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If your transfer is delayed, the first step is to check the expected delivery date and the transaction status. Then, contact the money transfer provider if the transfer has passed the expected delivery time.
This guide explains the common reasons for a delayed international money transfer and what you can do to resolve the issue.
At a glance
- Check the date: compare the expected delivery date on your receipt with today's date.
- Check the status: sign in to the app or website and look at the transaction status.
- Verify the details: make sure the recipient information you entered is correct.
- Contact the provider: reach out if the transfer has gone past the expected delivery time.
Why Is My Money Transfer Delayed?
There are several reasons why an international money transfer may take longer than expected.
Bank Processing Times
The receiving bank may need additional time to process and credit the funds to the recipient's account. Even when a transfer provider has sent the money, the receiving institution may have its own processing schedule.
Weekends and Public Holidays
Banks and financial institutions may have different operating schedules on weekends and public holidays. If you send money around a holiday, the transfer may take longer than the usual delivery time.
Incorrect Recipient Details
A transfer can be delayed if the recipient's information does not match the requirements of the receiving institution. This may include:
- Incorrect account number
- Incorrect routing or bank details
- Spelling differences in the recipient's name
- Incorrect bank or branch information
- Missing information
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau advises consumers to check account numbers and recipient information carefully before sending a transfer. Incorrect information can prevent the recipient from receiving the funds.
Security or Compliance Checks
Money transfer providers and financial institutions may sometimes need to review a transaction before completing it. These checks can be related to fraud prevention, regulatory requirements, or other security procedures. Federal regulations recognize that certain investigations and fraud-screening procedures can affect the availability of remittance transfers.
This does not necessarily mean there is a problem with your transfer. It may simply mean that additional verification is required.
Technical Problems
Occasionally, a technical issue with the sending provider, receiving bank, payment network, or other system involved in the transaction can cause a delay. If the transfer status has not changed for an unusually long period, contacting the provider is the best way to find out what is happening.
Check the Expected Delivery Date
Before contacting customer support, check the transfer receipt or confirmation. For eligible remittance transfers from the USA, the information provided to the sender generally includes when the money is expected to be available to the recipient. Compare that date with the current date:
Still within the estimated delivery time
The transfer may simply be processing normally
Expected date is today
Allow for the receiving bank's processing time
Expected delivery date has passed
Contact the provider and ask for an update
- An estimated delivery time is different from a guarantee that the money will arrive at a particular hour.
Check Your Transfer Status
If you used an online money transfer app or website, sign in and check the transaction status. Common status messages may include:
- Processing
- Pending
- Sent
- Delivered
- Completed
- Failed
- On hold
- The exact wording varies between providers.
Status says processing or pending
The provider may still be completing the transfer.
- Check again within the expected delivery window
- Contact the provider if the delivery date passes
Completed, but the money isn't there
If it says completed or delivered but the recipient cannot see the money:
- Ask the recipient to check with their bank or financial institution
- Contact the transfer provider with the transaction reference number
Verify the Recipient Information
If a transfer has been delayed, check the information you entered when sending it. Pay particular attention to:
- Recipient's full name
- Bank account number
- Routing or bank code
- Bank name
- Mobile wallet details, if applicable
- Country and currency
Even a small difference can sometimes prevent a receiving institution from processing the transfer.
Contact Your Money Transfer Provider
If the expected delivery time has passed, contact the company that processed your transfer. When contacting customer support, explain the situation clearly:
The provider can check whether the money is still being processed, has reached the receiving institution, or requires additional information. For an international money transfer, contacting the provider directly is usually more useful than immediately sending another transaction.
What Information Should You Have Ready?
Having your transfer details available can make it easier for customer support to investigate the issue.
Keep these details ready
- Transaction or confirmation number
- Date of transfer
- Amount sent
- Sending country
- Destination country
- Recipient's name
- Recipient's bank or wallet information
- Payment method
- Screenshots of the transfer status, if available
The CFPB also recommends providing details such as the transfer amount, recipient information, confirmation code, transfer date, destination, and a description of the problem when reporting a transfer error.
Can a Bank or Security Check Delay a Transfer?
Yes. A transfer may sometimes be delayed because the provider or a financial institution needs to complete additional checks. These can include:
- Identity verification
- Fraud screening
- Regulatory checks
- Verification of recipient information
- Review of unusual transaction activity
These checks are part of the financial system's efforts to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. A delay caused by a security review does not automatically mean your transfer has failed.
What If the Money Still Has Not Arrived?
If the expected delivery date has passed and the recipient still has not received the money, ask the provider to investigate the transfer.
