Today, I’m writing this article with the hope that you’ll stay updated with the latest changes from PayPal.
1. Is a PayPal account verified with just a credit card?
- Not exactly. Verification with PayPal goes beyond that. It’s about unseen aspects such as your "business model, personal information, and transaction history" that PayPal collects from you through steps like responding to limitations, dispute cases, or even analyzing your website and transaction details. Being "verified" simply means the card is authenticated for making purchases.
2. Should I always choose “I’m paying for goods or services” (incurs fees) or “I’m making personal payments” (fee-free)?
- It depends on the situation. Different types of transfers require different methods. For accounts that always receive payments with fees or on a 50/50 basis, it’s fine to use the “personal payment” option. Avoid splitting large amounts into multiple transfers. If you use an account with no fees, refrain from making too many personal payments as it might attract scrutiny or even result in a 180-day hold. Also, be cautious with transfer notes—avoid writing “no refund,” “no dis,” or “refund for,” as this could put the recipient at risk even if the funds are clean.
3. If PayPal is hacked, password stolen, or email and credit card removed, is the account lost?
- No. Simply contact PayPal via email or phone with all your documents. Unless you lose all your identification or your appearance has drastically changed, your account can be recovered.
4. Why do some accounts get limited while others don’t, even when receiving the same source and amount?
- Each PayPal account is different, much like societal hierarchies. A new account requires extra caution as it’s being closely monitored. Established accounts with large, clear transaction histories often receive funds without issues. High-activity accounts may even handle “cheat add” funds without trouble, as PayPal tends to be lenient with such accounts due to their track record.
5. How can I safely receive large payments from networks (Net) or cheat sources to a new PayPal account?
- Always save the invoice (#XXX) from the network. If there’s no invoice, keep screenshots or emails that relate to the payment. These documents may be required for proving the payment source in case of limitations. Remember, emails from “@paypal” alone are not valid proof.
6. Is it safe to receive funds from multiple network accounts into one PayPal?
- For safety and usability, it’s better to assign each network account to a separate PayPal. For high-volume, long-standing PayPal accounts, receiving funds from multiple sources may be fine if you’re not concerned about network bans.
7. If I’ve recently faced a 180-day hold on PayPal, how should I safely use a new account?
- New PayPal accounts should avoid receiving large and frequent payments. Even with invoices, receiving large sums from networks known for reporting cheat payments may still lead to a 180-day hold. Gradually increase transaction amounts to build a solid foundation for the new account.
8. What should I pay attention to when withdrawing money to ensure it reaches my bank?
- The account holder’s name must match the bank account name exactly. Double-check the bank name, SWIFT code, and account number using reliable sources.
9. Does PayPal handle disputes and reactions consistently?
- No. Each account is treated differently. For example, three entirely new accounts receiving identical cheat funds may experience different outcomes—some may get limited, while others may not. Timing and individual account history also play a role.
10. What to do if PayPal accidentally receives a high-risk payment?
- The best approach is to push through as many familiar transactions as possible to quickly push that transaction further down in the activity list.
11. How to stay safe when receiving a large number of payments deemed risky?
- It's best not to withdraw or transfer funds too quickly. Be patient and let the money sit for 6-12 hours, then check out by making purchases. Once the transaction passes, PayPal is temporarily safer.
12. How can the recipient stay safe when selling PayPal?
- Review their account. If it's very new and hasn't made any transactions, carefully note that it is for repayment or payment for something in real life. Try to transfer all at once rather than multiple times in a single day. If your PayPal frequently receives net income in a similar manner and the buyer's PayPal behaves the same way, avoid transferring to each other as both may get flagged.
13. How to safely receive PayPal, and what could go wrong?
- Buy from sellers who have been operating long-term and are reputed for reliability. If purchasing from unknown sources, ask for confirmation from the seller’s PayPal email or phone number listed in their profile. When simulating a fake transaction, require them to confirm product usage satisfaction at least 12 hours after receiving the money.
