Help
Answers, before you contact us.
Short answers for the things people do most often with PayPal.
How do I send money?
Sign in, open Send, enter the person and the amount, then read the fee and the total. Money leaves only after you confirm. The line then appears in Activity.
How do I request a payment?
Open Request, enter their email, the amount, and a short note. They pay from their own balance. Until they confirm, nothing is taken from them or from you.
How do I pay online?
At checkout, choose PayPal if the seller accepts it. Check the store name and the amount, including tax or shipping, then confirm. The receipt stays in Activity.
When does money leave my balance?
Only after you confirm. Closing the screen, going back, or losing the page does not send the payment.
Where do I see fees?
On the confirmation screen, next to the amount, before you send. Currency conversion, if any, is on that same screen. The Fees page explains what those lines mean.
What if I do not recognize a payment?
Open Activity and write down the name, date, and amount. Change your password if you did not send it, then contact us and say the payment was not yours.
Will you ask for my password?
PayPal will not email, text, or call you for your password or a one-time code. A message that asks for either one is not from us.
How do I reset my password?
On Log In, choose Forgot password and use the email on the account. If you are already signed in, change it from Security on the account.
Can I use PayPal for a business?
Yes. Use the account to accept customer payments and to send payouts. Fees, if any, show before you confirm a payout, the same way they do for a personal send.
Where is my balance?
Summary shows what is available. Activity shows each line that changed it. A request that has not been paid does not change the balance.
How do I reach a person?
Use Contact. Include the email on the account, the date, and the amount so we can find the payment. We reply to that email.
What should I do if I paid the wrong person?
Contact us quickly with their email and the amount. Do not send a second payment to “fix” it until you have talked to us.