MANILA, Philippines – A netizen, Reddit user Creative_Pair_1507, shared a somewhat surprising experience online after successfully retrieving ₱12,430 that was mistakenly sent to the wrong GCash number — all thanks to the swift response of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
According to the user, the money was originally intended for his wife’s GCash account, but a single wrong digit in the mobile number led to the funds being sent to a different account. The user only realized the mistake after his wife confirmed that no money had entered her account.
Upon checking the transaction history in his Netbank account, the sender discovered the error. He immediately contacted Netbank’s customer service, only to find out that their hotline was unavailable after 6 p.m. With no agents responding, he turned to GCash, but also struggled to reach any human support.
He made a ticket in the GCash app since they don’t have a customer service hotline. However, attempts to call the incorrect number led to another dead end.
“The number you have dialed is incorrect,” the automated voice said. This made the situation even more confusing, as the GCash account linked to the wrong number was still marked as “active.”
Frustrated, the netizen reached out to both Netbank and GCash via email, but kept getting redirected from one service to the other. Thinking it was a lost cause, he felt that he could no longer retrieve the money.
Nearly losing hope, the user stumbled across a post on social media that suggested filing a complaint with the BSP. Acting on this advice, he messaged BSP through Facebook Messenger.
To his surprise, BSP acted quickly. “The next day, GCash emailed me asking for details,” he said. After about five days of follow-up and processing, the full amount was returned to his account.
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| The confirmation message that the user received after retrieving the money. Photo credit: Reddit user Creative_Pair_1507 |
“This experience really taught me a lesson. I was too complacent,” he admitted. “As much as possible, use a QR code when transferring money.”
He ended his story with a heartfelt thank you to the central bank: “Mabuhay ka, BSP!”
What To Do If You Send Money to the Wrong GCash Number
If you ever send money to the wrong GCash number, here are the steps you can follow to possibly recover your funds:
1. Double-check the transaction
- Take a screenshot of your transaction history from your bank or GCash app.
- Confirm the incorrect number and amount.
2. Contact your bank or GCash immediately
- File a support ticket using the GCash Help Center within the app.
- If the funds were sent from a bank account, call or email your bank’s customer support.
3. Attempt to contact the recipient
- If the number is valid and working, reach out politely to request a refund.
- If the number is invalid or inactive, move on to the next step.
4. Document everything
- Keep copies of all tickets, email exchanges, and screenshots of your communication.
5. File a complaint with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
- Go to the BSP Online Buddy (BOB): https://www.bsp.gov.ph/SitePages/Default.aspx
- Or message the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas official Facebook page.
- Provide transaction details, screenshots, and a short explanation.
6. Wait for feedback
- BSP may forward your concern to GCash or the involved bank.
- Be patient—some cases may take a few days to resolve.
While success is not always guaranteed, this process gives you a better chance of recovering your money, especially if the account receiving the funds is inactive or unresponsive.
Tip: Always double-check recipient numbers or use a QR code to avoid future mistakes.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express