A complaint over late-night app alerts has resulted in a
compensation payment and an ombudsman ruling for Revolut, after a customer said
notifications disrupted his sleep and affected his workday.
Complaint and Initial Response
The case, reviewed by the UK Financial Ombudsman Service
(FOS), involved a customer referred to as Mr A. He reported that two push
notifications sent on separate days activated his phone during the early hours,
waking him and prompting concern that something was wrong with his account.
Revolut offered £25 in compensation and directed the
customer to settings that allow users to manage or disable notifications. The
firm also stated that some communications must be sent without time limits due
to regulatory requirements.
A Revolut customer recently took his grievance all the way to the Financial Ombudsman Service after receiving marketing alerts in the middle of the night. Listen to Business As Usual, brought to you by Okta: https://t.co/ga7FstcwhY#DigitalBanking #FintechUpdate… pic.twitter.com/PrZ6cafkOb
— City A.M. (@CityAM) June 17, 2026
The FOS decision noted: “Revolut explained how Mr A could
manage his notifications, including how to opt-out of marketing communication.
But it said its regulatory requirements meant some of its communications didn’t
have timeframes.” Mr A said the disruption prevented him from returning to
sleep and led to a poor day at work.
Continue reading: FCA’s Review Exposes Concerns over Push Notifications and Prize Draws in Trading Apps
Ombudsman Decision and Payment Issue
The dispute escalated after Revolut paid the compensation
into Mr A’s business account instead of his personal account. The customer
challenged both the payment handling and the compensation amount.
An FOS investigator found that Revolut acted within its
obligations when sending the notifications and considered the £25 payment fair.
Mr A then requested a final decision from an ombudsman.
The final ruling required Revolut to redirect the £25 to the
correct account but did not increase the payout. Revolut declined to comment on the specific case, citing the
ongoing ombudsman process, and said customers can opt out of marketing
notifications through the app at any time.
Notably, the UK Financial Conduct Authority reviewed trading apps and found that features like push notifications and prize draws may encourage riskier investor behaviour. Based on a study of over 9,000 consumers, push notifications increased trading activity by 11% and risky trades by 8%, while prize draws raised trading by 12% and risky trades by 6%.
The regulator also found that although firms acknowledge the need to use these digital features responsibly, some lack proper checks to ensure users understand the risks of investing. The FCA warned that certain business models and pricing structures may not always deliver fair value, and said firms must better align their practices with consumer protection rules.
This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.
SOURCE LINK : A 2 A.M. Alert, a Bad Night’s Sleep and a £25 Revolut Payout
