Quick answer
If your transfer shows successful but the receiver did not get money, save your receipt, ask the receiver to check their bank statement, collect the session ID or reference, report to your bank and request a trace or dispute investigation.
This guide is written for Nigerians who need a practical next step. It gives the direct answer first, then shows what to verify, what to prepare, what mistakes to avoid and which related Explainer.NG pages can help.
Why it happens
A transfer can show successful on the sender side while the receiver's bank has not credited value, is delayed, or later reverses the transaction.
Sometimes the receiver checks only SMS alerts. Ask them to check the account statement or app transaction history for the exact amount and time.
If the payment was for goods or services, avoid arguments and create a shared evidence trail both sides can verify.
This situation is common with interbank transfers because more than one institution may be involved. The sender's bank, receiver's bank and payment switch may each see part of the transaction trail.
- Sender debit
- Receiver no credit
- Delayed settlement
- Wrong narration
- Bank network issue
What both sides should do
The sender should save the debit receipt, session ID, reference and beneficiary details. The receiver should check statement entries and confirm whether any credit arrived later.
If the receiver is a merchant, they should not release goods only because of a sender screenshot unless their own account confirms value.
If another payment is made, write down that it is a second payment and agree how duplicate credit will be refunded.
Where the receiver is a school, landlord, vendor or travel agent, ask for a written note that the first payment has not been credited. That makes the later complaint easier to understand.
How to complain
Start with the sender's bank because that account was debited. Provide all details and ask for a dispute ticket.
If the receiving bank confirms no credit, add that evidence. If the bank says it was successful, request transaction trace details.
Escalate with the complaint ticket if the bank does not resolve or explain next steps.
Checklist
- Save receipt
- Get session ID
- Ask receiver for statement check
- Report to sender bank
- Collect ticket
- Avoid duplicate payment without agreement
People also ask
Is a successful receipt proof of credit?
It proves the sender initiated or completed a transaction, but receiver statement confirmation is stronger.
Who should complain?
The sender should start with the bank that debited them.
Can receiver's bank help?
The receiver may ask their bank to check whether credit arrived.
Should goods be released?
Merchants should confirm value in their own account first.
Can this reverse automatically?
Some failed or unsettled transfers reverse, but report and track it.