We’re sure you have heard of the term “PayPal hold,” but what do you really know about it? What does this mean, and how can I get my money released from a PayPal hold?
This article will help you understand the basics of getting your funds back from a PayPal hold. You will also learn more about how online payment software works in general.
Let’s get into it!
What is a Paypal Hold?
A PayPal hold is when someone has paid for an item on PayPal and then not received their product or service. The seller holds the payment until they receive the item in question.
If the buyer doesn’t receive the item within 30 days, the seller may cancel the transaction and request that the payment be returned.
Why Does PayPal Have a Hold On My Funds?
The reason why PayPal holds funds is that they are protecting themselves by doing so.
They want to make sure that the person who pays them is legitimate and that they will actually send the items purchased.
If they don’t receive the items, they want to make sure that they aren’t being scammed.
How Do I Know if I am Being Scammed?
If you are receiving emails asking you to send more money or to wire money to some other location, you should immediately report these scams to PayPal.
It is very important to report any scammer as soon as possible, otherwise you could potentially lose out on money due to falling for the scam.
How Can I Request My Money Back From A PayPal Hold?
If you are having issues with your PayPal account, there are two ways to get your money back:
1) Contact PayPal directly
2) File a complaint through the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Contacting PayPal Directly
You can contact PayPal at 1-800-944-7467. There may be charges associated with the call, so always read any small details before calling.
Filing a Complaint Via BBB
You can file a complaint against the seller through the Better Business Bureau. To do so, go to www.bbb.org/paypallistings and click on “File a Complaint.”
Fill out the form and submit it. Once you fill out the form, you will automatically be sent to the right department to talk to.
Once you have filed a complaint, you will need to wait for PayPal to investigate the issue. Depending on the situation, it could take anywhere from 5-10 business days before PayPal releases your funds.
How Long Will It Take For PayPal to Release My Funds After Filing a Complaint With the BBB?
It depends on the type of complaint that was made. If you were scammed, it will depend on whether the seller cooperates with PayPal or not.
If the seller did cooperate with PayPal, it will most likely take less than 10 business days for PayPal to release your funds.
However, if the seller didn’t cooperate with PayPal, it could take up to 60 business days for PayPal to return your funds.
Can I Receive My Money Before the Investigation Has Begun?
No. You cannot receive your money until after the investigation has been completed. This means that you won’t see your money until after the seller has responded to the complaint.
What Should I Do If I Don’t Want to Wait For PayPal to Return My Funds?
There are several options available to you if you don’t want to wait for PayPal to release your money.
First, you can use another method of payment such as Western Union or MoneyGram instead of using PayPal.
Second, you can pay off the balance owed to PayPal in full. You can also ask PayPal to remove the hold on your account.
Third, you can request that PayPal give you access to your funds. In this case, PayPal will transfer all of your funds into your bank account.
Is It Legal For PayPal to Keep My Funds Until an Investigation is Complete?
Yes. As long as the seller doesn’t violate any laws, PayPal is allowed to keep your funds until an investigation is complete.
However, if the seller does violate any laws, PayPal will release your funds immediately once they find out about it.
Is There Anything Else That I Should Know About Getting My Funds Released From a PayPal Hold?
There are several things that you should keep in mind while trying to get your funds released from a PayPal hold. First, you must provide proof that you did indeed purchase the items in question.
You can use either a copy of the receipt showing the date and amount of the transaction or a screenshot of the email conversation where you bought the items.
Also, you must prove that you paid for the items. In order to prove that you paid for them, you can use the original shipping label or tracking number.
You also need to show that you have tried to contact the seller about the problem. Finally, you need to explain what happened after contacting PayPal.
Did the seller respond to you? Was he uncooperative? Did he give you the wrong information? What exactly happened?
These details will help PayPal determine how to handle this matter.
Final Thoughts
The first thing that you should know about PayPal holds is that they are quite common. According to PayPal’s own data, over half of all transactions experience a hold.
On top of that, many people don’t realize that they are experiencing one until it has already been resolved.
The reason for this is that PayPal doesn’t notify users when their funds are being held by another user. Instead, it only tells you once you request your funds.
This makes it very easy for someone else to steal your funds before you even notice. If you do happen to notice that your funds are being held, there are still ways to recover them.
However, one of the best ways is by getting in touch with PayPal directly, or opening up a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
Merchants can learn more on these topics over at our credit card processing knowledge hub.
Paul Martinez is the founder of EcomSidekick.com. He is an expert in the areas of finance, real estate, eCommerce, traffic and conversion.
Join him on EcomSidekick.com to learn how to improve your financial life and excel in these areas. Before starting this media site, Paul built from scratch and managed two multi-million dollar companies. One in the real estate sector and one in the eCommerce sector.