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The short answer
LemFi's help centre (updated 21 October 2026) says you are not charged for a transfer that did not complete, and money that left your LemFi balance goes back to it, usually right away. For customers who signed up in Europe or Australia, refunds go to the original payment method: usually 3 to 5 business days for cards and 1 to 2 for bank payments.
A failed LemFi transfer feels worse than it usually is. The money has not gone to the wrong person; the payment simply did not complete, and LemFi's own help article sets out where the money returns and when. What trips people up is confusing a failed transfer with one that is delayed, or one that completed but has not yet shown in the recipient's account. Each has a different fix.
Where the refund goes
| Situation | Where the money goes | Usual timing LemFi states |
|---|---|---|
| Money left your LemFi balance | Back to your LemFi balance | Usually right away |
| Signed up in Europe or Australia, paid by card | Back to the original card | Usually 3 to 5 business days |
| Signed up in Europe or Australia, paid by bank | Back to the original bank account | Usually 1 to 2 business days |
LemFi's article also says plainly that you will not be charged for a transfer that did not complete. It does not say which group a UK sign-up falls into when it refers to Europe, so check the transaction in the app: if the amount is back in your pounds balance, that is your refund. If it is not, watch the card or bank account you paid from over the times above.
Failed, pending or delivered: tell them apart
- Failed
- The app shows the transfer did not complete. The refund rules above apply.
- In progress
- LemFi has a separate help article for transfers still "In Progress". Nothing has failed yet; wait for the outcome before asking for a refund.
- Successful but not received
- The money has left LemFi for the Nigerian bank. A refund is not the fix; a trace is.
For the third case, LemFi's help centre explains how to get a session ID for a transfer to a Nigerian bank: open Transactions, select the transfer, confirm it shows as successful, then ask support in the app for the session ID, with your transaction reference ready. Send that ID to your recipient so their bank can find the credit. The Nigerian side of that trace is covered in our Nigeria guide to recovering a transfer, and our UK page on using a NIP session ID in a dispute explains what the number proves.
When to contact LemFi support
LemFi's article says to contact support in the app if you are unsure why the transfer failed, or if the refund has not arrived within the timeframes it gives. Have the transaction reference number ready. Practical points:
- Screenshot the transfer screen showing "failed" and the date and time.
- Note how you paid: from your LemFi balance, by card or by bank.
- Wait out the stated time for that payment method before chasing; a refund already in motion cannot be sped up.
- Contact support in the app, quoting the reference, and keep the chat.
Before you try again
Find out why it failed before resending. A wrong account number, a name that does not match the Nigerian account, or a limit you hit can cause the same failure twice. If the cause was your limit, see raising your LemFi sending limit.
If you sent to the wrong details
This is different from a failed transfer. LemFi's article on cancelling says a completed transfer generally cannot be recalled; support can try to cancel only within minutes of authorisation, with no promise. Once money reaches the recipient's bank, a recall needs that bank's approval and the money still in the account, and a final outcome takes at least 8 weeks. Contact support at once if you spot a wrong account number.
Worked example
Example only. Bisi sends £150 from her LemFi pounds balance to her brother's account in Ibadan. The app shows the transfer as failed because the account name did not match. The £150 reappears in her LemFi balance within minutes, with no charge. She calls her brother, corrects one letter in the account name and sends again. Had she paid by card from a European sign-up, she would have waited up to 3 to 5 business days for the card refund before contacting support.
Where Pryme fits
With a Pryme account, pounds and naira sit in one place and Send pays Nigerian accounts; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. Each payment can produce a verifiable receipt with VerifyDoc.ai that a recipient's bank can check.
Questions people ask
How long does a LemFi refund take?
LemFi says money that left your LemFi balance usually goes back right away. For Europe or Australia sign-ups, refunds go to the original payment method: usually 3 to 5 business days for cards and 1 to 2 for bank payments.
Does LemFi charge for a failed transfer?
No. LemFi's help article says you won't be charged for a transfer that didn't complete.
My LemFi transfer says successful but my family has not received it. What now?
Ask LemFi support in the app for the session ID, with your transaction reference, and send it to your recipient so their Nigerian bank can trace the credit.
When should I contact LemFi support about a refund?
If you are unsure why the transfer failed, or the refund has not arrived within the times LemFi states. Use in-app support and have your transaction reference ready.
Sources
- LemFi Help: My transfer failed (updated 21 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- LemFi Help: How do I get a session ID for a transfer to Nigeria? (updated 21 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- LemFi Help: Can I cancel or recall a transfer? · 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.