How to send a Bizum without a phone number: real options and limitations

If you use Bizum daily, you've probably wondered more than once if it's possible send money without knowing the phone number from the other person. At dinners with friends, secondhand shopping, or paying at a flea market, this question arises constantly: is there any way to send a Bizum without having the recipient's phone number or without that person knowing mine?

The reality is that the system is designed precisely to work with the mobile number as the main identifier, but there are nuances surrounding this idea, albeit small ones. Tricks y Alternatives for paying or receiving payments without sharing the phoneas well as delicate situations: what happens if you send a Bizum to the wrong number, how the law acts if the recipient does not return the money, or what options businesses have to use Bizum without exposing personal data.

Is it possible to send a Bizum payment without knowing the phone number?

The first thing to make clear is that It is not possible to send a Bizum payment to someone without knowing their mobile number.The service works by linking each phone to a bank account, and the bank's app will always ask you to enter or select a number as the payment recipient.

You can choose that recipient. from the contact list or by writing the number by handBut in all cases, you need a specific phone number. If you don't know the person's number, or don't have it saved on your phone, the transaction simply cannot be completed.

This means that, even if you are very clear about who you want to pay, Without a phone, Bizum payments are not possible.There is no public search function by name or alias, nor is there an "send to email" option like in other payment systems.

However, there's a slight twist: if the other person initiates the transaction, You can complete a Bizum payment without knowing their number. Because she'll be the one to put it on the line. Let's see.

The “trick” of the money request: paying without knowing the number

A practical way to pay with Bizum without having to ask for the other person's phone number is that the recipient should be the one to request moneyIn this way, you only accept that request and the system uses the data it already has associated, without showing you the other user's number.

The usual process for the person who is going to get paid is very simple: Open your bank's app and go to the Bizum section.Select the "Request money" option, enter your mobile number, the amount you want to receive, and confirm the request.

Once you complete these steps, you will receive a notification or message from the bank indicating that You have a pending payment request through BizumFrom your own app you can see who is sending it to you (usually name and first letters of the surname), the amount and accept or reject the transaction.

By accepting, the money leaves your account and is credited to the applicant's account instantly, and at no point have you had to Do not write down or save their phone numberIt's the most convenient way if the other person prefers not to give out their mobile number or wants to keep it private.

However, for this option to work, it is essential that you provide your number to that person firstBecause they'll need it to submit the request. In other words, you can pay without ever knowing their number, but they will need yours.

When someone doesn't want to share their phone number

There are situations in which a person prefers not to reveal their phone number, either because you barely know each other, because it's a one-off transaction, or because He doesn't want to mix his personal life with collections or sales.In these cases, the possibilities are limited.

If, in addition to not wanting to share their number, that person also refuses to initiate a money request via Bizum, There is no other way to complete the payment with this system.Bizum does not offer anonymous or alternative methods for sending money without an associated number.

In that scenario, you will only be able to resort to other payment methods: cash, traditional bank transfers, or instant transfers If you know the other person's IBAN, some people are more comfortable sharing their bank account number than their mobile number, so this can be an acceptable option for both parties.

If the relationship is close but you've lost touch, you can always try locate their number through social media or by asking friends or familyUltimately, if someone truly wants to receive your money, they will have to provide you with some information to make it possible.

However, if the other party refuses to provide a phone number, bank account details, or to use any traceable means of payment, There's little you can do beyond giving up.There is no way to send them money with Bizum without them at least providing you with a number or generating a request from their bank.

Bizum between individuals vs. payments for businesses

Bizum was created and is primarily intended for payments between individuals: friends, family, roommates…That's why the phone number is the central element of the system. But in practice, we're seeing more and more stalls at markets, small shops, and freelancers using Bizum to collect payments for their services.

Imagine a vendor at a flea market who tells you they only accept Bizum. To pay them, you'll usually have to provide you with their personal mobile number, linked to their bank accountWhen you confirm the shipment, you will see their name (and sometimes the initials of their last name) on your screen so you can verify that you are sending the money to the correct person.

The platform itself explains that, although it is common to see it in small shops or street stalls, The standard service is designed on a one-to-one basis.When it comes to businesses, shops or the self-employed, Bizum recommends that they contact their bank to get specific business solutions.

