No. Shieldpay is an Authorised Payment Institution, not a bank. We do not lend, invest, or use client funds for business operations. Your funds are held in safeguarded accounts with our partner banks and cannot be accessed by Shieldpay for any other purpose.

Why is my payment coming from Shieldpay?

Your law firm has appointed Shieldpay to process your settlement payment. Shieldpay holds and distributes settlement funds securely on behalf of law firms and their clients. If your solicitor has told you your payment will come through Shieldpay, this is a normal, regulated process.

I haven't received an email from Shieldpay — what should I do?

Check your spam or junk folder for an email from notifications@shieldpay.com — this is Shieldpay's official sending address. If you still can't find it, contact your law firm or representative to confirm your details and request a resend.

Your payment is being processed by Shieldpay

Q: How safe is my money with Shieldpay?

Your funds are held in ring-fenced, safeguarded accounts with our partner banks, Citi and ClearBank. These accounts are protected from any claims against Shieldpay and are subject to regular external audits. Shieldpay is also ISO 27001 certified for information security.

If you've received an email from Shieldpay, your law firm has appointed us to process your settlement payment. We're a regulated UK payments company — we hold your funds securely and pay them directly to your bank account once your details are verified and your solicitor authorises the release.

This page explains who we are, how the process works, and how your money is protected.

Is Shieldpay Legitimate?

Looking for an email from us? Check your spam or junk folder for an email from notifications@shieldpay.com - this is our official sending address. If you still can't find it, contact your law firm to request a resend.

We understand that receiving an email asking for your bank details can feel suspicious. That’s why we want to be clear about who we are and how we operate.

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as an Authorised Payment Institution – Firm Ref No. 770210

ISO 27001 certified for information security

Rated “Excellent” on Trustpilot

Shieldpay has processed over £18bn supporting clients with their payment needs

We are not a bank, and we do not lend or invest your money. All funds are held in safeguarded accounts with our partner banks or custodians, meaning your money is protected and cannot be accessed by Shieldpay or any third party for business use.

What Happens Next?

Email from Shieldpay

You’ll receive an email from notifications@shieldpay.com with a secure link to complete the necessary steps to receive your payment. Tip: If you don’t see the email, check your spam or junk folder.

Verify your details

You’ll be asked to confirm your identity and provide your bank account details. This helps us ensure the money goes to the correct person and account.

Approval from your law firm

Once your details are verified, we will notify your law firm who will authorise the release of funds.

Payment sent to your account

Payments will be made electronically and securely.

How We Verify You

To comply with UK regulations and prevent financial crime, Shieldpay must conduct sanctions screening and verify ownership of your bank account. This process is quick, secure, and designed to protect you.

We carry out:

Sanction checks to ensure we are legally permitted to process your payment
Bank account verification using Confirmation of Payee (CoP) for UK accounts
Secure document upload for non-UK accounts or where additional bank account verification is needed

Only Shieldpay’s trained verification team can view your details. All data is encrypted and handled in accordance with strict data protection standards.

If your bank details cannot be verified automatically, you will be asked to upload a bank statement securely to our platform. This helps us confirm that the account belongs to you and is suitable for receiving funds.

How We Hold and Protect Your Money

Shieldpay is an Authorised Payment Institution, not a bank. This means:

We won’t lend or invest your money
Your funds are held in designated safeguarded accounts with our partner banks or custodians
Funds are separate from Shieldpay’s working capital and other funds, and are protected in the event of Shieldpay’s insolvency without any right of set-off
We conduct regular external audits to ensure compliance with UK regulations

Shieldpay simply facilitates the secure transfer of funds once all parties are verified and authorised.

Receiving Your Payment

Once your identity and bank details are verified, and your law firm has authorised the payment, Shieldpay will disburse the funds directly to your account.

No fees – Shieldpay does not charge you to receive your money
Electronic payments only – We pay directly into a bank account in your name
Cheques – If you require payment by cheque, please contact your law firm directly
International accounts – Your bank may charge fees for receiving GBP payments. Please check with your bank for details

Please note the time to receive your payment will depend on the successful verification of your account details and the authorisation from the law firm.

