Wise Reviews

I have owned a WISE (formerly TransferWise) Business Account for several years. As reported by other users, there have been problems since September. Suddenly, the origin of my funds was classified as suspicious. I was asked to prove the source of the funds, which I did thoroughly despite my concerns. I also submitted my latest tax return. Instead of responding to this, I was repeatedly asked to submit new or the same documents, apparently by an automated system. Then my account was locked without any explanation, a situation that has now lasted for three weeks. In the meantime, I have been contacted by various "employees" like Jerry, Charlie, and Maria, always the same cryptic texts. It is worrying and disappointing that a supposedly regulated financial company like Wise does not disclose the identity of its employees and does not provide direct contact information such as email addresses or phone numbers to a customer. This raises serious questions about the company's seriousness and transparency.

About 10 days ago, I was asked to provide my bank account details for Wise to transfer my funds. After doing so, I received the same request again. To this day, no funds have been received. The support from Wise is a disaster. It seems almost impossible to speak with a real person or make contact. I also fear that the company might be in trouble, as many negative reports, which match my experiences, do not bode well.

I had been a loyal customer for a considerable duration until my account was unexpectedly locked. Despite promptly submitting all the required documents, my pleas were met with only automated, unhelpful emails. My account remained inaccessible, causing immense frustration.

In desperation, I demanded an immediate refund and took the matter to the ombudsman. After a prolonged struggle, I did eventually receive a refund and subsequently closed my account. This experience was disheartening and has left me with no desire to return. Today I know that I am not the only victim. Thousands of accounts have been blocked by Wise.

Overall we've liked Wise for moving money from our home in the US to Europe where we are currently staying. But phone numbers change when people move overseas. We've had multiple problems with 2-step verification. Wise often falls back to phone numbers we can't currently access. Wise does not allow 2-step verification by email which would greatly help travelers. The need to make that an option. They also made a last minute switch in our US bank details that will cause us a delay in receiving funds. They said it was not their fault but will not give details. All this adds up to painful delays and locked up money. I wish Wise well but they need to do much better it they want to gain serious trust.

I started an international transfer of 50,000.00 US dollars to my European bank account. For that money Wise was meant to deposit 47,519.45 into my European account by Wednesday the 11th of October. One of the things they mentioned was that it will take a bit longer than usual because of heavy traffic and delays on their part! The 50K were to be withdrawn directly from my bank which they did.

According to wise, they got the money, they returned it because of some misunderstanding with a previous transaction that I cancelled of the same amount so I went ahead and send them a wire transfer for the 50k. We corresponded for about 20 emails with the team in London and in NY. After all of that they DID NOT finish the transfer even though they HAD the 50k. They required me basically do a refund to my US account when I repeatedly told them to FINISH the transaction at the agreed rate. In the end the 50 are back in my US account, the exchange rate is lower, I have lost money due to this issue, making the wire transfer, interest not earned at the bank, etc. I would NOT recommend doing business with this company!!!!

I applied to open an account for a business that was a feature advertised on Wise at that time (Transferwise previously). When I submitted the company details I was contacted and told I violated T&C by trying to open a company account. I told them it was offered to me on the website. My account was closed. Wise refused to say which conditions were violated. Wise said I could appeal. The only way to appeal is logging into your account--which was closed. You have to be careful with Wise and keep alternate accounts because there is no recourse if they take your money and close your account. They don't have a local branch you can walk into and complain. They have complete control over your money with no obligation to do anything.

I will tell my story with Wise (unfortunately it will not be love story):

2of July 2022 - I started using Wise.

5th January 2023 - my account was blocked after I send all documents, that prove my source of funds (in my case it was my husband`s proofs of being Individual Entrepreneur and Tax Declaration, our certificate of marriage).

5th of January 2023 - I left an appeal, that was promised to be answered during 20 working days.

30 of March 2023 - no answer from Wise.

Wise blocked all my money (my and my family) - rather big amount and left us in bad situation as we are Ukrainians and had to leave our home.

Wise does not answer for almost 3 months now.

I warn everyone to be very careful about this "bank", they can be fraud as I am not sure if I have my money back as there is no answer for 3! months already.

I do not recommend Wise for sure!

I'm a very patient and understanding person, but after 37 days, 4 emails, 1 in-app message, and 3 phone calls resulting in 2 escalations, my measly $75 transfer was *still* pending...

...until I canceled it moments ago. After that experience, why should I ever use Wise again?

I submitted all of the information that Wise asked for: name, address, verified my phone number, social security number, passport, verified my selfie, everything. All three customer service reps told me everything looked fine and normal (two of those reps escalated my transaction).

Yet after 37 days and several hours of my time, my effort still wasn't enough for Wise to complete my tiny $75 transfer.

See attached screenshot as evidence.

