As we all know, popular messaging app WhatsApp’s Payment feature is currently live in India. The payments feature is built on UPI, which is Unified Payments Interface, and allows for direct transfers via bank account, provided the user has a UPI id with their bank account. WhatsApp on Android beta version is rolling out a new feature, which will let users Request Money from their friends, contacts. The WhatsApp ‘Request Money’ feature has gone live on Android beta version 2.18.113. The regular WhatsApp version users of Android might not see it.
As of now, most users who managed to try out this new WhatsApp payment feature are only able to send or receive money from users on their contacts list and from UPI addresses. But those who are on the beta version of WhatsApp can now notice a new feature that lets them to request money from their contacts.
Notably, this Request money feature is an option which is already available on all UPI-based payments apps like Google Tez, PhonePe, Paytm, etc. It allows users to scan a QR code or enter a UPI ID in order to demand a payment. WhatsApp recently rolled out the enter UPI ID, scan QR code feature for payments on the platform. This is available on Android and iOS as well. This new Request Money feature’s availability was first reported by Telecom Talk.
So, in order to request money from someone via WhatsApp Pay, the user needs to go to Settings click on Payments and then New Payment. Here they will see the option to choose the UPI ID or the Scan QR code right on top, followed by list of contacts. Choose either UPI ID or Scan QR code. WhatsApp will then show two options, Request Money or Send Money next to each other.
However, the new feature is currently available only on Android beta version. And the request for money from a contact is valid only for 24 hours. Once a request has been accepted, the money will be credited instantly to a user’s bank account. WhatsApp will then also show a list of payment requests in the Payment Settings, and the status of these requests. The advantage with Request Money feature of WhatsApp is that the other user need not be on WhatsApp user, he/she could have an UPI id with any other app.
