Below is a concise, evidence‑based summary of real customer experiences with mobile wallets and local payment gateways in Sri Lanka (common praise, recurring problems, and quick recommendations). I pulled recent user reports from review sites and Sri Lanka community threads.

Key positive experiences

• Convenience for everyday payments: users frequently praise QR‑code and in‑app transfers for shopping, bill payments and small peer transfers — many find them faster than cash. (BrandRadar.org)
• Improved app UX from newer bank wallets: Frimi and several bank apps are repeatedly recommended for daily use because of cleaner interfaces and more features than older bank apps. (BrandRadar.org)
• Merchant integrations: PayHere and similar gateways are commonly used by local e‑commerce stores and are appreciated for easy platform integrations (WooCommerce/Shopify). (BrandRadar.org)

Common complaints and problems

• Account holds / frozen funds (merchants): multiple merchant reviews on Trustpilot and forum posts report abrupt account suspensions, funds being held, and slow or unclear support from gateways like PayHere. This is one of the most frequent and serious merchant complaints. (Trustpilot.com)
• Limits & cross‑border receipts: freelancers and sellers report transaction/monthly limits and difficulties linking or receiving foreign payments (Payoneer, Stripe, etc.), forcing many to use alternate routes. (BrandRadar.org)
• Inconsistent contactless/NFC support: Frimi’s Android app showed NFC “tap‑to‑pay” functionality for some users, but reports say the feature is inconsistent across merchants and devices (and was/appears still to be under development). iOS support is limited by platform NFC restrictions. (Reddit.com)
• Fragmentation & reliability: users often keep multiple apps because wallets, bank apps and gateways don’t always interoperate; occasional delays in transfers have been reported. (BrandRadar.org)

Representative evidence sources

• Trustpilot merchant reviews for PayHere showing mixed to negative merchant experiences (account holds, closures, fees disputes). (Trustpilot.com)
• Reddit threads from Sri Lanka users describing Frimi NFC experiments, transfer delays, and workarounds for receiving foreign payments. (Reddit.com)
• Aggregated summary notes reporting positive UX improvements but ongoing fragmentation and limits. (BrandRadar.org)

Practical takeaways / recommendations

• If you’re a consumer: install a reputable bank wallet (Frimi or your bank’s app) plus one major telco wallet where useful, and keep at least one backup payment method (card or alternate wallet) for occasions when a wallet transfer fails. (BrandRadar.org)
• If you’re a merchant: don’t rely on a single gateway — keep an alternate payment option and maintain records in case of disputes; expect KYC/fraud reviews and possible temporary holds and plan cashflow accordingly. Consider provider reputations on Trustpilot/forums before committing. (Trustpilot.com)
• If you receive foreign payments: be prepared for limits and routing issues; many freelancers use Stripe/Payoneer where available or keep backup methods to receive international payouts. (Reddit.com)

If you want, I can:

• Produce a short comparison of 3–5 specific Sri Lankan wallet apps/providers (features, fees, typical issues) with direct links to recent reviews; or
• Search for the latest (past 12 months) ratings and complaints for a particular wallet or payment gateway you care about.

Which follow‑up would you prefer?