Terrible company. Froze my account with my vacation money while I was traveling south east asia. Trapped me in a foreign country for two months and ticking resulting in me losing my job, not seeing my kids and not being able to pay my bills back home so my life is completely destroyed because of them and if I don't find a way to get home I'll probably die hungry in a tropical country. No help from their so called customer service. Without a shadow of a doubt my biggest mistake of my life was to trust wise when my life had to handle different currencies on a daily basis.

Someone setup an account without my knowledge. I was able to get in through the password reset option and change password. Way too easy! Tried to set 2 step. Didn't work. Closed account. Send request to block all accounts in my Email name.

Their security is poor. No account like this should use an Email for the account name.

they will not let me withdraw my own money!!!

SCAMMERS!!

I have used the service, and found it to be very clear and quick. It's also the cheapest way for me to transfer funds.

I set up my account, then paid them £20 to verify my source bank account. Took a couple of minutes. Sent passport scan & selfie. Another few minutes, and verified. Given my account details for deposits.

Sent another £20 just to verify I had details correct. Instant receipt. Sent the rest of the £5,000. Again, instant.

Transfered to euros. Instant! Great fee about 0.4%.

Transfered to my European bank. Took a day, but that's perfectly usual with my bank there.

I don't know what the issues are with people getting locked out of their accounts. It doesn't seem likely to me. Perhaps dodgy transactions? Also, I see a lot appear to be due to being scammed. Perhaps scammers are making fake login pages or emails?

Anyway, I'm happy enough. I'll be buying a debit card for £7. It uses the currency account that you pay in, meaning no transaction fees at all for any currency you hold.

I got scammed using Wise.com. Several red flags but no one stepped in from Wise to help stop this fraud. When I got notice from my bank re a transfer, I immediately called Wise but phone calls to their customer service said they're busy so send them an email. Email took time to process so lost the time to take action to stop the transfer. Horrible fraud prevention and customer service. Their customer service is non-existent.

Don't ever use it.

If you can use some other service. This is definitely not a serious company.

I ordered a driver's seat switch car part on eBay. I called 1844-283-3496 to check the status of the part. I was given this number when I googled the customer service phone number for eBay. I called it and gave the guy the part number he put me on hold and came back to the phone and says my order was canceled and that it had gone to the wrong address. I'm in texas he said it went to Ohio.

So then he tells he was going to put the money back and gives me the last 4 digits of my card but then he transfers me to another guy to confirm my order and card number , so this man gets on the phone and says to confirm your card info I need your card number so I gave it to him.

Then I get this message across my saying 912.00 was just declined on my card .I asked did you just try to run $912.00 on my card you were suppose to be putting money back on my card. he said don't worry about that give me your card number again . I said no. Then he started calling me a stupid and other expletives. I hung up. Later that day I tried to use my card and it was declined so I contact the bank and they told me It was declined due to suspicious activity a charge of the amount of 912 00 was trying to be charged. They caught it and didn't pay for it . i received an emailChase debit or ATM card

Card ending in: ****

Cary Hullender:

Did you or someone you authorized use your Chase debit or ATM card for:

Declined Transaction

Wise US Inc $912.33 11/19

yes,I recognize it

- Your card remains active.

- If a purchase was declined, you will not be charged unless you try again.

No, Something's Wrong

- We will close your current card and send you a new one.

- If you need to speak with us, please call the number on the back of your card.

We need the fastest way

What a scam!! I transferred money to multiple accounts due to strong usd and planning to use them to travel and they suddenly deactivated my account!! I probably have about $20k - $30k in yen, gbp, euro

I have been using the service for 3 years successfully and with real sense that it is cheap, efficient and safe.

Currently, my normally used accounts are no longer available and the support says I have to re-enter the data and await a new certification. That seemed unusual to me as it is that same account I have used for years, accessed by the same computer with the same verification phone.

It is now 5 days and I cannot do any transactions yet as they have not sent the small deposits I must again identify.

I suspect that they were hacked and are compromised and will stop using them until I have some sense of normalcy.

It is too risky with all the access codes they have. I've changed access codes to the accounts I had allowed them to debit from.

I have just experienced the same SCAM as many others have reported on here and other sites. I.E. I opened an account, I sent $1,500 CDN to Wise Payments Ltd by Interac e-transfer (so as to convert into other currency to make an international purchase), my bank confirmed the funds were SUCCESSFULLY deposited to WISE, then Wise sent me a clearly suspicious email saying the transfer would be delayed while they did some 'checks' (DESPITE THAT MY BANK ALREADY CONFIRMED THE FUNDS WERE DEPOSITED), THEN the next morning MY ACCOUNT WAS DEACTIVATED.

I have No Access to my account and thus NO ACCESS TO MY MONEY. The only recourse they suggest on their website is to send in an APPEAL - I did this 24 days ago and have heard NOTHING. I was hopeful that by sending several emails I would hear something but nothing. The customer service people I've spoken to are all new young employees (no one has worked more than a few months and they claim to have no access to my account!).

