the wrong person.

Let us share a recent story about our friend Salma. In a rush, Salma used our mobile banking app to transfer her 300 JOD rent payment to her landlord. The next day, her landlord called to say she was late with the payment. Salma was surprised and told him she had transferred the money the day before, but he said he hadn't received it!

Salma checked her transaction history on the app and realised she had sent the money to the wrong person by entering an incorrect number.

A frustrating situation, right? Here's what you should do if you find yourself in a similar situation.

How can I retrieve a transfer sent to the wrong person?

Here's what to do if you've sent money to the wrong account:

If you know the person you sent money to

Sometimes, names can be similar. For example, you may have meant to send money to your wife, Zeina, but accidentally sent it to your colleague, Zein. If you chose the wrong beneficiary from your phone's contact list or saved beneficiaries, you probably know this person. Contact them directly and ask them to return the money.

If you don't know the person you sent money to

In this case, you probably entered an incorrect account number or CliQ alias, and you don't know who received your money. What should you do now?

1. Contact your bank

Call your bank's contact centre and inform them that you sent money to the wrong person. While the bank can't reverse the transfer or guarantee the return of your money, they will do their best to help you recover the amount.

2. Provide the transfer details to the bank

Have the transfer details ready and give the contact centre representative the incorrect account number or CliQ alias to which you sent the money, as well as the amount you transferred.

If the person who received the incorrect transfer is a customer of the same bank, your bank will contact them directly to explain the situation and request a refund. If the recipient is a customer of a different bank or an e-wallet provider, your bank will contact their bank or e-wallet provider to request they cancel the transfer if it hasn't been completed, or to request a refund if the transfer has already gone through.

This also applies to international transfers through Western Union. In such cases, your bank will contact Western Union to cancel the transfer if it hasn't been complete. If the transfer has gone through, Western Union will ask the recipient to return the money.

In all these cases, getting your money back depends on the recipient's approval. If the recipient refuses, you won't be able to recover your money. Also, it's important to know that requesting a transfer cancellation from another bank will incur a fee of 2 JOD. Any transfer fees you paid will also not be refunded.

What if you send money to a non-existent account?

If the account number or CliQ alias you used doesn't exist or doesn't belong to anyone, the transfer won't be processed, and you'll be relieved to know your money will be returned to you!

How can you avoid sending money to the wrong person?

1. When sending a financial transfer, verifying the recipient's details is crucial. Always double-check the recipient's name and bank account number or CliQ alias, and ensure the amount you're transferring is correct.
2. If you want to send money to someone from your contact list, make sure to select the correct name and be careful not to accidentally choose another contact nearby.
3. For large transfers, consider sending a smaller amount first to confirm that the correct recipient has received it before sending the full amount.

Download our mobile banking app and enjoy smooth and secure money transfers by following the steps here. Prefer instant CliQ transfers? Just follow the steps here, and remember to double-check the recipient's details!

Here's to smooth, error-free money transfers!