Why Does PayPal ask for a credit card to make a payment?

[pshasta]

What is the point in having a PayPal account if PayPal requires me to enter a credit card to make a purchase? I have plenty of money in the PayPal account, so why do they need a credit card or bank account too? A major reason not to use PayPal.

[kernowlass]

@pshasta 

To verify your paypal account and allow a back up funding source for security reasons.

You should still be able to use your paypal balance as long as its in the correct currency / not pending / marked as your primary funding source.

[pshasta]

PayPal does not need my credit card for "security purposes" as they have my money. Whose security, anyway? I chose PayPal so I wouldn't need a credit card!  I should be able to use my PayPal balance, which is ample to cover any small purchase I want to make. It started out that way. Then PayPal started getting more and more intrusive, wanting multiple credit cards and access to my bank account. There is no point in having a PayPal account in this case as I might as well use my personal credit card for purchases. Right?

[kernowlass]

@pshasta 

Your balance would be useless if it was pending or in the incorrect currency OR if you paid someone at the same time a dispute was raised when paypal would have to use your back up card. 

The idea of paypal is that it saves you inputting card information every time you want to pay.

If you don't want to provide a card then just close your account?