WARNING TO BUSINESS OWNERS: Wise has blocked access to our business funds for weeks because of its own "technical bug "— and I still can’t transfer the money out or use the account, funds held captive!
Posting this because I genuinely think other business owners need to know what can happen when you rely on Wise for your business banking — especially if you hold significant funds with them.
I have spent weeks trying to get normal functionality restored to our Wise Business account.
The timeline, excuses and contradictory messages have been ridiculous.
Wise first told me there were no restrictions on the account. They escalated the issue as “high priority” and said their investigation should take 1–3 working days.
A few hours later, I received confirmation that our verification was complete, our business address had been approved and the account was “ready to use.”
It wasn't.
Nearly four weeks later, payments still don't work and core account functions remain unavailable.
Then it became a “technical issue”.
Then a “specialised team” was investigating.
Then it was “high priority” again.
Then “all hands are on deck.”
Still nothing.
Eventually, Wise admitted in writing that a bug in their own system was blocking transactions.
At that point I asked for the obvious alternative:
Transfer our business funds to our external bank account.
Wise agreed to explore this and again said it should take 1–3 working days.
They then emailed me specifically asking for my external bank details “to process your refund.”
I provided them.
Guess what happened next?
Wise then told me the same technical bug was preventing THEM from transferring/refunding the funds out as well.
So this is where we are:
Can't use the Wise account.
Can't make normal transfers.
Can't order the required business card.
Business Direct Debits are declining.
Financial obligations are mounting and people's livelihoods are being affected.
Can't even have our own funds transferred to another bank.
Wise admits the blockage is on their side.
No ETA for a fix.
I then filed a formal complaint.
Wise acknowledged the complaint, but the underlying problem remains exactly the same.
At this point, the complaints process feels less like an escalation and more like another holding pattern while the actual problem remains unresolved.
I have dozens of emails and screenshots documenting everything above.
Businesses have suppliers, invoices, Direct Debits, contracts, people depending on payments and deadlines that don't disappear because a financial provider has an unresolved technical bug.
The way this has been handled is, in my view, disgusting.
If anyone in the UK has experienced anything similar with Wise please share what finally got it resolved.