A legal and practical guide under Philippine law

Sending money to the wrong Maya account (wrong mobile number, wrong Maya Wallet, or wrong Maya Bank details) is usually treated in Philippine law as an “undue payment”—a payment made by mistake to someone who had no right to receive it. The law generally favors restitution (return of what was mistakenly received), but recovery often depends on (1) how the transfer was made, and (2) whether the unintended recipient cooperates.

1) First, identify what kind of “wrong Maya transfer” happened

Your remedies and the likelihood of reversal depend heavily on the channel:

A. Maya Wallet-to-Wallet “Send Money” (mobile number / QR / username)

Typically near-instant and often treated as final once posted.
Reversal usually requires the recipient’s consent or a legal basis for the provider to restrict/return funds.

B. Transfer to Maya Bank account (via InstaPay / PESONet / bank transfer)

Also commonly final once credited.
The process resembles mistaken bank deposits: you typically need the recipient’s cooperation, bank-to-bank coordination, or legal action.

C. Transfer to an unregistered number

Some e-wallet systems treat this as “claimable” for a period and may auto-reverse if unclaimed, but the exact behavior depends on the product flow used. If the transfer is already “completed/credited,” assume it will not auto-reverse.

2) The main legal basis: “Solutio indebiti” (undue payment)

Under the Civil Code on quasi-contracts, if a person receives something that they have no right to demand, and it was delivered through mistake, an obligation to return arises. This doctrine is commonly referred to as solutio indebiti.

What you must generally prove

To recover, you typically need to show:

A payment or transfer was made (the Maya transaction);
There was no obligation to pay that person (they were not the intended payee); and
The payment happened because of mistake (wrong number, wrong account, wrong QR, mis-typed details).

What the unintended recipient is legally obligated to do

Once it’s clear the money was not meant for them, Philippine law expects the recipient to return it because keeping it results in unjust enrichment—benefiting at another’s expense without legal ground.

3) Good faith vs. bad faith: why it matters

Philippine civil law distinguishes between a recipient who received the money in good faith and one who keeps it in bad faith.

A. Recipient in good faith

Examples:

They genuinely believed the money was theirs (e.g., expecting funds, similar amount, no notice). Typical legal consequence:
They must return the amount.
Interest/damages exposure is usually more limited and often becomes relevant after demand to return.

B. Recipient in bad faith

Examples:

They are informed of the mistake and still refuse to return;
They attempt to hide, withdraw quickly after notice, or block contact;
They mock/threaten or demand a “fee” for return. Typical legal consequence:
Higher risk of interest and damages for wrongful retention after notice.

4) Can Maya reverse the transaction for you?

A. Practical limits

Even when the law says the recipient should return the money, a provider may be constrained because:

The funds are credited to another user’s account, and the provider has duties to protect account integrity;
Reversing without basis may be challenged as unauthorized debit.

B. What Maya can often do (in principle)

Depending on the situation and internal policy, a financial service provider may be able to:

Open a dispute/ticket and document the mistake;
Attempt to contact the recipient and request return;
Temporarily restrict transactions if there are fraud indicators or legal process, or if policy allows risk controls;
Provide documentation to support legal remedies.

C. What Maya generally cannot freely do

Disclose the recipient’s personal information to you beyond what is necessary (due to Data Privacy Act considerations);
Automatically take funds out of someone else’s wallet/bank account solely on your statement, absent consent or a solid legal/contractual basis.

5) Immediate action plan (time matters)

Step 1: Secure proof

Collect and store:

Transaction reference number
Date/time and amount
Recipient identifier shown (mobile number / account)
Screenshots of the confirmation page and transaction history
Any chat logs showing your intended recipient (if applicable)

Step 2: Contact Maya support immediately

Report as “sent to wrong account” and provide:

Reference number, amount, date/time
Your account details
Correct intended recipient (if relevant)
Explanation of the mistake
Request that Maya reach out to the recipient and document your claim

Step 3: If you can message/call the number, do it carefully

If the destination is a mobile number:

Send a polite notice: you transferred by mistake, include reference number and amount, and ask for return.
Avoid threats or harassment; focus on documentation and cooperation.
If the recipient asks for verification, share only what’s necessary (never share OTPs, passwords, or login links).

Step 4: Send a formal demand

If the recipient is identifiable and unresponsive/refusing, issue an extrajudicial demand:

State the mistaken payment, details, and legal basis (undue payment / unjust enrichment)
Set a reasonable deadline to return
Provide a safe channel for return (your Maya number/account)
Keep proof of sending (registered mail/courier/email with delivery confirmation, screenshots)

Demand matters because it helps establish bad faith and can support interest/damages arguments.

