Secure payment
PayPal allows you to make payments using a variety of methods including: PayPal Cash or PayPal Cash Plus account balance, a bank account, PayPal Credit, debit or credit cards, and rewards balance.
Selecting a preferred payment method
You can choose any of the payment methods in your account with PayPal as your preferred payment method in the Payments section of your account settings. If you select a preferred payment method, it will be shown as the preferred payment method when you make a purchase online, in-store, or when you send money via goods and services.
You can select different preferred payment methods for online transactions and in-store transactions.
If you choose an in-store preferred payment method and do not have any money in your PayPal Cash or Paypal Cash Plus account balance, your preferred payment method will be used for your entire purchase.
If no preferred payment method, it’s still your choice
There may be times when your preferred payment method cannot be used. For example, if you select a credit card as your preferred payment method and the card has expired, you will not be able to pay with that card. Also, the availability of certain payment methods may be limited based on a particular seller or the third-party website you are using to complete the transaction.
If you have not selected a preferred payment method, or your preferred payment method is unavailable, we will show you available payment methods, including the payment method you use most often or most recently, at the time of transaction. You can also click on the “Manage” link to see all of your available payment methods, or add a new one, and select a payment method during the transaction.
Payment Method Rights and Remedies
PayPal Purchase Protection
PayPal Purchase Protection (also known as PayPal Buyer Protection) applies for certain, qualifying purchases regardless of the payment method. For these qualifying purchases, PayPal will cover you for the full amount of the item plus original shipping costs if you do not receive the item or if you receive an item but it is significantly different than the description the seller provided. To receive reimbursement for items that are significantly not as described, you will be required to return the item to the seller, or in some cases to PayPal, and to pay the return shipping costs. PayPal Purchase Protection is not available for personal payments and other ineligible purchases.
To be eligible for PayPal Purchase Protection, you must file a Dispute in the PayPal Resolution Center within 180 days of the date you sent the payment, escalate the Dispute to a Claim within 20 days of the date you filed the Dispute, and meet the eligibility criteria as listed in the PayPal User Agreement.
Credit Card Protection
You may pursue a Dispute/Claim with PayPal, or you may contact your credit card company and file a chargeback. You may not pursue both at the same time or seek a double recovery. If you have an open Dispute or Claim with PayPal, and also file a chargeback with your credit card company, PayPal will close your Dispute or Claim, and you will have to rely solely on your chargeback rights.
If you pursue a Claim with PayPal and if you do not receive a full recovery, you can then file a chargeback.
Credit card companies must abide by these statutory guidelines, including but not limited to the following:
- If a consumer claims a "billing error" because an item is not received or is refused at the time of delivery, the card issuer is obliged to investigate, resolve, and to correct written claims filed by the consumer within 60 days of receipt of the applicable credit card statement.
- If a consumer claims a dispute with a merchant, the card issuer is obliged to investigate and resolve consumer claims, provided the consumer: (i) has not paid for the charge (ii) has made a good faith attempt to settle the dispute with the merchant (iii) lives in the same state as or within 100 miles of the merchant and (iv) paid more than $50 for the item.
You should contact your credit card issuer to learn more about your rights and remedies.
Debit Card Protection
Your debit card issuer is not required by law to provide you with protection against items that you do not receive or that are significantly not as described. Many debit card issuers voluntarily provide protection similar to the chargeback rights provided by credit card issuers.
PayPal may process debit card transactions through either (a) an ATM debit network such as STAR or NYCE, or (b) a Visa or Mastercard network. If we process your debit card through an ATM debit network, we may provide you with the opportunity to switch to a Visa or Mastercard network by clicking the "Funding Sources" link on the payment confirmation page. Choosing the Visa / Mastercard network may give you additional protection compared to the ATM debit networks. You should contact your debit card issuer to learn more about your rights and remedies if you pay with your debit card.
Bank Account Protection
Your bank is not required by law to provide you with protection against items that you pay for with a bank transfer but that you do not receive or that are significantly not as described. You should contact your bank to determine if they voluntarily provide any purchase protection.