This guide helps with
- Understand why a reference is rejected
- Re-enter it carefully from your letter
- Watch for easily confused characters
- Get the correct reference confirmed
3 min read
What's happening
A rejected reference means the number you entered doesn't match the format the system expects. The usual culprits are a missing or extra digit, a transposed pair of numbers, or a character that looks similar to another — such as the number 0 and the letter O, or 1 and the letter l. The payment itself is fine; it just needs the right reference.
Re-enter it carefully
Take the reference straight from your most recent Merion letter or email and enter it slowly:
- Include every character, with no extra spaces.
- Match upper and lower case if the system is case-sensitive.
- Don't add dashes or symbols unless they're printed on your letter.
Watch for look-alike characters
Some characters are easy to mix up:
- Zero (0) versus the letter O.
- One (1) versus a lower-case L (l) or capital I.
- Five (5) versus the letter S.
If you're unsure which is which, compare carefully against the printed letter, character by character.
If it still won't accept
If the reference keeps being rejected, don't guess. Contact us through the contact page and we'll confirm the exact reference for your account. Our guide on finding your reference number may also help.
Good to know
- A rejected reference is almost always a typo, not a problem with your payment.
- Copy it character by character from your most recent letter or email.
- Watch for look-alikes like 0 and O, or 1 and l.
- If it still won't accept, we can confirm the exact reference for you.
FAQ
Why won't my bank accept the reference?
Most often there's a missing, extra or swapped character. Re-enter it carefully from your letter, watching for look-alike characters.
Does the reference need to match exactly?
Yes. It must match the format on your letter, including any case and without extra spaces or symbols that aren't printed there.
What if I'm sure I've entered it correctly?
Contact us and we'll confirm the exact reference for your account, so you can pay with confidence.
Still stuck? Our team is happy to help you sort it out.