21 Day Hold Period

[VeronicaLeigh]

I recently had to send out an invoice for a short story I sold. The buyer sent the payment and PayPal said I had to wait 21 days before receiving my payment. Fine, so I waited. Well, it's past 21 days and it's still on hold. I've tried verifying my account several times, I've tried to go to the help question thing and use their messenger. The messenger didn't even show the transaction, though if you look at my account, you can see it. What do I do? 

[sharpiemarker · Accepted solution]

@VeronicaLeigh 

Contact customer service:     
Log out of all account.

https://www.paypal.com/smarthelp/contact-us      

Click “Message Us” or “Call Us” option on the bottom.   
Then log in or use the “call use as guest” link.

Or send a general message to request that funds for [reference the transaction ID number] be released from hold as it’s beyond the 21 days.

Customer service hours are:

6:00 AM PT to 6:00 PM PT Monday through Sunday

Or reach out to PayPal at Facebook or Twitter:    

PayPal on Facebook

PayPal on Twitter

For future payments that are on hold, there are two methods to release money sooner depending on what you see on your screens:

Method 1:

Recipient has to change the order status or add tracking: 

1. Go to Activity. 
2. Find the transaction to update, then click Get your money. 
3. *If you sold a product, select Product to add tracking information or print shipping label directly. 
4. **If you received payment that do not require shipping, selling an intangible item or service, select Service or virtual product to confirm order status.
5. Click Submit. 

*Use one of the approved shipping carriers and PayPal release the hold 24 hours after the courier confirms delivery to the buyer’s address.

**Recipient will get their money 7 days after confirming the order status as Completed.

Method 2:

If there are no issues with the transactions such as disputes, claims or chargebacks, the funds should typically be released within 21 days from the date of payment.

In some markets, the transaction can be marked as "shipped" or "processed" to gain earlier access to the funds.

Here's how to mark your item as “shipped” or “Processed” in the Transaction details:

1. Log in to your PayPal account.
2. Go to Activity page,
3. Click the transaction to update.
4. Click “Add tracking info” button.
5. Click the Order Status menu and select “Order Processed” if physical shipping is not required, otherwise select “Shipped” and provide tracking number if available.

Then, after 48 hrs from payment date, ask Sender to ‘confirm receipt’, here’s how:

1. Click Activity at the top of the page.
2. Find and click the original payment for the item.
3. Click Confirm receipt.
4. Click Yes to confirm that you received the order.

Note: Not all transactions will have the ‘confirm receipt’ option nor is required to confirm receipt.