Is it safe to pay for a product or service by bank transfer?

You're safer paying by card. That’s because it’ll be easier for us to dispute the payment if something goes wrong. We recommend paying by card if you can, especially if it’s for something that hasn’t been delivered or finished yet.

If you pay by bank transfer (Faster Payment) and something goes wrong, you might need to get legal help to get your money back. You can get help from Citizens Advice.

If someone is pressuring you to pay via bank transfer rather than your card then this could be a purchase scam.

Remember – if you’re not sure that you’re paying a legitimate company, or for a legitimate product or service, we recommend you don’t do it. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.