Why do I have to wait 72 Hours?

[Disgruntled123]

I have had a fully verified PayPal account linked upto my bank account for the last 10 years. Nothing has changed on it at all. So why have I got to wait 3 days to withdraw MY money? The money was sent to me via international transfer, from the same person in the USA (who also has a fully verified account) who has sent me money countless times. The amount sent isn't an alien amount, it's the average amount I reveive on most transactions. I used my home PC for the transaction as I have done for the last 5 years.

If this withdrawal security check was a one off, I wouldn't mind. But this is the second time in a week this has happened to me. (I've only made two withdrawals this week!) And the first one was only for £20.

Waiting 3 days to receive £20.

I also believe UK law states that any "investigations" should be handled AFTER the money has been sent, though apparently PayPal don't have to adhere to the same set of rules as banks do for some reason.

So now I've got to wait for 3 days to get a root canal treatment done, 72 hours without sleep.

Worst service ever.

I would say that I'd pay that little bit more and use banks directly for international payments, but with PayPal's fees the banks will probably be cheaper anyway. 

[kernowlass]

When you pay a seller it is never instant > paypal credit the seller for you and then start the process of uploading your funds to paypal from your funding source.

So if you as that seller withdraw that payment instantly then its paypals money you are withdrawing and i reckon the hold is just a precaution whilst they wait for the buyers funds to clear through to themselves.

The reason i think this? Normally i withdraw funds about once a month and NEVER had a hold. BUT I had a bigger payment than usual and withdraw that straight away and guess what I had a 72 hour hold....coincidence? maybe but I think not.

I have also seen a post where someone actually was told that by customer services.

[Disgruntled123]

That's all good and well, but I never bought/sold anything.

The money was sent via the gift option or w/e it is, so at no point in any part of this transaction did the money "belong to PayPal".

They were paid their fees by the sender, then they were paid their extortionate exchange rate by me.

[kernowlass]

Even if its a gift payment, they still have to wait for the senders payment to process through to paypal from their c.c. or debit card.

Also if the sender had funded their payment to you via instant bank transfer OR funds in their paypal balance there would not have been a sender fee only currency conversion fee.

[Fed_Up_User]

I am in the same situation. After withdrawing funds from Paypal to my bank within two hours on many occasions, as recently as three days ago, I have found my latest withdrawal (only just over 20 pounds!) yesterday has been given a status that says 'pending' until it has been 'reviewed' by Paypal and that it may take 24 hours or longer to appear in my bank.

My Paypal is verified, linked to the same bank account and debit card as always. Nothing has changed and nothing out of the ordinary has happened.

The money is from sales on Ebay, I am only a casual user, but it is frustrating for me, as it has happened for no reason! I have emailed Paypal three times and just got a standard reply suggesting this may happen due to 'unusual activity' on my account. But there hasn't been any. I think they have a cheek withholding our own money from us for no reason whatsoever.