How do I Grant API permission...

[LMT107]

...to allow a third party to retireve data?  I have a Personal account.

I'm trying to link PayPal to Check.me.  Check has gives these instructions:

1. Log in to PayPal
2. Click "Profile > More Options"
3. In the left-hand menu, click "My Selling Tools" 
4. Under the first section "Selling Online," click "Update" for API access at this point there is no "update" for selling on line. I can only create a selling button or manage invoices.  So how can I set up my account to grant grant API access?
5. On the next page, click the hyperlink under option 1 - "Grant API Permission"
6. In the Third Party Permission unsername field, type guy_api1.pageonce.com then click the “Lookup” button
7. Check off the appropriate permissions
8. Then you will see a confirmation page                                                                                                                                     Can someone, please, help me with this issue?  Thank you!

[snowshoe]

A Personal Account won't work.   API credentials are not available for PayPal Personal accounts.  You must have either a Premier or Business Account. 

You can upgrade your Personal Account to either a Premier or Business Account if you want or you can simply keep your Personal Account as is and open a new Premier or Business Account.  It's your option.

If you want to upgrade your Personal Account, here's how:

1. Log in to your PayPal account.
2. Click Upgrade Account.
3. Click Upgrade Now.
4. Choose Business or Premier account.
5. Click Continue.
6. For a Business account, fill in your business information and click Continue.

A few additional thoughts:

Personal Accounts are intended for people who simply want to shop online or need to Send/Receive money.  If you're planning on selling, you need either a Premier or Business Account.  If you are a registered Business, then go with a Business Account, else if you're an occasional seller, switch to a Premier. 

Business Accounts allow you to display your Business Name or Business Logo Graphic on the PayPa Checkout Screens where as Permier Accounts only display your email address.

[LMT107]

Hi Snowshoe, thanks for responding. It seems that I want clear about what I needed. I am not interested in selling. I just wanted to allow a third party (ie Mint.com, Check.me) access to my account so they can show me my PayPal account balance and transactions list when I log into their website. So, all of my financials will be in one place. Am I explaining it right? Lol I'm not good with tech lingo. Thanks again for your help.

[snowshoe]

If you still want to use API's, it's not possible with a Personal Account.

If you want to allow someone else access with controlled permissions to your PayPal Account, you would have to have a Business Account - regardless if you plan to be a seller or not.  Busines Accounts have a feature called Multi-User Access, Premier and Personal account do not have that feature.

[LMT107]

Thank you! You've been a great help.

[viveknanda]

Not sure if you are still looking for ways to do this, but here are a couple of tutorials which will guide you through the steps to upgrade your PayPal account to a Business one and then get the API details:-

http://www.paysketch.com/upgrade-paypal-account/

http://www.paysketch.com/get-paypal-api-username-password-signature/

Hope this helps you

[KGowdy]

Actually you can do it. From the home page I went all the way to the bottom where it says selling tools and hit seller preferences then went to API access clicked update and then went to add or edit api permissions I am using this for my check.me account so I hit add new third party put in the username Intuit_Check_api1.intuit.com checked these granted permissions obtain your paypal account balance, obtain information about a single transaction and search your transactions for items that match specific criteria and display results and its done. Hope this helped.