How To Reverse Money on Mpesa.

Mpesa transactions are convenient for sending and receiving money in Kenya. However, you may sometimes accidentally send money to a wrong number. Thankfully, Mpesa has an option to reverse the transaction to get your money back. Here is a guide on how to reverse Mpesa transactions, including the added Zuri option.

Note that Mpesa reversals are not guaranteed. The success rate is dependent on several factors including: 

1. Type of Transaction: It is generally easier to reverse person-to-person transactions. You might need to call Safaricom’s customer care for help with the reversal if you made the payment to pay bills or till numbers. 

2. Time Elapsed since Transaction: The earlier you begin the process of reversing, the better the likelihood of success. 

There are currently five ways through which a reversal is effected on Mpesa.

1. Using SMS

This is the most popular method through which money sent to a wrong number is reversed. What you need to do is: 

Forward the Mpesa confirmation message: The easiest way is just to forward the confirmation SMS you got after sending the money to the number 456, as that contains all the transaction details that are needed for reversal.

Response from Mpesa: You will get a response from “Reversal” that it has been initiated and you will be updated in 2 hours.

2. Using the Mpesa App

If you are comfortable with the app, then follow these steps:

1. Open the Mpesa App: Log into your Mpesa app and go to the “Transactions” section.
2. Locate the Transaction: Find the transaction you want to reverse.
3. Look for Reversal Option: There should be a “Reverse Transaction” icon or option available. Tap on it.
4. Provide Reason for Reversal: Briefly explain why you want to reverse the transaction, for example, wrong number, wrong amount.
5. Submit Request: Confirm the reversal request. You will get a notification similar to that of the SMS method.

3. Using the mySafaricom App

Like in the Mpesa App, you can start a reversal in the mySafaricom App if the transaction was made through that channel.

4. Chat with Zuri

This is relatively new and easy! You can have a reversal by chatting with Zuri, Safaricom’s chatbot, on WhatsApp. Here’s how it is done:

Save Zuri’s number: 0722000100

Start a conversation: Open WhatsApp and start a chat with Zuri by typing “Hello”.

Follow the on-screen prompts: Zuri will guide you through the process. You will be required to confirm your phone number, Mpesa PIN, and details of the transaction.

5. Reaching Safaricom Customer Care 

In case the above methods don’t work, or for transactions involving pay bills or till numbers, you can always contact Safaricom’s customer care for assistance.

Major tips to successfully reverse Mpesa transactions

The sooner you start the reversal process, the higher the chances of getting your money back. If you need to contact customer care, make sure you have the recipient’s number, transaction code, and amount sent. Also, processing a reversal may take up to 72 hours.

Conclusion

Consider the Hakikisha service before sending any Mpesa transaction. This free service helps to confirm the recipient’s name and/or number before completion of a transaction, significantly reducing chances of sending money to the wrong person.