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The short answer
A transfer from Canada to Nigeria can usually be cancelled only until it is paid out or credited to the receiver. Act at once: cancel in the app or contact the provider through its official channels. Western Union Canada says a cancelled transfer is usually refunded within 7 business days to the original payment method, and Ria's help centre says a transfer cannot be cancelled once it has been paid.
The rule that matters: before payout
Every provider we checked works on the same principle. Until the money is collected in cash or credited to the receiver's account, a cancellation is possible. Once it is paid, the provider no longer holds it, and getting it back depends on the receiver or the receiving bank. That is why speed matters: bank deposits to Nigeria can land quickly, and Western Union Canada says bank transfer times "can be anywhere from minutes up to one banking day".
Provider by provider
Western Union
Western Union Canada's tracking FAQ says a transfer can be cancelled by you or by Western Union. A cancelled transfer is "usually refunded within 7 business days", to the original form of payment, and you can replace it with a new transfer. Check the status first: if it already says Received, Paid or Delivered, it cannot simply be cancelled. Use the Contact us page on Western Union's Canadian site; the FAQ lists no phone number.
Ria
Ria's help centre (in articles written for its US service, which we could not confirm differ for Canada) says you can cancel through the app, online, through its assistant Aria or by calling Customer Care, but not once the money has been paid. For bank deposits, it checks with its partner before confirming. It does not say whether the fee is refunded; ask before you cancel.
Remitbee and Remitly
Remitbee's Nigeria page offers a "100% money-back guarantee" covering the send amount and fees "if your money does not reach the recipient", but does not describe a cancellation process. Remitly Canada promises to refund your fees if a transfer is not delivered on time. Neither page sets out a cancellation window, so contact support in the app straight away.
Steps to cancel
- Check the status in the app or on the tracking page. Note the reference or MTCN.
- Use the app's cancel option if it shows one.
- If not, contact the provider through its app or website. Say clearly that you want to cancel and why.
- If the receiver details were wrong, say so: the provider may be able to stop or amend a bank deposit that has not yet been credited.
- Ask for written confirmation of the cancellation and the expected refund date.
- Watch the original card, bank account or Interac source for the refund.
How refunds arrive
- Card-funded: back to the same card, usually shown as a credit or reversal.
- Bank or Interac-funded: back to the account the money came from, which can take a few business days.
- Cash at an agent: ask at the agent counter how the refund will be paid; keep the receipt.
- Currency: you get Canadian dollars back, and the provider may not refund any exchange movement in your favour.
Common reasons to cancel, and whether you need to
Not every problem needs a cancellation. Before you cancel, think about what you want to happen next.
- Wrong receiver name
- If payout has not happened, ask whether the provider can amend the name. A small spelling error on a cash pickup may still cause problems at the counter, so correcting it is better than hoping.
- Wrong account number
- Contact the provider at once. If the money has not been credited, a cancellation or amendment is the cleanest fix.
- Wrong amount
- If you sent too little, a second transfer is usually simpler than cancelling. If you sent too much, cancel only if it has not been paid.
- Better rate elsewhere
- Cancelling to catch a better rate can cost you the fee, and refunds take days. Weigh the difference first.
- You suspect a scam
- Cancel immediately and report it. Do not wait for the receiver's response.
If you need to send again after a cancellation, wait until the first refund is confirmed or the provider says the original transfer is fully stopped, so you do not pay twice.
Bank wires are different
A SWIFT wire from a Canadian bank cannot be cancelled in the app once it has left. Your bank can send a recall request, but it depends on the receiving bank agreeing to return the money, and banks often charge for a recall or trace. Ask your bank as soon as you spot the problem. Our guide to money sent to the wrong account covers what happens when it has already been credited.
If it has already been paid
If the receiver got the money and agrees to return it, they can send it back; our guide to a Nigerian receiver reversing a transfer explains the options. If you were tricked into sending, report it to the provider and to the police at once, and read reporting a Nigeria-linked scam in Canada.
Where Pryme fits
In Pryme, a payment shows the amount, rate and fee before you approve it, which gives you one last check on details. See how sending works.
Questions people ask
Can I cancel a Western Union transfer from Canada?
Yes, until it has been collected or credited. Western Union says cancelled transfers are usually refunded within 7 business days.
Can I cancel a Ria transfer after it is paid?
No. Ria's help centre says a transfer cannot be cancelled once it has been paid.
Do I get the fee back if I cancel?
It depends on the provider and the reason. Ask before you cancel; Remitbee's guarantee covers fees if money does not reach the recipient.
How do I stop a wire I sent to the wrong Nigerian account?
Contact your bank immediately and ask for a recall. Success depends on the receiving bank.
Sources
- Western Union Canada: Track your transfer (FAQ) · accessed Oct 2026
- Western Union Canada: Send money to Nigeria · accessed Oct 2026
- Ria Help Centre: cancelling, reviews and delays · accessed Oct 2026
- Remitbee: Send money to Nigeria · accessed Oct 2026
- Remitly Canada: Nigeria pricing · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.