Facebook Pay is a convenient way to send and receive money through Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp. However, there are some common reasons why you may be having issues sending money using Facebook Pay.
You haven’t set up Facebook Pay
The most obvious reason Facebook Pay won’t let you send money is if you haven’t set it up yet. To use Facebook Pay, you need to first enable it in your Facebook, Messenger, Instagram or WhatsApp settings. Here are the steps to set up Facebook Pay:
- Open the Facebook, Messenger, Instagram or WhatsApp app on your device.
- Go to your Settings menu.
- Look for the “Facebook Pay” or “Payments” option in the menu.
- Toggle on Facebook Pay and follow any additional setup prompts.
- Add a payment method such as a debit card, credit card or PayPal account.
Once Facebook Pay is enabled and you’ve added a payment method, you should be able to start sending money.
Your payment method was declined
If you’ve already set up Facebook Pay but you’re still unable to send money, the issue may be with your linked payment method. When you try to send money via Facebook Pay, the payment method on file is authorized for the transaction amount. If the authorization fails or is declined, you won’t be able to complete the payment.
Here are some reasons your payment method may be declined when trying to send money on Facebook Pay:
- Insufficient funds in your bank account or PayPal balance
- Expired or invalid debit/credit card details
- Card has been reported lost or stolen
- Unusually large transaction amount flagged as suspicious
- Bank account or card is frozen
To resolve this, you’ll need to update your payment method information or add a new method that can be successfully authorized. You can edit payment methods within your Facebook Pay or Payment settings.
You’ve reached your sending limit
Facebook Pay applies limits on the amount of money you can send within a certain time period as a fraud prevention measure. The exact sending limits may vary, but here are some examples of common limits:
- $300 per transaction
- $750 per week
- $1500 per month
If you try to send an amount over your limit, the transaction will be declined. You’ll have to wait until the next time period before the sending limit resets.
Here are some things you can try if you’ve reached your sending limit:
- Lower the transaction amount to be under the limit
- Split payment across multiple smaller transactions
- Wait until your limit resets to send the full amount
Note that sending limits cannot be increased upon request – they are implemented for security reasons.
The recipient isn’t set up to receive payments
In order to receive money sent through Facebook Pay, the recipient also needs to have Facebook Pay set up with a connected payment method. If they haven’t enabled Facebook Pay, any money you attempt to send them cannot be completed.
To fix this, let the recipient know they need to set up Facebook Pay by following the steps below:
- Go to Payment Settings
- Enable Facebook Pay
- Add payment method such as debit card or PayPal account
Once they have successfully set up Facebook Pay and connected a payment method, you should both be able to send and receive money through Facebook apps.
Your account or payment method is suspended
In some cases, Facebook may temporarily suspend your ability to send or receive money through Facebook Pay due to suspected unauthorized transactions or policy violations. Some reasons your Facebook Pay could be suspended include:
- Suspicious third party payments
- Policy violations reported on your account
- Disputed or fraudulent payments
- Unusual account activity
If your account or payment method has been suspended, you’ll receive a notification from Facebook explaining the reason and length of the suspension. Depending on the severity, the suspension may last anywhere from 24 hours up to indefinite.
To get your Facebook Pay reinstated, you’ll need to resolve any flagged issues with your account and then follow the instructions in the notification message. This may involve updating your account information, providing ID verification, or filing disputes or appeals if you believe the suspension was a mistake.
You have restrictions based on your location
Facebook Pay is only available in certain countries and regions. If you are traveling or move to a country where Facebook Pay is not supported, you may lose the ability to send and receive payments.
Here are the locations currently supported by Facebook Pay:
| Countries | Regions |
|---|---|
| United States | Alaska |
| United Kingdom | Alabama |
| France | Arkansas |
| Italy | American Samoa |
| Spain | Arizona |
| Germany | California |
| Thailand | Colorado |
| Brazil | Connecticut |
If you move or travel to an unsupported area, you’ll be notified that payments have been temporarily disabled. To re-enable Facebook Pay, you’ll need to move back to a supported country or region.
Your account is blocked from making payments
In some cases, you may find your personal account has been blocked from sending or receiving any payments through Facebook Pay. This is different from your payment method being declined and usually results from violations of Facebook’s commerce policies.
Some examples of policy violations that could block payments include:
- Sending or receiving payments for prohibited goods or services
- Abusive behavior reported during a payment transaction
- Using Facebook Pay platforms for unauthorized business purposes
- Violating Facebook Terms of Service repeatedly
If your account has been blocked from making payments, you will receive a notification explaining this from Facebook. The block will remain in effect indefinitely until the policy issues have been resolved.
To get your payments unblocked, you will need to submit an appeal to Facebook and prove that you have addressed any policy violations on your account. This may require things like:
- Removing prohibited content or products
- Providing documentation on authorized business use
- Agreeing to follow Facebook Terms of Service
It can take time for Facebook to review appeals and reinstate payment abilities, so resolving any violations quickly is important.
Your payment transactions were flagged as unusual
If Facebook’s risk and fraud systems detect suspicious transaction patterns or other anomalies, your Facebook Pay features may be temporarily disabled while the activity is investigated.
Some examples of unusual payment activity that could trigger a block include:
- Sudden spike in sending/receiving large amounts
- Payments from regions that don’t match your location
- Receiving payments from accounts showing signs of compromise
- Sending payments to accounts unrelated to you
If flagged for unusual transactions, you will receive a notification from Facebook about your disabled payments. You may need to provide additional identity verification or explain the legitimate reasons for the payment activity.
To get your payments reinstated, be prepared to confirm details such as:
- Your name, address, photo ID
- Reasons for payments to/from other accounts
- Why you received payments from different locations
Providing truthful explanations supported by evidence where applicable can help get restrictions lifted. Having payments disabled is inconvenient, but the security measures help protect all users against fraud and abuse.
Your Facebook account is disabled
If your main Facebook account becomes disabled for any reason, you will automatically lose access to Facebook Pay as well. Since Facebook Pay is integrated directly with your Facebook apps and logins, having an active and in good standing Facebook account is required.
Some common reasons for your Facebook account being disabled include:
- Violating Facebook’s Terms of Service or Community Standards
- Suspicious or compromised account activity
- Impersonating another person
- Spreading misinformation or spam
If you believe your account was disabled by mistake, you can submit an appeal to Facebook for review. However, re-enabling your disabled Facebook account can take time and is not guaranteed.
Until your core Facebook account is restored, you will not have access to Facebook Pay or be able to send/receive payments through Facebook platforms.
Conclusion
Trouble sending money through Facebook Pay can be frustrating, but is often caused by resolvable issues like incorrect settings, restricted accounts, or reaching limits. The steps above can help diagnose and address common problems that may be preventing transactions.
Key takeaways include:
- Ensure Facebook Pay is fully set up with a valid payment method added
- Check for any account restrictions or suspensions that need to be appealed
- Review transaction history for unusual activity flags or violations
- Confirm the recipient has payment receiving enabled
- Stay within sending limits based on your location and timeframe
Following Facebook Pay policies, providing accurate account information, and maintaining your Facebook account in good standing can help maximize your sending abilities. But if issues persist, be sure to contact Facebook Pay support for further help.