BLIK is one of the most popular payment methods in Poland – fast, convenient, and widely accepted. But like any technology, it’s not entirely immune to technical errors. One of the most common and stressful issues for users is when a BLIK transaction is declined, yet the money disappears from the account. What happens in such cases? Are the funds lost? How does the refund mechanism work, and how long should you wait before taking action?
Why can a BLIK transaction be declined even though the money is withdrawn?
While BLIK payments happen in real time, the transaction goes through several stages: entering the BLIK code, confirming the transaction in the banking app, and final approval by the recipient’s system (such as an online store, terminal, or banking infrastructure). If an error occurs at any stage –due to a server timeout, system maintenance, or loss of connection – the process may not complete correctly.
The result? You get an error message, but your funds are either withdrawn or temporarily blocked. This is known as a “failed transaction with a hold” – where no funds were successfully transferred, but the payment was still registered by the system.
How does BLIK work? Step by step service
Common causes include:
- expired BLIK code (valid for 2 minutes),
- failure to confirm the payment,
- technical issues on the recipient’s side,
- disrupted communication between banks or payment operators.
What happens to your money after a failed transaction? Is it lost?
The good news: your money is not lost. When a BLIK transaction fails or is interrupted, banking and payment systems automatically trigger a refund process. In most cases, this happens without any user action – it’s entirely automated.
Technically, your bank is responsible for:
- identifying the failed transaction,
- marking it as incomplete,
- unblocking the funds or re-crediting them to your account.
In practice, this means your money should return to your account within a few minutes to a few business days (usually within 1-3 working days). The timeframe depends on your bank, system load, and whether the issue occurred solely on your side or also with the recipient’s service.
When should you file a complaint – and when should you just wait?
According to banks and payment providers, you don’t need to raise a complaint immediately after a failed BLIK transaction. Instead, follow these steps:
- Wait at least 24 hours – most refunds are processed automatically within this period.
- Check your account history – the transaction may appear as “pending” or “awaiting authorization.”
- If the money has not returned after 2-3 working days, contact your bank and file a formal complaint.
When filing, include the transaction amount, date, recipient, and – if available – a transaction reference number. Your bank is required to investigate and inform you of the status.
How do refunds work with payment providers like Fenige?
If the BLIK payment was processed through a third-party provider, such as a payment gateway or a service like BLIK-to-Card by Fenige, the refund process may occur outside your bank’s core system. As a licensed payment institution, Fenige complies with PSD2 regulations and offers:
- full transaction traceability,
- rapid error identification on the recipient’s side,
- automated refunds to the original sender.
How to change the BLIK limit in online banking?
In many cases, this setup allows the refund to be completed in minutes rather than days, especially in systems like Card-to-Card or peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers. This level of speed and transparency significantly improves the user experience, even in the event of a failed payment.
Conclusion
Although seeing money disappear without a successful payment can be alarming, Polish payment systems are strictly regulated, and refunds are handled systematically and securely. In most cases, all you need is a little patience – and to keep an eye on your bank account.
If you’re using third-party platforms, mobile apps, or services like Fenige, you’ll also benefit from increased transparency and real-time support in identifying and reversing unsuccessful payments. Because while any transaction may fail, the trust and speed with which it’s resolved is what defines a reliable payment experience.
