Facebook has revealed it is launching peer-to-peer (P2P) payments for Messenger in the UK – here’s how to use the new feature.
P2P payments first appeared in Messenger back in the US in 2015. Now, they’re set to roll out in the UK “over the coming weeks,” the company has said in a press release. It will be free to send and receive money over Messenger, with payments taking one to three business days to clear, depending on the bank(s) involved.
Facebook appears keen to highlight the security credentials of its P2P payment system, noting that debit card details will be encrypted and protected with bank level security. In addition, the company says all transactions will be monitored by a “world-class” anti-fraud unit.
As a final touch, Facebook will be integrating P2p Messenger payments with its ‘M’ digital assistant, so if you say, “You owe me a fiver from Friday,” the virtual helper will pop up and encourage you to complete the transaction.
Sending and receiving dosh with Messenger sounds like a dawdle, according to Facebook’s instructions.
To send money, all you need to do is:
- Start a message with a friend
- Tap the blue + icon and then tap the green Payments icon
- Set up your payment account (only the first time) and then enter the amount you want to send
- Tap Pay and then add your debit card
- Watch the amount of money you sent rain down on the screen
And to receive cash, simply:
- Open the conversation from your friend
- Tap Add Card in the message, add your debit card and setup your payment account to accept money for the first time
- The money sent is transferred right away
If you can’t access this new feature right away, fear not. As Facebook says, it will be rolled in the UK over time, and some users might not see it appear for a few weeks. But so long as you keep your Messenger app updated, it’ll appear sooner rather than later.
Are you excited by being able to make payments via Facebook Messenger? Tweet your thoughts to us @TrustedReviews.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