Banks usually have Bizum services geared towards online commerceVirtual POS terminals, payment buttons on websites, or integration into gateways for digital stores For online stores. In these cases, the customer is usually assigned a four-digit PIN code that acts as an identifier for online purchases, similar to a "Bizum ID" for online payments.

For in-store payments, the situation is different: except for specific agreements between large chains and financial institutions, There is usually no standard Bizum system for in-person commerceThat's why many small businesses use their personal number, with the privacy risks that this entails.

Privacy and risks of sharing your mobile number when paying

Sharing your phone number with strangers, even for something as innocuous as a one-off sale, is not a trivial matter. With your mobile number and your name, A scammer might try to impersonate your bank or a service provider. and launch phishing attacks by phone call or text message.

That's why it's important that, as a user, you understand what data is actually displayed in a Bizum payment. When someone sends you money, It does not receive your phone number at any time through the operation itself.The only thing they will see is your name and, in some cases, the initials of your last name as the bank has them registered.

The system is configured so that, even if you send or receive Bizums with people you don't know, They can't get your phone simply by checking the movement data.That information does not appear in the app or on the receipt that is generated.

The only way someone could associate a Bizum name with a specific number is that You already have that contact saved in your address book.If the name you see in the transaction matches the one you have on your phone, it could identify you, but it didn't recover the number through the platform, but rather through its own contacts.

You should keep this in mind when someone tells you they need your phone number "just to send you a Bizum": That person could then save that number and use it for other purposes.From messaging you to trying to scam you in the future, giving out your phone number always involves a certain degree of exposure.

Is it possible to find out the phone number of someone who has sent you a Bizum payment?

A very common question is whether it's possible to find out the mobile phone number of someone who has sent us money via Bizum. The answer is clear: There's no way to see the sender's phone number in the bank's app.The system does not display that data either on the movement screen or in the operation details.

Normally, when you receive a Bizum payment, you'll see the person's name and, at most, the initials of their last name. This information is intended to... Identify the sender in general terms, but without revealing their full contact information.You won't find the number anywhere on the receipt.

The only scenario in which you could associate that name with a specific phone number is that You already have someone with that same name in your contactsThen you can go to your contacts and check if it matches, but you're not recovering the phone from Bizum, you're just using your own previous information.

Furthermore, the name that appears when receiving a payment does not depend on how you have the contact saved in your phone, but on how it is registered with the bank. It may be displayed in a different way than you use it. (with a middle name, without surnames, with initials…), which further complicates any attempt at deduction.

In summary, you can rest reasonably assured: The person who receives your Bizum will not get your number for that simple reason.It's another matter if you've already provided it through another channel so they could pay you.

How to send a Bizum payment to someone who is not registered

Another common scenario is sending money to someone who isn't yet registered with Bizum. It can happen that dial the number of a contact who does not use the service or that is in your address book but has never been registered on the platform.

In these cases, when you confirm the sending, the system doesn't execute the transfer immediately. Instead, Bizum sends a SMS to the recipient informing them that they have money pending to receive, along with instructions on how to register and receive payment.

That text message indicates the amount that has been sent and invites the person to register for the service through their bank. If the person registers successfully, The money will be transferred to your account immediately., like any other standard Bizum, without you having been charged beforehand.

The important thing is that during this process, the balance doesn't disappear from your account until the other user registers. In other words, You're not sending money that gets "stuck" in limbobut the operation remains pending until the receiver completes the registration.

If that person never activates Bizum, after a period of time (usually 48 hours) The transaction is automatically cancelled and the money remains in your account.It is not lost at any time, nor does it go anywhere if the registration is not completed.

Cancel a Bizum sent to someone who doesn't have it.

Until the recipient has registered or accepted the shipment, you have a small window of opportunity to Cancel a Bizum you sent to a number with no active serviceThis option is only available during There in which the operation is listed as pending.

If you realize the error right after sending and you know that the person won't activate Bizum, you can go into your bank's app, access the list of transactions or the recent Bizum transfers section, and search the option to cancel or void the transactionNot all banks present it the same way, but it is usually clearly indicated if the payment is still pending.