I have contacted FINTRAC - Canada's financial intelligence unit - of which Wise claims to be a member (reg #M15193392). If this is not resolved by WISE, they will be investigated by FINTRAC. I will be contacting the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center and the RCMP. It appears that they commit these scams intermittently so as to appear legitimate and try to garner positive reviews and to hide the fact that they are stealing and/or embezzling many customers money.

PS The billionaire CEO Kristo Kaarman is being investigated by the UK's tax regulator the FCA for 'deliberately" defaulting on the payment of 720,00 pounds in taxes.

Wise.com's Mishandling of my US$2,000 Transfer from Paypal. I would like to report Wise.com's weird payment behavior to you as follows: I have been Wise.com's client since April this year. Wise.com, formerly Transferwise.com is a payment service registered in the UK and I have conducted some investigations before becoming its client.

On May 20 I have withdrawn US$1965 (after deducting US$35 of transaction fee) from Paypal to deposit it to my USD account of Evolve Bank & Trust opened through and trusted at Wise.com. However, a week was gone, my money has still not shown on my Evolve Bank & Trust account at Wise.com. Therefore I have contacted all parties involved in the transaction, incl. Paypal - the Payer, the Evolve Bank & Trust, the bank where my account is actually opened and Wise.com, the payment solution provider that has provided me that account during my registration.

Paypal replied on May 29 that they have made the payment successfully and considered the case as settled. To Evolve Bank & Trust I have submitted my question via their online form and they replied on June 1 & 2.Basically they said that they are a partner bank of Wise.com but they do not have access to my account, albeit under their bank name. As such they suggested me to contact Paypal and Wise.com to find out the reasons, which I have done already, but with no results.

As far as Wise.com is concerned I have talked to its Help Center people a couple of times since May 25 via their Help Center, in chat, per site document uploading or through online email submittals. While chatting on May 25 & 26, I was informed that no incoming funds transfer were detected in my account, my emails and document submittals got no feedback of whatsoever, till this moment when I am writing this email.

Therefore I have conducted some researches of other ways of finding a solution, and finally I found their customer complaints email address at [email protected] and wrote an email to them on June 1.This mail did get replied a couple of hours later, see the email exchange between me and Wise.com's [email protected].

What they said is basically that the transfer of my money from Paypal was completed and the money is at their hand, but they have never informed me of anything since the money has reached them. They said they need some extra checks, but the mechanism of the so called "extra checks" was never implemented, even since [email protected] has promised to enable the mechanism on June 1/2 as stated in their mail. And since then, I have repeatedly ask them to move ahead with their so called checks, however, all my requests were simply ignored and hence I have never heard from them since June 2. I can find no way to trigger the extra check mechanism as they told me.

I don't know what they are doing or want to do against my money, which I earned back 5 years ago with my translation services for a US company called Morningstar. And now my US$ 1965 from Paypal is still at Wise.com's disposal, and my account does not show any evidence of the transfer as indicated by the account statement on June 6.I have no way to get an answer from them, as all my emails get no answers, and their Help Center seems not operational as well.

Apart from the email entry, the chat and telephone functions are all greyed out, there is no way to contact them physically. But emails won't get answered at all. Therefore I have now no way to get any replies from Wise.com. They simply seem to have disappeared from the world.Then what they want to do with my US$1965? Do they want to retain my money forever as their own? Can anyone else do such thing as Wise.com is doing against people like me? My money was legally earned through my expertise service.

I am a linguist cum IT engineer with IC design and web/mobile development as my key expertise right now. I have discontinued with my language services a couple of years ago for various reasons, although I am proficient in English, German and French since the early 1980's. I am not a rich person, just on contrast, I am very poor, because I am not earning money through illegal ways. Therefore US$ 2000 is a big money to me. If someone steals that amount of money from me, that equals the killing of mine. I don't think anyone in the world can keep my money without my agreement for any reason.

I consider this act of Wise.com a crime, and therefore I want to seek justice with relevant financial and government authorities in the countries involved with this case. I hope God and justice will finally prevail and evil=doer like Wise.com will get severely punished. How severe they shall be punished, we shall work out a scheme together.

Greetings.

I am going to tell you my story of a person who was cheated by Wise. I am a refugee and needed to reinvest some money because of the conflict in Ukraine.

I topped up my wise account, and when I tried to send the money, they first froze the transaction for a couple of weeks. I could not get any answer from the support team but "Wait. We are working". Then they closed my account.

I tried to request my money back, but they ignore every letter I send them, leaving me alone without money.

Don't use wise.com service . thier customer service is non responsive , and unprofessional.

after doing 100+ transaction in the last 3 months they start to pause transaction and hold your money for up to 26 days, for no apparent reason .. they even held funds for humanitarian aid to Ukraine citizens .. !! thanks paypal and western union to resolved the issue ..