In the digital age, platforms like paypal have become indispensable for managing our daily finances, making simple online payments and transfers of money between friends and family. however, when it comes to less frequent operations, how to request a payment or start a refund procedure, you may be faced with procedures you have never faced before. this guide has been created to provide you with all the information you need to navigate safely in these cases, turning doubts into clarity and uncertainty into competence.
Open a paypal account: the base of everything #
Before you can request or refund money, it is essential to have an active paypal account. contrary to what some may think, no complex or formal “request” procedure is required to open one. opening a paypal account is a direct process, completely free and accessible to all. just visit the official website of the platform and follow the few guided steps for registration. once completed, you will have access to all the features that the platform offers, from receiving to sending payments, to managing commercial transactions.
Paypal prepaid cards: a closed chapter for private #
Many users could remember the paypal rechargeable card, once very popular and available for both online and physical stores. it is important to know that this option is no longer available. since 9 may 2019, paypal has stopped marketing its prepaid card for consumers. those who owned one of these cards, purchased by 8 may 2019 and activated in the six months after purchase, can continue to use it regularly until its expiry date. however, once expired, it will not be possible to request a new one or a renewal.
There is an exception for business users: if you have a paypal business account, you can request the paypal business debit mastercard*. this debit card, part of the mastercard circuit, is specifically designed for business expenses, offering flexibility for purchases both online and physical stores, facilitating professional exit management directly from your paypal business balance.
Request a payment on paypal: step by step #
Whether you have to get paid by a friend, family or client, paypal offers intuitive tools to send money requests. the procedure is simple and can be performed both through the website and through the mobile app, with slight differences between personal accounts and business.
Via website #
For personal accounts: #
- Login to your paypal account from the official website.
- On the main screen, search and click on the “request” button, usually placed at the top right. alternatively, you can select the *“send and ask” from the top menu and then choose the “request” option.
- Enter the email address, name, username or cell number of the person or persons you intend to request money in the designated field.
- Click on **“next”*.
- On the next screen, specify the exact amount you want to receive. you also have the option to add a custom message in the ** field “add a message”**, useful to specify the payment causal.
- Selecting the ** option “do you want to add someone else? ”**, you can extend the request up to a maximum of 20 people simultaneously. it is important to note that, in this case, the amount requested will be identical for all recipients, unless you use the *********** option, which allows you to divide the total amount into equal or customized parts among participants.
- Finally, click on “request money now” to send your request. all recipients will receive immediate notification, including via email, with instructions to proceed to payment.
For business accounts: #
- After accessing your paypal business account, search and select the **“effet and receive payments”*.
- From the drop-down menu that opens, choose the option **“request money”*.
- The next steps are similar to those for personal accounts: you will need to enter the applicant’s data (email, name, username or phone number), specify the amount and add a message if desired.
- Complete the procedure confirming the sending of the request.
Via mobile app (android and ios) #
The convenience of requesting payments is also at hand through the paypal app, available for android and iphone devices.
For personal accounts: #
- Open the paypal app on your smartphone or tablet and sign in to your account.
- In the menu below, tap the item “payments”.
- On the new screen, select the *“request” option.
- Enter the name, email address, username or cell number of the person from whom you expect payment.
- Specify the amount and, if you want, write a message in the field **“write a message”*.
- Confirm your request by first touching *“next” and then “request money”.
For business accounts: #
If you use a paypal business account, you will need to download and access the paypal business app (available for both android and ios).
- Inside the app, tap the dollar icon (******) which is usually placed on the bottom right.
- Choose the option *“request money” from the menu that appears.
- Continue by entering the information of the applicant, the amount and the possible message, then confirms the sending.
Get a paypal refund: manage disputes and complaints #
When an online purchase does not go as expected, knowing how to request a refund through paypal can make a difference. the procedure requires attention and can go through different stages, from direct contact with the seller to opening a formal complaint with paypal.
First step: contact the seller #
The quickest and most effective solution for a refund is almost always to contact the seller directly. many problems can be solved with simple communication, avoiding longer procedures.
In addition, if the disputed payment occurred on a specific e-commerce platform (e.g. ebay), it is often advisable to start the return or cancellation procedure directly from that platform. this can speed up the refund process and ensure compliance with the platform policies itself.
Open a contest via paypal (website) #
If direct contact with the seller does not lead to a solution or if the purchase platform does not offer adequate support, you can open a dispute over paypal within 180 days from the date of payment. here’s how:
- Login to your paypal account.
- On the main screen, locate the “recent activity” section and click on the payment object of the refund. alternatively, you can select “cronology” from the top menu and then click on the desired transaction.
- In this screen, near the item “seller data”, you will find the contact details to try a last direct contact, if you have not already done so.
- If the problem persists, press on the item **“tell a problem”*.
- On the new page, click **“continue to paypal”*.
- In the section “problems with purchase”, select the option **“i want a refund for all or some items contained in the order”*.
- Place the check mark next to the article or items concerned and specify the details (article type, category, quantity) through the drop-down menus. in case of non-material services or articles, you will need to manually enter this information.
- Click on **“continue”*.
- Indicates the problem found by choosing between the available options (e.g. “i did not receive the article”, “the service does not satisfy me”, “i received the article late”, etc.).
- Click again on **“continue”*.
- On the ** screen, please enter all required information and specify the exact amount of the desired refund.
- Finally, press “continue” to officially open the paypal contest.
Management of dispute and conversion to complaint #
Once the contest is opened, the seller will have the opportunity to provide an answer and, if necessary, to proceed with the refund. if you do not reach a satisfactory solution at this stage, you have the opportunity to convert the dispute in a complaint within 20 days of the opening date of the practice. at that point, it will be the paypal team to examine your case, acting as a broker and deciding the final outcome.
To track the status of your practice, you can access the resolution centre* from your paypal account. you will find this option by clicking on the icon of the three dots (usually close to the button to request money) and selecting **“go to the resolution center”*.
Refund procedure from mobile app #
Also from smartphones and tablets, the paypal app allows you to manage refund requests.
- Open the app and access your account.
- Tap the “wallet” in the menu below, then select the “cronology” tab.
- Prize for payment of your interest.
- Selecting the ** option “request a refund”**, you can view the seller’s contacts for a direct resolution attempt.
- If you have already contacted the seller without success, tap “sign a problem” and follow the same directions provided for the computer procedure to open a dispute.
Paypal accounts business and refunds #
For the owners of a paypal business account, the refund management procedure is very similar to that for personal accounts. to access the open practices and monitor the status, you can select the “cronology”* from the top menu and then press “open practics”.
Final considerations #
Paypal confirms itself as a versatile and powerful tool for managing online financial transactions, offering advanced features for both sending and receiving money, as well as a robust protection system for buyers through its refund procedures. understanding how to use these features will allow you to make the most of the platform, ensuring secure transactions and managing any issues with greater serenity.