Paying in a different currency on app is not allowing option to not use PayPal's conversion rate

[TikiExotics]

I often get paid in both USD and EUR, so I'll have both in my PayPal balance. Recently I went to pay someone from the app in Euros and I used part of my PayPal balance and the rest on my card. I double checked before approving it and it just showed I was sending the money in Euros, but when the email came through it shows PayPal did the conversion and charged my card in USD. The conversion rate with PayPal is not as good as the one I have with my bank, so I wanted to pay in Euros.

Is there a way to default to always just charging in the currency listed and not having PayPal do the conversion? If not, when checking out on the app, how can I select to not have PayPal do the conversion?

[Harley125]

Hi @TikiExotics

Thanks for joining the Community! 

Please be informed that you can send money, receive money, and withdraw money in multiple currencies. If you want to send money using your PayPal balance, you should first convert your balance into the currency your recipient prefers.

With a PayPal Balance account, here’s how to select a currency for your primary balance:

1. Go to Wallet.
2. Click on the right side of the currency balance you want to make primary and click Make primary.

Your primary balance is your default currency. Your default currency is used to send and request payments.

Here's how to manage multiple currencies:

1. Click Wallet at the top of the page.
2. Locate the available currency and click the menu icon to the right of the currency.
3. The options to "Make Primary", "Convert Currency", and "Close Currency" will generate.

I hope this helps! 

- Harley

[TikiExotics]

The issue is that I often use both currencies, so setting a primary doesn't help.  I recall at one point I was able to select whether I was paying in that currency with my card or allowing PayPal to convert for me.  I'm guessing that option has changed?

[Tinkerblast]

Why isn't there a menu to click on the right of the currency on the app

[PayPal_Meghan]

Hello @TikiExotics and @Harley125, 

Thanks for stopping by the PayPal Community! 

@TikiExotics, I understand you recently sent a payment to someone in EUR and split the payment method between your balance and a card. However, rather than the money debiting from your card in EUR, it debited in USD and caused a currency conversion. I'm sorry to hear this happened; I can certainly understand how frustrating that would be. As @Harley125 mentioned, adjusting your primary currencies can help when making payments. However, it sounds like we may need to update your card's currency, which would have to be done by Customer Support. If your card's currency is in USD, payments will automatically debit as USD. However, it could be changed to EUR if that's better for you. As a heads up, we can only do this for cards, though, and not banks. Bank accounts can only be set to the primary currency of the country where you reside. 

If you'd like to update your card's currency, you can reach out to Customer Support in a few different ways. I suggest reviewing our Help Center article, How do I contact PayPal customer service? to review all of the different options for your area. 

I hope this information helps and that you have a wonderful weekend! 

- Meghan

[TikiExotics]

To clarify, my card is in USD as I'm in the US, but I often buy and sell things outside of the US. This particular transaction was paying for band merch from a French band. I recall at one point I was able to select whether PayPal would do the conversion or would just charge in that currency. Is that not an option for individual purchases without going in to change my card currency constantly?