How to Find and Track UPI Reference Number?

Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India allows digital transfer of money quickly and seamlessly at no additional cost. Each digital transaction has a UPI Reference Number which is a unique 12-digit reference number associated with each transaction. It is generated for every transaction and allows users to track their transactions. If users have any queries about a transaction, they can check the UPI Reference Number tracking associated with the payment and use it to fetch all the details.

Read on to know how to find UPI reference number, how to track it and other details.

How to Find UPI Reference Number?

It is critical to keep an eye on the UPI reference number, especially when dealing with large sums of money. Users can find the UPI reference number on the app’s interface depending on the payment aggregator.

Google Pay UPI Reference Number

• Step 1: Open the Google Pay App and navigate to show “Transaction History” 
• Step 2: To verify the reference number click on any transaction.
• Step 3: You will find the UPI transaction ID which is a 9 digit number 

Paytm UPI Reference Number

• Step 1: Open Paytm and select the “Passbook” option 
• Step 2: Select the list of transactions and choose the specific transaction you need. With the required UPI reference number in hand, you can track the concerned transaction.

PhonePe UPI Reference Number

• Step 1: Visit the PhonePe App and navigate to the  “History” section 
• Step 2: Click on any transaction and check the transfer details 
• Step 3: You will find the UTR number which is a 12 digit unique number

How to Track UPI Reference Number?

For UPI transaction reference number tracking, users can get details by selecting the required payment from the list of transactions. Upon choosing the transaction, the user can find the reference number. If there is an ambiguity regarding the payment, one can contact the bank or the merchant regarding the status. Here are steps for UPI reference number tracking.

• Step 1: Open any App of your choice such as Paytm, Google Pay, PhonePe, etc.
• Step 2: Select the ‘Passbook’ section  if you are using Paytm and ‘History’ section if you’re using Phonpe or Google Pay.
• Step 3: Select the bank account you use for UPI payments, click on the transaction you require the UPI reference number.
• Step 4: Note the 12-digit UPI reference number. 
• Step 5: Using the above steps, you can easily track UPI reference numbers whenever you need them.

What is UPI Reference ID?

A UPI reference ID is a unique identifier assigned to each bank account that allows for the uninterrupted transfer of funds from one account to another. It is a unique address assigned to each user, also known as the virtual payment address (VPA). UPI reference number is essentially a 12-digit reference number that you can use to track your transactions and contact customer service if you have any questions about your UPI transaction.

How to Find UPI Reference ID?

Users must create a UPI reference ID if they want to make transactions on the payment system. Depending on the type of payment aggregator, UPI IDs may look different. A UPI ID is made of two parts separated by “@”. For example, some apps may use the format: phonenumber@nameofapp or username@nameofbank.

• Step 1: The first part consists of details about the user, such as the name or phone number.
• Step 2: The second part contains details of the bank providing services to the UPI app. This portion of the ID includes the full name or just the abbreviation of the bank’s name, along with a prefix or suffix where required. 
• Step 3: Users can find the UPI ID using a few simple steps –For apps such as GooglePay, Phone Pe and BHIM, you can find your UPI reference IP by clicking the “Profile” option. Here you will find the bank account and its associated UPI ID. On Paytm, you can select the BHIM UPI option on the landing page to view your ID, while on Mobikwik, it is available on the home page. 

What is a Reference ID in a Bank?

A reference ID in a bank is the unique ID associated with all online and offline transactions. These reference IDs enable customers and banks to monitor financial transactions. While tracking transactions, simply producing this ID can fetch all the transaction details, making the tracking process simpler. 

In the context of UPI, too, two types of references are involved. One is the UPI reference ID, which is an identifier of your bank account. The second is the UPI reference number which tracks the transaction between the two bank accounts.

Also Read

What is VPA in UPI: How to Create VPA in UPI on Apps?

What is UPI ID: How to Create, Change and Find UPI ID on Apps

Why is Everyone Using UPI Reference ID?

UPI provides ease of transactions and accessibility. Importantly, the payment system allows secure transfer of funds. Moreover, UPI transactions are free of cost, encouraging more users to take the cashless route. Users only need a bank account linked to UPI and a unique UPI ID.

UPI transactions can be completed within seconds using a mobile phone and your reference ID. With all the transaction data, including the UPI reference number, available on the payment aggregator app, users need not depend on banks to retrieve the transaction history on their behalf. In the event of any ambiguity in the transaction, users can raise a complaint on the payment aggregator app or site.

UPI payments are not bound by the structural limitations of a bank or other financial institutions. Office timings and bank holidays do not apply to UPI transactions. Users can make payments from the comfort of their homes at any time of the day as long as they have enough funds in the linked bank account and the UPI ID.

How to Get Started With Using UPI?

If you are a new user, you must create a UPI ID to initiate and receive payments digitally.

• Step 1: Download the required application, your mobile number. This number should also be linked to the bank account(s) that you intend to use.
• Step 2: Verify your phone number with the OTP sent via a text message. 
• Step 3: Choose your bank name from the list, set up a UPI PIN if you are linking your bank for the first time. The setup will require your debit card details.
• Step 4: Your bank account is now linked via UPI.

How to Send Money Through UPI?

UPI is extremely popular among users because it is easy to use. Once you have linked your bank account and created a UPI ID, you can send and receive funds on the payment aggregation platform of your choice.

There are several ways in which you can send or receive money. 

1. Receiver’s Mobile Number 

One of the most popular ways to send money is by entering the merchant’s or receiver’s mobile number on the app. You can either enter the number manually or select the contact from your phonebook. Once this number is selected, you can enter the amount, followed by the UPI PIN created while setting up the account.

2. UPI QR Code 

You can also transfer funds by scanning a UPI QR code. This preferred payment mode for merchants involves customers scanning the QR code on the payment app. Then the amount to be paid is entered, followed by the UPI pin. 

3. UPI ID

You can also send money by entering the UPI ID of the receiver in the payment app of your choice. Enter the unique UPI ID of the merchant/receiver followed by the amount to be sent. Follow this up with your UPI pin and the transaction is initiated. 

4. Bank Details 

UPI payments also allow users to transfer funds with bank details. This entails providing the recipient’s account number and IFSC code to initiate the payment. 

Final Word

UPI is one of India’s most popular digital payment systems. The payment system records hundreds of crores of transactions every month. To make the payment system easy to use and secure, UPI involves certain specifications such as to check UPI reference IDs and record UPI reference numbers. UPI IDs refer to the unique identifier assigned to each user and are a prerequisite to sending and receiving payments on UPI. UPI reference number tracking can be done with a 12-digit ID assigned to each UPI transaction.

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