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Reversing a wire transfer is difficult, often impossible once completed. Transfers can be canceled within a narrow timeframe, especially for international transfers, which typically allow a 30-minute window. To prevent errors, double-check all details before confirming.
Wire transfers can’t be reversed after the funds have been accepted, so you have a very small window in which you can try to cancel it.
For this reason, it's very important to double check the recipient details. Also, be extra sure you entered them correctly when making the payment.
If you've already made a wire transfer that you want to reverse, read on for advice on how to try and undo it.
Reversing an international wire transfer
International wire transfers come with more protections than domestic wires, including a 30 minute cancellation policy. If you’d like proof of your right to cancel an international transfer, ask your provider to send it to you.
You have 30 minutes to cancel an international wire transfer
Your bank or transfer provider must then refund the full amount of the transfer, if:
The recipient has not yet accepted the funds
You’ve provided the recipient’s full details, so they can be traced
If you need to reverse an international wire transfer, contact your transfer provider immediately.
Reversing a domestic wire transfer
A domestic wire transfer reversal is more complex than an international one, and your rights depend largely on the reason why you want to reverse the transfer. These include:
You’ve entered the incorrect details
You’ve sent the wrong amount
You’ve changed your mind
Your bank has made an error
The wire transfer was made fraudulently
Wire transfers cannot be reversed once the payment order has been accepted
If you notice an error with your wire transfer after it’s been approved, you need to act immediately to maximize your chances of reversing it.
1. I’ve entered the incorrect details
If you’ve entered the incorrect details during the transfer process and you’re worried the money will be deposited into the wrong account, contact the receiving bank as soon as possible. Have the details of the wire transfer to hand so you can give them to the bank.
Even in these cases, if you made the error, it’s very unlikely that the wire transfer will be reversed. If you really need the money, your only other option is to file a personal lawsuit to reclaim it back. To do this, you'll need to get in touch with an attorney, who can assess the chances of you getting the money back, and guide you through the process.
2. I’ve sent the wrong amount
If you’ve sent more money by mistake, contact the receiving bank as soon as possible. They may be able to refuse the transfer if it has not yet been accepted. Have the details of the wire transfer to hand so you can give them to the recipient bank.
Again, as you made the error, it’s very unlikely that the wire transfer will be reversed. If this is the case, you can contact the recipient directly to request they transfer you the difference, or file a personal lawsuit to reclaim the money back. To do this, you’ll need to contact an attorney, who can provide guidance and assess how likely it is that you’ll get the money back.
3. I’ve changed my mind
If you’ve changed your mind about sending money via wire transfer, your best option is to contact the receiving bank as soon as possible - they may be able to refuse the transfer. However, this is unlikely. An alternative is to contact the recipient of your transfer directly, to see if they would be able to transfer money back to you, but this depends entirely on your recipient.
Your only other option is to file a personal lawsuit. This will require the advice of an attorney, who will be able to assess the likelihood of you getting your money back from the recipient bank.
4. My bank has made an error
If your bank has made an error, you have more rights. If your bank has made an error, either with the recipient’s account number, the amount of the transfer, or by duplicating the transfer to the same bank, there is more chance it can be reversed.
In this instance, contact your bank as soon as possible, and provide them with evidence of the mistake. Your bank will need to investigate your claim before the wire transfer can be reversed, so this may take time, but if your bank discovers they are at fault, you should be reimbursed.
5. I suspect wire transfer fraud
If you didn’t make the transfer and you notice funds are missing from your account, contact your bank immediately. They will investigate the terms of the transfer, contact the banks involved, and may be able to reverse it if they can prove the transaction was made fraudulently.
Preventing wire transfer mistakes
The best way to avoid wire transfer errors is to double check all the details you enter before you confirm.
You’ll be shown all the details you’ve entered for your transfer before you can send the money. Reviewing this information is crucial. Reversing a wire transfer is very difficult, and only possible in certain circumstances. Review all the information you’ve entered and check it matches exactly with what you expect before transferring.
If your transfer goes to the wrong person because the details you provided were incorrect, it may be impossible to reverse.
Beware of wire transfer scams
Wire transfer scams are all too common in the US. If you receive an unexpected request for a wire transfer from a person or business, make sure you check their details independently before wiring any money. Don’t call phone numbers in emails or click on any links, instead, verify the requestor’s information independently through a separate, trusted website.
If you suspect you’ve been the victim of fraud, report it to your bank immediately. You can also report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov
Extra protection for international wire transfers
The Final Remittance Transfer Rule, section 1073 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, provides additional protection for people transferring money, including via wire transfer.
These protections state the information that financial institutions need to disclose before a transfer can be made. This applies to banks, money transfer providers, and any other bodies providing a money transfer service, They include:
Error resolution and cancellation rights
Confirmation of the full amount to be transferred
Any transfer fees
Any transfer taxes
The exchange rate
The date the funds will be available to the recipient
The recipient details (name and contact details, as provided by the sender)
Regulatory agency contact details
Crucially, the rule states that you as the sender may cancel an international transfer within 30 minutes after you’ve made the payment. However, this only works if the recipient has not yet accepted the funds. You’ll also need to provide the recipient’s full details so your bank can verify them.
Before you make a transfer, you can ask your provider to confirm their cancellation policy. Under the Final Rule, all providers must make this information available to senders on request.
If you’re looking to make an international transfer with extra protections, whether it’s a wire transfer, bank transfer, or debit payment, Wise may be the provider for you. Wise allows you to cancel a wire transfer as long as it hasn’t yet been sent to the recipient’s bank account.
You also don't need to make wire transfers with Wise to send money abroad. You can make payments by ACH bank transfer, debit card, or credit card. You can even send money from your Wise account to another for free.
Check out our full Wise review for more details.
Wire transfers - Think before you click, canceling is difficult
Canceling wire transfers is difficult, and even when you account for the extra protections around international money transfers, you usually only get 30 minutes to change your mind. The best way to protect yourself is to check all the details of your transfer thoroughly before you confirm it from your online bank account.
If you’ve already made the transfer, act quickly to maximize your chances of getting a refund.
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