For certain remittance transfers covered by US federal rules, failure to make the funds available by the disclosed availability date can qualify as an error, although there are exceptions, including certain extraordinary circumstances, fraud investigations, and incorrect account information provided by the sender.
How long you generally have to notify a provider of an error
The CFPB recommends contacting the provider as soon as possible rather than waiting.
Depending on the circumstances, a provider may be able to correct the transfer, refund the money, or make the funds available to the recipient.
Can You Cancel a Delayed Money Transfer?
Sometimes. Cancellation depends on the provider, the type of transfer, and whether the recipient has already received or collected the money.
For certain international remittance transfers covered by US federal rules, a consumer can generally cancel without a fee if the transfer was paid for less than 30 minutes ago and the recipient has not yet received or collected the funds. Scheduled transfers may have different cancellation rules.
Paid under 30 minutes ago, not yet collected
Can generally be cancelled with no fee
Recipient already received or collected it
Usually can't be cancelled
If you want to cancel a delayed transfer, contact the provider immediately and check the cancellation terms on your receipt. Do not assume that a delayed transfer can automatically be cancelled.
How to Avoid Delays in Future Transfers
While not every delay can be prevented, a few simple steps can reduce the chances of problems.
Double-Check Recipient Details
Before confirming, check the recipient's name, account number, bank details, and other required information.
Check the Estimated Delivery Time
Look at the expected availability date first, so you know when the recipient should receive the money.
Avoid Last-Minute Transfers
For an important payment, send early to leave time for unexpected delays.
Keep Your Confirmation
Save the receipt, confirmation number, and transaction details until the recipient confirms the money arrived.
Use Official Support Channels
Contact the provider through its official website or app, and ignore unverified messages asking for passwords, codes, or extra payments.
When Should You Be Concerned?
A transfer being slightly slower than expected does not necessarily mean there is a serious problem. You should contact the provider when:
- The expected delivery date has passed.
- The transaction status has not changed for an unusually long time.
- The recipient cannot access the funds.
- The transfer shows as completed, but the recipient has not received it.
- You notice incorrect recipient information.
- You receive a notification that the transfer has failed.
- You are asked for additional information and are unsure whether the request is legitimate.
If you believe an eligible remittance transfer has an error and the provider does not resolve the issue, the CFPB provides information on reporting money-transfer problems and submitting a complaint.
How Remit2Home Helps With International Transfers
At Remit2Home, we understand that people sending money home want to know where their money is and when it will reach their family. Remit2Home provides international money transfers from the USA to supported destinations including:
When you send money through Remit2Home, keep your transaction details available until your recipient confirms that the funds have been received. If you have a question about a transfer, use the available support channels to check its status.
The same basic approach applies to any money transfer service: check the expected delivery date, review the transaction status, verify the recipient information, and contact the provider if the transfer goes beyond the expected timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my international money transfer delayed?
Common reasons include bank processing times, weekends and public holidays, incorrect recipient details, security or compliance checks, and technical problems with the provider, receiving bank or payment network. A delay does not always mean something has gone wrong.
Can a bank or security check delay a transfer?
Yes. A provider or financial institution may need to complete identity verification, fraud screening, regulatory checks or a review of the recipient information. A delay caused by a security review does not automatically mean your transfer has failed.
What should I do if the money still has not arrived?
If the expected delivery date has passed, ask the provider to investigate the transfer. For eligible remittance transfers, the CFPB states that consumers generally have up to 180 days from the disclosed availability date to report an error, but it is best to contact the provider as soon as possible.
Can I cancel a delayed money transfer?
Sometimes. For certain international remittance transfers covered by US federal rules, you can generally cancel without a fee if you paid less than 30 minutes ago and the recipient has not yet received or collected the funds. Contact the provider immediately and check the cancellation terms on your receipt.
When should I contact my money transfer provider?
Contact the provider when the expected delivery date has passed, the status has not changed for an unusually long time, the transfer shows as completed but the recipient has not received it, you notice incorrect recipient information, or the transfer has failed.
Conclusion
A delayed money transfer can be stressful, especially when the money is needed for an important expense. However, a delay does not always mean that your money is lost or that the transfer has failed.
Start by checking the expected delivery date and transaction status. Then verify the recipient details and contact your money transfer provider if the transfer has gone beyond the expected timeframe. Keep your confirmation number and transfer receipt until the recipient confirms that the money has arrived. If you believe there has been an error, report it to the provider as soon as possible.
For people sending money from the USA to family abroad, choosing a reliable money transfer service and understanding how the process works can make international transfers easier to manage.
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