Sent UPI Money to the Wrong Account? Here’s How You Can Get It Back Easily

The use of UPI (Unified Payments Interface) for digital transactions has seen rapid growth across India—from metro cities to rural villages. While it's a convenient payment method, mistakes can happen. A common issue people face is accidentally transferring money to the wrong mobile number or UPI ID.

If this ever happens to you, don't panic. You can take steps to recover your money if you act quickly and follow the right procedure. Here’s what you need to know.

First Step: Try to Contact the Recipient

If you've mistakenly sent money to the wrong UPI account, the first thing you should do is try to reach out to the recipient. Call the person and politely request a refund. You may also share a screenshot of the transaction to prove the mistake.

If the recipient is unwilling to cooperate or you cannot contact them, don’t worry—there are official ways to report and recover your funds.

Next: Contact the UPI App's Customer Support

If direct contact doesn't work, report the issue to the customer care team of the UPI app (e.g., Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, etc.) you used for the transaction. Most apps have a built-in help section where you can raise a dispute or report a wrong transaction.

This is often the fastest way to initiate a recovery request before taking it further.

Register a Complaint with Your Bank

You should also contact your bank immediately after realizing the error. Speak with a customer support officer or visit your nearest branch and explain the situation. Provide all transaction details including date, time, UPI ID, and amount sent.

Your bank can then start the process of tracing and recovering the funds from the wrong account, especially if the recipient is also a customer of the same bank.

File a Complaint with NPCI

You also have the option of registering a complaint with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)—the body responsible for managing and regulating UPI transactions in India.

NPCI can intervene and assist if the app or bank support does not yield a resolution.

Use the Toll-Free Helpline and In-App Support

You can also call the toll-free number 1800-120-1740 to lodge a complaint regarding incorrect UPI payments.

If you used an app for the transaction, you can also log in and raise the issue through the app’s complaint or support section. Most major UPI apps offer a “Help” or “Raise a Dispute” feature for such situations.

Still No Resolution? Contact the Banking Ombudsman

If 30 days pass and your complaint is still unresolved, you can escalate the matter to the Banking Ombudsman or Digital Ombudsman, depending on the nature of the issue.

This is a higher authority set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to handle unresolved banking and digital payment grievances.

Refund Timeframe Depends on Bank Coordination

If both the sender and the receiver have accounts in the same bank, the refund process is usually faster.

If the accounts belong to different banks, it might take a bit longer due to interbank coordination.

No matter the case, early action is critical. The quicker you report the error, the higher your chances of getting the money back.

If you've made a UPI payment to the wrong number or ID, taking prompt action is the key to recovering your funds. With multiple avenues like contacting the recipient, bank, UPI app, NPCI, or ombudsman, you have several options to resolve the issue.