My Email Address is being used by another Paypal user

[Steve_2023]

I have been trying to change the email address for my Paypal account, but the email address I wish to use has already been registered by another Paypal user, despite me owning the new email address for many years.

I have spoken to Paypal customer services twice, and have done what they asked to no avail. I have also logged two formal complaints with Paypal online, with no response.

I do not receive any payment confirmation emails, which indicates whoever set up the account is not using it. I do however receive marketing emails to this address. Paypal has allowed this person to set up their Paypal account without validating the email address and, as they have multi-factor authentication in place, I cannot reset the account password.

I can see others have had similar problems, with mixed outcomes. Is there any further action I can take, as I seem to have exhausted the formal Paypal customer support options?

[kernowlass]

@Steve_2023 

Contact your email account provider and see if they can  help you?

[Steve_2023]

The problem is nothing to do with my email provider. Paypal have allowed someone else to create a Paypal account using my email address. Only Paypal can remove my email address from that other account. This would then enable me to use it for my Paypal account.

[kernowlass]

@Steve_2023 

ok

[PayPal_Ayesha · Accepted solution]

Hello @Steve_2023,

Welcome to PayPal Community Forum and Thank you for your post! Thanks for the help @kernowlass.

I’m sorry to hear that an email address that you own has been used by someone to open a PayPal account. It sounds like the person may have made a typo, and was unable to complete the signup because they don’t actually have that email address. You can send an email from the email address in question to unsolicitedemail@paypal.com, you can request that they review the situation, close the account, and free up that email address for future use. 

Best Wishes,
Ayesha

[Steve_2023]

I'm speechless. That worked. And it only took a day to get it done.

Thank you so much Ayesha. I cannot believe that after so many attempts to reclaim my email address, you were able provide a solution that worked.

Top marks to you!

Kind regards
Steve