Once the recipient registers and accepts the amount, You will no longer be able to unilaterally reverse the Bizum transaction.From that moment on, the transfer is completed and you could only recover the money through the cooperation of the other person or, if necessary, through legal means.

In any case, even if you don't cancel in time and the recipient doesn't sign up, the money will not leave your accountYou will simply see how the operation expires after the established deadline and becomes ineffective, as if it had never been completed.

It's a good idea to periodically check pending transactions if you usually send Bizum to people who don't yet use the platform, to avoid confusion and keep things clear. which payments have been completed and which ones are still pending.

What happens if I send a Bizum to the wrong number?

One of the most common mistakes is typing the wrong phone number or selecting the wrong contact. send a Bizum to someone you didn't want toSince the operation is almost instantaneous, the margin for reaction is minimal and the feeling of being overwhelmed is usually great.

Bizum relies on the scheme of Immediate SEPA transferThis means that the money is in the recipient's account within seconds. For this reason, once you've confirmed the transfer, there's no magic button to undo the transaction from your app.

The first option recommended by both Bizum and banks is the Amicable solution: Contact the person who received the moneyIf the number belongs to a real person and they have an active Bizum account, they'll probably even see your name next to the transaction.

You can write them a message politely explaining the mistake and ask them to I will refund the amount via another Bizum.Ideally, this should be documented through a verifiable channel, such as WhatsApp or email, to have proof in case you later need to justify what happened.

In many cases, that's where it ends: the person understands that it was a mistake and The return is processed without any major issues.It is certainly the most logical thing to do when someone receives money from a stranger for no apparent reason.

When the recipient does not want to return the Bizum

If, after contacting the recipient of the incorrect Bizum payment, they refuse to refund your money, the situation changes. From a legal standpoint, This could be considered a case of misappropriation. if the other party keeps money that they know does not belong to them.

In Spain, this type of behavior is covered in the article 253 of the Penal CodeThe seriousness of the case will depend on the amount: it will be a minor offense if the amount is less than 400 euros and a more serious offense if it exceeds that figure, with potentially greater criminal consequences.

For a complaint to have any chance of succeeding, it is essential that you can prove that You requested a refund and the other person refused.Hence the importance of using written channels (messages, emails) and saving screenshots or histories where your request and its response are clearly visible.

If the amount is significant and the recipient's refusal is firm, you can always go to the National Police or the Civil Guard to file a complaintproviding all the documents you have: screenshots of the app showing the movement, conversations, transaction data, etc.

Even so, it's wise to be realistic: even following this path, The effective recovery of the money is not guaranteed.That's why the best protection is prevention, carefully checking the number before confirming the shipment and avoiding sending large quantities to people you don't trust.

Recommendations for using Bizum safely

Although Bizum is a very convenient and widespread tool, it's advisable to internalize a series of best practices for minimize risks and problems with your paymentsMost of them are just common sense, but they make a difference.

First, get used to Verify the phone number at least twice before pressing “Send”Especially if you're writing it by hand. A single wrong digit can cause you a lot of trouble and a long process to try and recover it.

Whenever possible, check the confirmation screen: the app usually displays the name of the person associated with that numberIf something doesn't look right, if you see a strange name or something different from what you expected, stop the operation and check again.

Avoid sharing your phone number lightly, especially in public or with strangers. If you're going to use Bizum for business or professional purposes, Consider having a dedicated line for payments.so that you don't expose your personal number to everyone.

Finally, remember that if someone asks for your mobile phone number or sends you links or messages "on behalf of your bank" to confirm a Bizum payment, Be suspicious and contact your bank directly. using official channels. The combination of phone and Bizum is also fertile ground for scam attempts.

With all of the above in mind, it's easier to understand why Bizum revolves around the phone number and why there's no magic formula for sending money without knowing it: The system prioritizes simplicity and user privacy., allowing shortcuts such as requesting money, protecting access to the sender's mobile phone, returning funds if the recipient does not register, and always offering the possibility of taking legal action if someone keeps a payment by mistake, so that you can continue using the tool with confidence in your daily life.