Guides › Banking Scams and Fraud › Sent Money to the Wrong Account by Mistake
Sent Money to the Wrong Account by Mistake
If you send money to the wrong account by mistake, contact your bank straight away and ask it to try to recover the payment. If you complain, the Financial Ombudsman looks at what the bank did to reverse or claw back the payment and whether it did enough to help you get your money back.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Getting It Back
What the Ombudsman Looks At
For a payment sent wrongly, the Ombudsman considers the attempts made to reverse or claw back the payment and decides whether the bank has done enough to help the consumer get their money back. It applies the law, regulator rules and industry codes. source
Complaining
Complaining to the Ombudsman
If your bank refuses or you are unhappy with how it handled a scam, you can complain to the bank and then to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free. Its compensation limit is 430,000 pounds, and it can look at cases where losses are over 85,000 pounds. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- Straight awayTell your bankThe sooner, the better the chance of recovery
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Call your bank straight away with the payment details.
Step 2 of 5
Ask what it will do to recover the money and get a reference.
Step 3 of 5
Follow up in writing.
Step 4 of 5
If you think you were tricked rather than made a mistake, tell the bank: scam rules may apply.
Step 5 of 5
If the bank does not do enough, complain, then go to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Your Bank's Complaints Team
Always start here, in writing, once your bank has refused or not replied.
Financial Ombudsman Service
You are unhappy with your bank's final response. It is free, and its limit is 430,000 pounds.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Check the name match result before you send money to a new payee.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- financial-ombudsman.org.uk/businesses/resolving-complaint/complaints-deal/banking-and-payments/disputed-transactions Checked 13 October 2026
- psr.org.uk/information-for-consumers/app-fraud-reimbursement-protections Checked 13 October 2026