- Check the source of the funds. If it's an unreliable source "based on rumors," avoid receiving it. For instance, if you're buying $1,000 and the seller uses multiple PayPal accounts, ensure to review them. If those accounts share a common large source and receive frequent payments, proceed with caution as all accounts could face a 180-day hold.
14. What’s crucial for successfully lifting a limitation?
- A steady mindset. If you haven't done anything wrong, there's no need to worry. Secondly, ensure all documents, whether fake or real, are clear and complete, including identification and relevant payment proofs. Importantly, when PayPal inquires about a transaction, the proof provided must align with similar past transactions in terms of amount, date, and other details.
15. When should you seek professional limitation removal services?
- For PayPal, the concepts of buyer and seller are essential. All received funds must be backed by proper invoices or related documentation for goods/services. If you are truly selling items and have proper documentation, you can confidently resolve issues without third-party services. However, if your activities violate policies or involve random fund receipts, you may need to fake supporting documents or hire services.
- If everything is legitimate, hiring a service may backfire, potentially resulting in a 180-day hold as they may mishandle specific details about your transactions.
16. What if the funds are clean but you lack invoices or a business model to support it?
- Don’t worry. Complete all the steps available in the Resolution Center. For remaining issues, provide reasonable explanations via the Help -> Message Center -> Create a new message -> My account -> Opening a PayPal account. Clearly outline your limitation case and steps you’ve completed. Provide valid proofs and ensure your explanation is backed by logic and images, as vague claims won’t succeed.
17. Is it true you can use clean funds however you want?
- Not entirely, unless you own a "powerful" PayPal account. Mid-range accounts receiving large sums for personal use and then transferring funds similarly can often face limitations for source verification, especially if there’s no clear business model.
- PayPal may even issue warnings for continuous large personal transfers with no fees, compelling you to switch to goods and services payments. For example, they may send notifications like:
“We’re happy to serve your payment needs. Personal payments are only meant for friends, family, or shared bills. Recently, we noticed several large personal payments, which is against our policy. If this continues, we’ll have to apply fees on all your future payments.”
18. How to minimize under-review transactions?
- Let newly received funds sit for at least 6 hours before transferring, especially when they constitute the majority of your balance. For well-established business PayPal accounts, this may not be necessary.
19. What to do if a transaction is under review?
- Create a clear connection between the sender and receiver, ensuring the source aligns with PayPal’s policies.
20. Are long-established PayPal accounts more "trustworthy"?
- Not necessarily. The quality of a PayPal account depends on frequent transactions with minimal disputes, all within acceptable policy guidelines. A "powerful" PayPal account typically has a long history of significant, legitimate transactions with a clear business model or associated website. For instance, a 5-year-old account with few transactions is less "powerful" than a 2-month-old account with a high volume of real activity.
21. How to "survive" with a 21-day PayPal hold?
- Diversify your payments: use one PayPal for personal account activity while employing a service to process transactions on your behalf.
22. How to prevent limitations while running a business?
- Proactively provide documentation about your business, including licenses, website details, and sales activities. Submit these via Help -> Message Center -> Create a new message -> Business solutions -> Other business resources.
23. Is it okay to log into PayPal from multiple locations?
- It depends. For new accounts, frequent logins from different locations may trigger limitations due to suspicions of account cloning. Conversely, for fully verified accounts or users who travel frequently, logging in from various locations or devices, including public networks, usually doesn’t cause issues.
24. How to manage multiple PayPal accounts?
- Use separate cookies and IP addresses for each account. Occasionally logging in on the same IP but with different cookies should be fine. However, frequent logins with shared IPs and cookies may lead to issues.
25. Are frequent daily transactions problematic?
- For new accounts, avoid making too many or closely-timed transactions in a day. Do not repeatedly transfer funds to the same PayPal account within a short period.
- Always match shipping addresses to the account’s country to avoid issues, except in cases like eBay or negotiated invoices.