6) Legal remedies if the recipient refuses to return the money

A. Barangay conciliation (Katarungang Pambarangay)

If you and the recipient are within the scope of barangay jurisdiction (often, parties residing in the same city/municipality, subject to exceptions), disputes typically go first to barangay mediation before court.

This can be surprisingly effective because it creates pressure to settle and produces documentation.

B. Civil case for recovery (collection of sum of money / quasi-contract)

If informal resolution fails, the core civil action is essentially:

Return of the amount (restitution under solutio indebiti / unjust enrichment)
Plus possible legal interest (often argued from the time of demand)
Plus damages if bad faith is provable

For smaller amounts, Small Claims procedures may be available (subject to current jurisdictional thresholds and requirements). Small claims is designed for faster resolution and generally minimizes technicalities.

C. Evidence you’ll need in civil proceedings

Transaction proof (screenshots + reference number)
Proof of mistake (how the wrong account was entered / intended recipient info)
Proof of notice/demand to the recipient
Any admission by the recipient (messages acknowledging receipt)
Support ticket records with Maya (timestamps, responses)

7) Is refusing to return mistakenly sent money a crime?

This is nuanced.

A. The “default” route is civil, not criminal

A mistaken transfer is usually treated as a civil obligation to return (quasi-contract). Many situations do not cleanly fit common theft/estafa templates because:

The sender voluntarily sent the funds (even if by mistake);
There may be no initial deceit by the recipient.

B. When criminal exposure becomes more realistic

Criminal liability becomes more plausible when facts show independent criminal conduct, such as:

Fraudulent inducement (someone tricked you into sending to their Maya account);
Identity deception or impersonation to get you to transfer;
Coordinated scams using Maya as a receiving channel.

If the scenario is purely “I typed the wrong number,” criminal pathways are harder and the strongest claim remains civil restitution.

8) Data Privacy Act realities: why you may not get the recipient’s identity

Even if you are the victim of a mistake, the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (R.A. 10173) affects what Maya can disclose. Providers generally must:

Limit disclosure of personal data to lawful bases;
Share only what is necessary and proportionate.

In practice, Maya may:

Confirm the transfer status and open a case;
Coordinate outreach to the recipient;
Provide records for legal processes; but often will not simply reveal the recipient’s full identity to you without a proper basis.

9) Special scenarios and how they change the analysis

A. You sent to a wrong but existing Maya user

Best path: recipient cooperation + provider facilitation.
Legal path: demand + barangay + civil case if refusal persists.

B. You sent to a non-user/unregistered number

The money may be “claimable” depending on the transfer flow.
If it becomes credited to a wallet once claimed, recovery becomes like scenario A.

C. You sent to the right person but wrong amount

Still a form of undue payment for the excess (you can seek return of the overpaid portion).

D. The transfer was unauthorized (hacked account / SIM swap / stolen phone)

That is different from a mistake:

Immediately secure your Maya account (change passwords, secure email, SIM, device).
Report as unauthorized/fraud.
You may have additional remedies under consumer protection and cybercrime-related frameworks, depending on facts.

10) Interest and damages: what you can realistically claim

Philippine courts often award legal interest in monetary obligations under prevailing rules and jurisprudence, especially where there is clear demand and unjust retention. In mistaken payment cases:

The principal remedy is return of the amount.
Interest is commonly argued from extrajudicial demand or filing date, depending on circumstances.
Moral/exemplary damages are possible but usually require strong proof of bad faith, abuse, or oppressive conduct.

11) Prevention (because recovery can be slow)

Double-check the last 4 digits and full mobile number before sending.
Prefer QR codes that clearly show the recipient name/identifier, but still verify.
Send a ₱1 test transfer for first-time recipients (when feasible).
Save verified beneficiaries in-app (if the feature exists).
Avoid sending when rushed; errors rise under time pressure.

12) Summary of what Philippine law “says” in plain terms

If you sent money to the wrong Maya account by mistake, Philippine law generally treats it as undue payment.
The unintended recipient has a legal obligation to return what they had no right to receive.
Maya may help facilitate recovery but is often limited in reversing and disclosing identity.
The strongest enforcement route is typically: support ticket → polite notice → formal demand → barangay mediation → civil recovery (often small claims where applicable).