Looking for more information about sending and receiving payments on Venmo? Here are some frequently asked questions.
I didn’t receive a payment I’m expecting, or I sent a payment and the recipient didn’t get it
Each Venmo user involved in a payment can verify that the payment was successful if they received a notification and if the payment appears in their personal transactions feed.
The payment will be listed in red with a minus sign on the sender's account to show that the money was sent. It'll be listed in green on the recipient's account to show that the money arrived.
If the recipient did receive a notification about the payment:
- They may not realize the money isn’t sent directly to their bank account
- If they're expecting the money in their bank account, they need to transfer the money to their bank account
- They may need to verify the email address or phone number you used or add the email address to their Venmo account
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If the recipient is still having trouble, please have them contact us directly
- To protect their privacy, our Support team can only discuss their account with them
If the intended recipient did not receive a notification about the payment, continue reading this article for more information.
Can you cancel my payment?
The moment you send a payment on Venmo, we send a request to your bank/card company to debit the funds and make them available to the recipient. This means we cannot cancel a payment once it’s been initiated.
If you've paid a friend, the fastest way to get a refund is to have them send you a payment for the same amount. Keep in mind, our Support team won’t be able to reverse the payment for you unless:
- The money is still in the recipient's account
- Their account is in good standing
- They reach out to us directly with permission to reverse the payment
For more details about canceling a payment, please visit this article.
What should I do if I accidentally paid a stranger?
If you accidentally sent a payment to someone you don’t know, it’s best to contact us for help getting your payment back. You can also read more about what to do if you pay a stranger.
Why is my payment listed as “Incomplete”or “Pending”?
You sent a payment to an email address or phone number that isn’t associated with an active Venmo account or that isn’t verified.
You’ll need to have your friend verify their phone number or email address, or they can add the email address you used to their Venmo account by visiting this link: https://venmo.com/identity/verify_email_addresses.
You can also take back the payment. For more information, visit this article.
Can I change the bank account or card being used for my payment?
Not after a payment has been sent. However, you can edit your payment method any time before you send a payment. Simply tap on the bank or the card shown at the bottom of the payment screen to change it. This will update your payment method for this payment.
You can also head here to examine your Transaction History, including the details for the payment.
What’s the most money can I send using Venmo?
Learn more about payment limits on Venmo.
My friend paid me using the wrong email address
If your friend sent you a payment to an email address that’s different from the one you signed up with, you can add and verify that email address to receive the payment here: https://venmo.com/identity/verify_email_addresses.
This email address will be added in addition to the email address that you signed up with, meaning you’ll be able to receive payments sent directly to both email addresses. (Keep in mind that this additional email address can’t be used to log into your account)
Once you’ve verified the additional email address, the payment should reach your Venmo account successfully.
What do I do if I receive a payment or a request from a stranger?
Learn more about what to do if a stranger pays you.
Who has access to information about payments I make on Venmo?
Visit our article on “Payment Activity & Privacy” for more info.
Why do I see a duplicate charge on my bank account or card statement?
If you’re concerned about a billing error related to activity on Venmo, please contact us.
Where can I find details about my transaction history?
Visit this article to learn how to access your complete transaction history.
Can I set up automatic recurring payments or charge requests?
No, Venmo doesn't offer this option at this time.
Can I connect Venmo to my PayPal account to transfer money between the two?
No. Venmo is a service of PayPal, Inc., but we don’t offer the ability to transfer money between Venmo and PayPal accounts.
Can I send an anonymous payment to someone on Venmo?
No. There’s no way to pay someone anonymously on Venmo.
Can I use Venmo to pay myself or move money between two of my own payment methods?
No. Venmo is intended only for payments between separate individuals rather than moving money between your own payment methods. Additionally, you’re only allowed to maintain one personal Venmo account at a time.
Can I use Venmo to buy or sell merchandise, goods, or services?
Learn more about how to use Venmo for buying or selling goods and/or services.
I’m sending my friend a gift – can Venmo help me spruce it up a bit?
You can gift wrap your payment to your friend. When the recipient opens the gift, they’ll see a special animation of your choosing. Just tap the Gift icon 
when you‘re making the payment. We have a variety of options for different occasions, so be sure to pick the one that fits best.
Can I use Venmo for my non-profit/charity/club?
Venmo offers charity profiles for charitable organizations (and 501c3s) that have confirmed their charity status on PayPal. If you have a PayPal charity account, you can connect to Venmo from the PayPal App Center. Learn more about signing up for a Venmo charity profile.
If you’re representing an association or club rather than a non-profit, we invite you to learn more about business profiles on Venmo.