PayPal not using my PayPal balance for payments and keeps charging my bank account. Why?

[chinyawa]

I have a large PayPal balance and when I log in and view my Settings, PayPal displays a message indicating:  "If you have a PayPal balance, we'll use it first."

But.....PP is NOT doing that  and instead they ignore my PP balance and charge my linked Bank Account.  Why? 

Why aren't you using my PayPal balance????  #default payment method#

Thank you.

[lancelotme]

SOMETIMES the paypal balance may have a hold on it,go into resolution center and see if there is any case open ?

[chinyawa]

Thanks for the suggestion Lancelotme -- great idea.  No luck, however.  I have No Cases at all.

[DPCreations]

I could depend on the purchase and the risk perceived by PayPal.

What was the purchase?

Have you ever had any disputes filed relating to items sold?

How long since your last sale?

[chinyawa]

It's usually for purchases I make online, using my phone.  This "issue" has been going on for the past few months, where PayPal won't use my PayPal balance and instead charges my bank account.  Yet on the web site, underneath my PP balance, they indicate: "If you have a PayPal balance, we'll use it first."  

[Judith123 · Accepted solution]

In case you haven't already:

Login to your account.

Click on Settings button (top, right).

Click on "Payment" tab (on blue band).

Make sure your Preferenced Payments methods are "checked" in both Online and In-store sections.

(I mention this because I've see the "If you have a PP balance, we'll use it first" message before, though I forget where.  Too, it seemed I could opt out of "using that balance first".  AND I don;t see that message in my account now, anywhere (Settings included), so... well I just want to be sure your "Preferences" are selected.  🙂 )

[chinyawa]

That might be it!  When I click on Settings, Payments, "Paying in Stores" defaults to my Bank Account.  However, "Paying Online" has a check mark next to "Choose a Payment Method at Checkout" and it will NOT let me deselect/remove the check-mark.  So.....even though right underneath that it says "If you have a PayPal balance we'll use it first", I MUST be selecting an alternate payment at checkout.  See below print screen:

[Judith123 · Accepted solution]

Ah, yes!  (Maybe).

At so many online retailers, your Method of Payment is already selected (like Debit or Credit Card), unless you choose another method, right then.  You really have to be on your toes to catch that, sometimes.

Rather than "de-select" the "Choose another method" option, did you try (just) "selecting" (clicking on) "Pay with PP balance..."?  (You might get a pop-up to confirm your selection.)  I would test it on my account, but it's working for me now, I don't want to mess things up.  LOL.)  

Well, gee, let me know if you figure out how to change that.  🙂

[sharpiemarker]

The Pay with PayPal with green check mark is static, you can't select it.  That Pay Online section shows what methods are available but if you can't change or select default, guess we're stuck with choosing a back up method at checkout.  On Payment Review page during checkout, click "More funding sources" to select a back up.  Yes, make sure you really read the checkout pages to update ship to addresses if needed and/or back up payment method.

[Judith123]

Can that "PP Balance -- First" option be selected?  (Can you click on it to "check" it?)

If it can't be, maybe "Pay with PayPal balance" is one of those options you can choose at Checkout. (Be sure to click on "More Payment Options", if "Pay with PayPal" isn't already prominently displayed, when Checking Out.)