About Shieldpay

Is Shieldpay legitimate?

Yes. Shieldpay Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 (firm reference number 770210). You can verify this on the FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk.

Shieldpay Trustee Services Limited is also registered and supervised by HM Revenue & Customs as a Trust Services Provider for anti-money laundering purposes (firm reference number XKML00000214627).

We have been operating since 2017 and have processed over £18bn in payments on behalf of law firms and their clients. For a full breakdown of our credentials, visit our Is Shieldpay Safe and Legitimate? page.

Is Shieldpay a bank?

No. Shieldpay is an Authorised Payment Institution, not a bank. We do not lend, invest, or use client funds for business operations.

How safe is my money?

Funds are held in safeguarded accounts with our partner banks or custodians. These accounts are protected from any claims against Shieldpay or its liabilities and are subject to regular external audits.

What is Shieldpay authorised to do?

Shieldpay is authorised by the FCA to operate payment accounts and execute payment transactions. We do not offer credit or investment services.

Can Shieldpay hold money for general purposes?

No. Shieldpay only holds funds for specific, authorised transactions. We do not offer general holding accounts or savings services.

Verification and Security

What checks do you carry out on me?

We check for sanctions and confirm your bank account details. Additional information may be requested to meet regulatory obligations.

How does Shieldpay verify my bank details?

We verify your bank account using Confirmation of Payee (CoP) for UK accounts. For non-UK accounts, or where additional verification is needed, you'll be asked to upload a bank statement securely via our platform.

How long does it take to verify my bank details?

Verification begins as soon as you provide the requested information. Typically the process is completed the same day, though timelines may vary depending on the accuracy of the details submitted and any additional checks required.

My details couldn't be verified — what happens now?

You'll be asked to upload a bank statement securely via our platform. This helps us confirm the account belongs to you.

What personal data do you collect about me?

We collect only the data necessary to verify your identity and process your payment. Please refer to our Privacy Notice for full details.

Are there fake Shieldpay websites?

We are aware of scams in which fraudsters use Shieldpay's name and branding to make fake invoices and payment requests look legitimate. Always verify that any website you're using shows www.shieldpay.com in the address bar.

Shieldpay is not associated with the following websites:

If you receive a request to send money using Shieldpay's name, do not transfer any funds until you have verified the payment details with us at fraud@shieldpay.com. For full guidance, visit our Fraud Prevention and Scam Warnings page.

Payments

When will I get my money?

Once your details are verified and your law firm authorises the payment, Shieldpay will disburse the funds directly to your account.

How will payments be made?

Payments are made electronically to a bank account in your name. If you require a cheque, please contact your law firm directly.

How much will it cost me to receive money?

Shieldpay does not charge payees to receive their payment. However, your bank may charge fees for receiving GBP payments, especially if your account is outside the UK.

Can Shieldpay refuse to process a payment?

Shieldpay may refuse a payment if verification checks fail or if the transaction does not meet regulatory requirements.

Support

I haven't received a link from Shieldpay — what should I do?

Check your spam or junk folder. If still missing, contact your law firm or representative. For fraud prevention reasons, Shieldpay cannot resend links directly to claimants.

Who do I contact if I need help?

Please contact your law firm or representative in the first instance. They will escalate any issues to Shieldpay if needed.

How do I complain?

Please refer to our Complaints Handling Process. If eligible, complaints may be escalated to the Financial Ombudsman Service or the FCA.

Need help or concerned about fraud?

Concerned about fraud? Visit our Fraud Prevention and Scam Warnings page or email fraud@shieldpay.com.

Not sure if Shieldpay is a real company? Visit our Is Shieldpay Safe and Legitimate? page.

Already been a victim of fraud and been approached by someone offering to recover your money? Read our Fraud Recovery Fraud guidance.

Your payment is being processed by Shieldpay

Is Shieldpay Legitimate?

What Happens Next?