Money sent in USD automatically converted to CAD?

[MillerSculpting]

Ive been using PayPal for several years and only recently have I encountered this problem:

The buyer sends the funds in USD and Paypal autoconverts it to CAD.   

Since CAD wont work with the PayPal Mastercard debit card I am then forced to convert the currency back to USD (or else withdraw it to my bank via that lengthy process 😠 )

My primary currency has always been listed as USD (and still is) and all the senders are sending it in USD as thats the currency I work in for my international sales.   Each buyer has said that they sent the money in USD and that they were given no choice, PayPal altered it to CAD.

I called the PayPal 1-800 number and the 'helpful' person on the phone said that the buyers must be sending it wrong but as some of them have been customers for nearly a decade without incident I told her it seemed to be a recent thing- she then said that its because I have a Canadian account- however as PayPal itself resides in the USA and doesnt pay Canadian Taxes this makes no sense- rather it appears like a new way to extract additional fees on Canadian accounts.   I told her that I would simply close my CAD currency and she said that may result in all transactions being rejected- in other words we have no choice?

Has anyone else had this experience or perhaps have better information on what  has changed ?

[scoyote]

This automatic conversion of clients $us payments into  $ca is Paypals latest attempt to stymie canadians from having a $US

balance in paypal----and closes off the withdrawal of $us from paypal into a Canadian bank account via a USA based branch and routing number. If you use paypal for purchases in The USA  things just became more difficult ----you won't jhave a 4us account balance! So--regardless of linked bank accounts existing and prioritizing $us----it comes down to having a Canadian Paypal-----then all client payments will be automatically converted to $ca. Rates are not favorable either--just to rub it in!

[elegault]

I had a similar runaround with them before.  I have a US$ bank account with a Canadian bank - and PayPal has no way of depositing US funds into it.  It forces a conversion to CDN$.  Support has been useless.

[scoyote]

Hi--There is only one bank (rbc) $us high interest savings account that works with the routing number in the SPF work around (google it)   Worked for me as i was able to withdraw my $us balance without converting--------------however all my client transactions in $us were being auto converted recently----after many inquiries and being told that it was due to my having canadian paypal. I've been with paypal since 2002 and never before has this happened--it's not happening with my canadian colleagues either. Finally got through to a floor supervisor that admitted it shouldn't be happening with a USA based bank and a New York routing number and the $us payments prioritized. IT   is going to straighten things out  for me---but you have to be organized and persistant to get anywhere .---------------scoyote

[alpach]

The same problem here. All money coming in USD are being converted to CAD automatically. And I mostly spend them online as USD, so there is a double convertion.

Did they change rules?

[scoyote]

I had my $us account with a canadian bank and the routing number thru New York---it was successfully linked and was the only bank linked-$ca were not to be accepted---$us payment only--My clients payed in $us  and yet monies were converted to $ca.---I was persistant in calling the help line and got many varied explanations. Finally talked with a floor mgr. and he contacted their IT person. The problem has been resolved and i can now maintain a $us balance---plus withdraw $us to my Canadian bank.

[skflatland]

I noticed this happening and I tell my customers thay IF asked they are to answer NO to send in cdn funds.

So far it has worked.

I am receiving payments in US funds.

If I forget to tell them the US payments arrive in CDN funds.

I like to keep the balance in /us funds so  that I can purchase in the US.

You are correct.  another way for Pay Pal to extort funds from us canadians. 

[scoyote]

Nothing you can do about it if purchaser doesn't use the pick list and change the CAD TO USD---paypal deems the default conversion as authorized---regardless that you have set preferences in USD -People think they are sending USD--you have no wallet links to Canadian banks---don't hold a CAD balance--have desperately set preferences to ask to accept or deny each payment. It odesn't matter!! I have a work around to get my USD out of paypal and into my Canadian bank directly. You must stress that buyers use the pick list to get USD --otherwise you're getting Canadian funds at the Paypal favoring rate because Paypal has put CAD as the default. I finally linked a Canadian bank so that they wouldn't re-convert to add to my USD balance---I couldn't handle being beat twice.