Zelle is one of the most popular digital payment apps in the US that enables users to send and receive money from their bank accounts. It launched in 2017 and is backed by a consortium of banks including the Bank of America, BB&T, Capital One, JPMorgan Chat, PNC Bank, Wells Fargo and the US Bank. Safe to say, this is a safe and legitimate app that you can use to transfer funds and make your life a little easier.
However, as is the case with any popular service, Zelle is also very prone to scams. In this article, we’re talking about how long can Zelle refunds take, when can you apply for them and everything you need to know.
Also read: How to fix Zelle error a101?
Can you cancel a Zelle transaction?
A Zelle transaction can only be cancelled if the receiver hasn’t yet enrolled in Zelle. However, if the receiver has been enrolled, the transaction will go through and you won’t be able to cancel.
Apps like Zelle treat transactions between users as cash and since they happen within minutes, the money is instantly sent to the recipient’s bank account, meaning there’s nothing Zelle can do to reverse the transaction.Â
If you believe you’ve been scammed and were affected by a fraudulent transaction, your best bet is to reach out to BCU immediately to have them submit a dispute on your behalf. However, this only works if you’re a member of BCU’s credit union.
While BCU can attempt to get the funds back, it cannot guarantee their return. As mentioned before, as soon as the funds leave your account, they’re treated like cash and are unlikely to be returned. Also, keep in mind that BCU can only dispute transactions within 120 days of the original transaction’s date and they only do so for their members.Â
Zelle itself recommends asking the recipient for the money back first. Or if they haven’t enrolled to Zelle yet, cancelling the transaction by following these steps:
- Head over to the activity page either within your mobile banking or the Zelle app and tap the transaction you want to cancel.
- Tap Cancel This Payment.
How long will the refund take?
Provided Zelle or BCU can actually get your money back, the refund should only take a few minutes.
Keep in mind that the issue here isn’t the fact that the refund will take longer, but the fact that you can actually dispute the claim and be able to get the money back.
Also read: Zelle not working with Chime: Quick Fix
