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Helpful tips for using mobile payment services and avoiding risky mistakes

SOURCE: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Person-to-person payment services and mobile payment apps have become part of everyday life for millions of people. Payment services and apps let you send money to people without having to write a check, swipe a card, or hand them cash. These services are becoming increasingly popular for things like paying a friend back for lunch, splitting the cost of rent with a roommate, or collecting money for a youth sports coach’s thank you gift.

Mobile payment services advertise to consumers that they provide increased security, ease of use, and speed over more traditional payment methods. However, many different forms and brands of these services exist—your friend may have told you about one mobile app, you may have used another to receive money from your brother, and your bank might have emailed you about their own app. You might have also heard about a different kind of service called a "mobile" wallet that lets you pay merchants. While payment apps all may appear to do the same thing, each of these services operates somewhat differently, and your experience with them may vary.

With the development of new payment methods come new risks. Mobile payment apps should have strong built-in protections to detect and limit errors, unauthorized transactions, and fraud. The federal Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) applies to a bank, credit union, or other provider’s mobile payment services, just like it does to an electronic bill pay service. Among other protections, this federal law requires these institutions to investigate errors reported by consumers. Other federal and state protections may also apply. Whatever service you end up using, keep the tips below in mind to make sure your money goes where you want it to and you receive money you’re owed.

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Use caution when sending money to or receiving money from someone you don’t know

Scammers use mobile payment services to trick people into sending money or merchandise without holding up their end of the deal. For example, a scammer may sell you concert or sports tickets but then never actually give them to you. Or a scammer might purchase an item from you, appear to send a payment, and then cancel it before it reaches your bank account. Using mobile payment services with family, friends, and others you know and trust is the safest way to protect your money. The Bureau has more tips on how to avoid scams, as does the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”).

Consider having your friend send you a request for payment first

If you’re sending money to someone for the first time, ask that they send a "request" from their app if that service is available. This helps ensure that you’re sending funds to the right person for the right amount. If the payment app does not have a request for payment function, consider sending a small, test payment to the recipient to confirm it is the right person before sending larger amounts.

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Double check before you press send

A simple mistype can send money to the wrong person or in the wrong amount. Always double check the amount you entered and the person you selected to pay. Most payment apps use a username, phone number, or email address to identify payment recipients. Ask your recipient to be sure he or she has registered in the app with the information you intend to use to send them money.

Know how quickly you will receive your money—and how quickly money comes out of your account when you pay someone

Depending upon which mobile app you use and who sends you money, you may or may not be able to use money you receive immediately. In some instances, you may have to wait a few days to spend money you receive, even if the money shows up instantly in your app balance and you intend to spend the money within the same app. Many services let you transfer money to your bank account, and some will charge you a fee for the money to become available faster. For each app you use, find out how soon transferred money becomes available and then decide if that timing works for you.

Regardless of how quickly you can spend money you receive, when you send money via mobile apps, most payments you make get deducted from your balance immediately. You can sometimes put a "stop payment" on a check you’ve written, dispute a credit card charge, or cancel a bill payment. But new mobile payment services generally don’t have a recall or retrieval feature. For these reasons, again, it’s important to be certain you want to make a payment, for how much, and to whom before pressing send.

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Set up your app to require a passcode, PIN, or fingerprint before making a payment

Most mobile payment apps allow you to set up a passcode, PIN, or fingerprint that you can use to authenticate yourself before making a payment. Setting up this feature helps to prevent anyone else that gets access to your mobile phone from making mobile payments from your account. In the event that your mobile phone is actually lost or stolen, be sure to notify your bank or payment provider.

Contact your bank or payment provider if you suspect an error

Under the federal law called the EFTA, banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions must investigate errors. In addition, a new Bureau rule explicitly applies the EFTA to prepaid accounts (including some payment apps) beginning in April 2019. If an erroneous transaction appears on your statement, you should notify your financial institution right away.

Many existing forms of payment offer protections in addition to those required by the EFTA. New mobile apps and forms of payment may not provide these same protections. That means it might not always be easy to get your money back if something goes wrong. Make sure you understand the protections and assurances your payment services provider offers with their service.

Similarly, as with any mobile app and before using the app, review the app’s privacy policy to understand what information about you is collected as you use the app and with whom this information may be shared.

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Contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if you encounter an issue with a bank or payment provider

The Bureau enforces the EFTA, which requires banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions to investigate errors. Congress also gave the Bureau the authority to hold companies that provide consumer financial products or services accountable for committing unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices.

If you're having trouble with a payment service, you can submit a complaint online or call the Bureau toll-free at (855) 411-2372. If you have a question, and not a complaint, about payment services or other financial services, you can get answers to common questions through the Bureau Ask web tool.

The Bureau’s commitment to promoting safe and innovative payments

While the Bureau offers the tips listed above to help ensure your safety in the financial marketplace, people should be able to use new payment services with peace of mind and without fear of getting scammed or making honest mistakes. In concert with other regulators and industry stakeholders, the Bureau promotes the development of innovative payment services that offer people improved quality of life and that earn people’s trust and confidence.

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