Let’s face it – nobody is happy to find out that their Venmo account has been frozen.
It’s even worse when you still have money deposited in the account, that you’d like to withdrawal.
But is there any way to get money out of a frozen Venmo account? And if so, how long will it take to get your money out?
In this article, we’ll cover everything that you need to know!
What Causes Venmo Accounts To Be Frozen?
Typically speaking, there are only a few reasons why Venmo accounts become frozen.
However, the specific reason your account was frozen will affect the approach you need to take when it comes to getting your money out.
So, let’s look over some of the most common reasons that Venmo accounts are frozen now.
1. Owing Money
This reason is one of the most common.
If you owe Venmo money or a payment failed, your account may be temporarily frozen until the funds are paid.
This generally isn’t anything to worry about, and it does not mean that you’re in any trouble. It simply means that they are locking your account to prevent you from making any further transactions until your debt has been settled.
2. Security Issues
The second reason Venmo may freeze accounts is for security issues.
Being a financial company, Venmo takes account security very seriously. If they believe that somebody may be accessing your account when they shouldn’t be, they may temporarily freeze it to protect you and your money.
This is generally a good thing, as it prevents people who may have gained access to your account maliciously from spending your money.
If you believe that your account may be compromised or Venmo has locked it for security concerns, immediately change your password and contact Venmo support for further assistance. For good measure, you should also change the passwords of any other financial services accounts that share the same login info.
3. Breaking Venmo’s User Agreement
This one is quite concerning.
If you’ve done something to break Venmo’s rules, it’s possible that you may not be able to appeal it depending on the severity of the violation.
Generally speaking, once a Venmo account is banned, it’s banned for good. This is particularly true if you’re not legally able to have a Venmo account, such as being under Venmo’s age limit.
That being said, it may still be possible to get any money out of the account if it’s legally yours.
Therefore, you’ll want to follow the steps laid out in the next section to get your money out of your frozen Venmo account.
4. Exceeding The Transfer Limit
If you’ve exceeded your transfer limit, then Venmo may prevent you from sending or receiving any further funds.
Typically, you will be presented with an error message that states, “Sorry, this instant transfer cannot be completed.”
Currently, Venmo’s transfer limits are $999.99 per week without ID verification. If you’ve confirmed your ID, you’ll be able to transfer up to $19,999.99 per week, which is far more than most people will hit. However, these limits reset after a week.
Even after your identity has been verified, you may also only transfer up to $2,999.99 at one time for each transaction.
So, if you believe that you may have hit Venmo’s transfer limit, you have nothing to worry about.
5. Technical Error
Finally, in rare circumstances accounts may be frozen due to technical errors or glitches.
While this isn’t usually the case, we have heard of it happening.
So, if you know you haven’t violated any of Venmo’s rules and you don’t owe them money, you may wish to follow the steps below to figure out the reason why your account was frozen. This will give you further insight as to what you should do next!
How To Unfreeze And Get Money Out Of A Frozen Venmo Account
Now that we know some of the reasons why your Venmo account may be frozen, we can start looking at possible solutions.
Note that until your account is unfrozen, you will not be able to withdrawal any money that may be saved in the account. So, getting your account unfrozen should definitely be a priority!
1. Check Your Email
First things first, you should check the email that’s associated with your Venmo account – including your spam or junk folder if you don’t see an email from them.
Often times, Venmo will send an email when your account is frozen that provides more information.
For example, they may tell you specifically why they decided to freeze your account, and what steps that you’ll need to take in order to reinstate it.
Generally speaking, Venmo is very helpful when it comes to reinstating accounts. So, you should follow all of their instructions exactly as written and contact them if you have any further questions.
2. Pay Any Owed Money
If your account was frozen due to insufficient funds, then the process of freezing it is simple. All you’ve got to do is add enough to cover the discrepancy!
Simply open the Venmo app, and you should receive instructions telling you exactly what to do, including the amount that you owe or need to deposit.
Note however that if your account was frozen due to a failed payment, you may need to email Venmo for exact instructions to proceed. In these instances, they will send you an email when the account is first frozen that you can reply to.
It’s possible for payments to fail even when money is there in your Venmo account, so don’t worry! You should still be able to get it out if it’s more than what you owe for payment.
3. Contact Venmo Support
If you didn’t receive an email when your account was frozen and your account wasn’t frozen due to owing money, then the first thing you should do is contact Venmo support.
Again, if they sent you an email when your account was frozen, then you should reply to that one. If they didn’t send you an email however, contact Venmo support by following these steps:
- Open up Venmo’s contact page by clicking here.
- On the ‘Contact Support’ section, click on ‘Contact us.’
- Fill out the form on the page, giving as much detail as possible.
Alternatively, you can reach live chat support directly through the Venmo app, or call Venmo at 1-855-812-4430.
How Long Will It Take Venmo To Unfreeze The Account?
Depending on the reason that your Venmo account was frozen, the exact amount of time it can take for the issue to be resolved can vary.
If your Venmo account is eligible to be unfrozen by automatic processes (such as transferring owed money, or transfer limits resetting), then it’s possible that the account can be unfrozen instantly.
If you have to wait for money to be transferred in using slower methods, it can take as long as 3 to 5 business days.
In most cases however, Venmo accounts are unfrozen within 2-3 business days provided you have followed all of the instructions that Venmo has laid out for you.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, there are many different things that can cause a Venmo account to become frozen.
Depending on the reason however, the action you’ll need to take to get your money out of Venmo can vary.
I hope that you’ve found this article helpful. If you have any other questions about Venmo, please ask them using the comment form below.
Wishing you the best,
– James McAllister