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uk Money & financial emergencies incoming payment under review • incoming payment may be returned • payment reversal warning • bank review of incoming funds • incoming transfer on hold • unexpected bank credit • payment recall request • sender asks for refund • accidental payment message • overpayment refund request • refund before funds are final • selling item payment risk • marketplace payment returned • suspicious incoming payment • payment flagged for fraud • money received then removed • bank credit not final • incoming funds compliance check • transfer under investigation • pressure to send it back

What to do if…
your bank warns an incoming payment may be reversed because it is under review

Short answer

Treat the money as not final: don’t spend it, don’t ship anything, and don’t send any “refund” yourself. Call your bank using a trusted number and ask whether the credit is being held and under what conditions it could be removed or returned.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t send any money back to the sender (or to a “third party”) by bank transfer, card, crypto, or gift cards.
  • Don’t spend the money “because it’s showing in the app” or use it to cover other payments.
  • Don’t move the money to another account to “hide it” or “lock it in”.
  • Don’t release goods, keys, passwords, tickets, or services while it’s under review.
  • Don’t click links or call phone numbers from the message/payment reference/sender; use your bank’s official contact routes.
  • Don’t share one-time passcodes, full login details, or screenshots that reveal sensitive account information.

What to do now

  1. Freeze anything that depends on this money.
    • If it’s for a sale: don’t deliver, don’t hand over the item, and don’t provide digital access until your bank confirms the credit is final.
  2. Protect yourself from fees if the credit disappears.
    • Leave the credited amount untouched.
    • If you can, keep an extra buffer in the account so you don’t go overdrawn if the bank removes/returns the credit.
  3. Call your bank and get the situation defined (write down the answers).
    • Ask: What type of payment is it (e.g., bank transfer, card-related credit/refund, cheque, international transfer)?
    • Ask: Is the credit confirmed and final, or held/pending/subject to return?
    • Ask: Does this review place any restriction on my account (outgoing payments, cash withdrawal, transfers)?
    • Ask: What (if anything) do you need from me to complete the review (for example, an invoice, payslip, sale listing, or message trail showing what the payment is for)?
  4. If the sender is contacting you, don’t negotiate.
    • A single line is enough: “My bank has the payment under review. I can’t send anything back. Please speak to your bank.”
    • If they pressure you, change the story, or ask you to send money to a different account: stop replying.
  5. If you were expecting the payment, verify it through a trusted route.
    • For salary/invoice: confirm with the payer via an official number/email you already have (not contact details provided in a message).
    • Check whether the amount and payer match what you expected, and whether the payer confirms the payment details they used.
  6. If you were not expecting the payment, let the bank handle any return.
    • Tell the bank you do not want to initiate any outgoing payment based on this credit.
    • If a return is appropriate, ask for it to be done through the bank’s normal process (not by you sending a new transfer).
  7. Document what’s happening while it’s fresh.
    • Save screenshots of the warning and transaction details, and keep any messages from the sender.
    • Note dates/times and what your bank told you.
  8. If you suspect fraud or you already sent money out because of this, report it quickly.
    • Tell your bank you think this may be a scam and ask to speak to their fraud team.
    • In England, Wales, or Northern Ireland you can report fraud via the national fraud reporting service. In Scotland, report fraud to Police Scotland (101).

What can wait

  • Deciding whether to continue the deal/sale or block the sender permanently.
  • Any “goodwill” refunds, discounts, or replacements.
  • Complaints/escalation steps (do the safety steps first; escalation is easier once you’re stable).
  • Working out who’s “to blame” — the immediate goal is to avoid a second transaction that leaves you out of pocket.

Important reassurance

A “review” can happen for many reasons (fraud checks, compliance checks, sender-side issues), and it doesn’t automatically mean you’ve done something wrong. Pausing anything irreversible until your bank confirms the status is the safest move.

Scope note

These are first steps to prevent you being out of pocket if the credit is removed later. Longer disputes (complaints, reimbursement claims, civil recovery) come after the immediate risk is contained.

Important note

This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Different payment types and banks have different rules and wording. When in doubt, follow your bank’s official instructions and avoid sending any new payments based on an incoming credit your bank says is under review.

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