I'm in Aus and can't use my USD Paypal balance to pay for a USD subscription with a Vendor. Why?

[Fime23]

I click the "Paypal Checkout" and it only gives me bank & credit card options.

I've tried re-setting "Paypal balance" as my preferred payment method, different browsers, incognito windows and nothing is working.

Paypal help centre has been useless. Telling me to do things I've already told them I've done. Of course I have adequate balance in the correct currency!!

And the last message was to tell me that because I have paypal balance as preferred method, Paypal would use that, which I think is BS cos the merchant paypal window which pops up, makes me select bank account or credit card. I'm pretty sure it will then just use what I select right?

Can anyone help with this mess?

[kernowlass]

@Fime23 

Have you marked the USD currency as your primary currency in your paypal wallet for that transaction?

[Fime23]

Yep! I have! USD is actually my only paypal balance.

[kernowlass]

@Fime23 

Read this post from a moderator, could be to set up a billing agreement / subscription the first instalment has to be a card, read the link.

https://www.paypal-community.com/t5/Transactions-Archives/Can-not-do-payment-via-my-linked-bank-acco...

Another might be if there is a billing agreement associated with the payment. A card may be needed to establish the agreement, after wish you may be able to change the payment method by visiting the billing agreement details in your account. 

[Fime23]

Thanks for that information. That sounds like it could be the problem. Which is very annoying because I have Paypal balance in USD so that I can pay for USD merchants in USD, from Australia. If I make the initial payment on my card then it will charge in AUD and I'll be hit by the terrible exchange rate.

Do you think this is imposed at the Paypal end or at the merchant end?

I have asked the merchant to investigate.