<p>I’ve always been hesitant to set up an account. But my husband/son were looking on ebay last night for Sweet Sixteen tickets and it prompted us to think about setting up an account again - I’m always hesitant about online payment besides my few usual places I frequent shopping online…</p>
<p>Can you give me a simple Paypal education? Do you recommend a seperate credit card for Paypal purchases only? I think that’s what we would be looking to do - to use Paypal to charge to a credit card as opposed to the option (?) of having money in a Paypal account???</p>
<p>Simple tips or “beware” tips appreciated.</p>
<p>We use ebay mostly for ticket purchases (games, concerts, etc.) so not something we’ll be using with great frequency. In the past, we’ve only bought through ebay if we could do money order.</p>
<p>The good thing about PayPal is that you’re only giving the folks at PayPal information about your credit card – not anyone who sells you something on eBay. The “anyones” at eBay can be flakey characters, so PayPal offers you more assurance. </p>
<p>Also, I think – someone help me out here – that PayPal intervenes if there’s a dispute. </p>
<p>I’ve always used them for eBay purchases. I only use a credit card; I haven’t bothered to have $$$ in a PayPal account. I’m not sure what advantage that offers.</p>
<p>BTW, I occasionally get pfishing emails from a site that looks like PayPal but isn’t. Actually, PayPal has never gotten in touch with me. So if you get any emails from them, be verrrrrrry careful.</p>
<p>Only pay through Paypal with a credit card. Under no circumstances should you link to your bank account.</p>
<p>Only pay for Ebay auctions with a credit card (either direct or through paypal).</p>
<p>Follow the ebay and paypal dispute resolution to the letter.</p>
<p>Dispute resolution through ebay and paypal are worthless. All the seller has to do is prove they shipped you something (anything), and ebay and paypal are off the hook.</p>
<p>That is where you use your credit card’s dispute resolution, and stick paypal with the problem. Make sure you also follow the credit card dispute resolution to the letter (timing, notification, etc.).</p>
<p>If you follow those rules, it is a really safe way to pay.</p>
<p>In addition, I have a citibank card, and they have “virtual account numbers”. I can get a single use number, and put a certain $ amount on it. That way Paypal can only take up to that amount, and no more.</p>
<p>If you get an email that looks like it is from Paypal, but it does not say your name in it, (like Dear Jane Doe) it is a phishing attempt. I used to get them quite a bit, but I think Paypal has improved it’s security. (this is after you have registered with them) Never respond to an email that says to send them personaly info. They always use my name in official emails!</p>
<p>If you do get a phishing attempt, Paypal has an address they want you to send them to, and they will shut down that particular person sending them. You can find the address by clicking on security, and then they have a link.</p>
<p>I have had a paypal account for years - since 2000 according to my account profile - and have never had a problem. </p>
<p>Paypal has sent me perhaps 1 or 2 emails in those 9 years. The key is never respond or click through any link in a paypal email. </p>
<p>If you get an email which claims to be from paypal, simply open a new browser and go to <a href=“http://www.paypal.com%5B/url%5D”>www.paypal.com</a> and login directly to the site. From there go to your account setting and you can quickly figure out what the problem might be. Most likely the email was a fraud and there is nothing to be done. </p>
<p>I find it to be very handy for all kinds of internet transactions - especially those involving foreign currency as they have a pretty good exchange rate.</p>
<p>We have used paypal for years to pay people, but have recently tried to open an account to receive a payment. That has been an enormous pain in the butt, and they won’t let us close out the account and withdraw the money in it.</p>
<p>Paypal dispute resolution is apparently a waste of time. I bought a set of disks (TV Series) that turned out to be bootlegged. The seller said they were “Susan” from New York, and the shipment came from Lia Hoy in Shanghai. Paypal is still thinking about this (and it has been almost 2 months…). Last time I talked to Paypal they said I may have to ship the disks back to Shanghai to get my money back. I pointed out that (1) shipping was supposed to be free to start with, (2) if I had expected to return these when I purchased them I would expect to send them to New York, not Shanghai, and (3) they are enabling bootleggers (criminals) by having me shipping these back so they can just sell them to someone else. And now because Paypal has taken so long to deal with this, I think I am probably past the dispute resolution period for my credit card (they are supposed to resolve the issue within 30 days, but they ended up opening a 2nd ticket, etc. that they say gives them an extension on that timeline).</p>
<p>That said, I have made many purchases through Paypal and feel that my credit card number is safe. Just don’t count on Paypal’s resolution process.</p>
<p>More and more non-merchants are setting up paypal accounts to receive payments. For example, I’ve found that some non-profits are asking for donations via paypal. They aren’t set up for charge cards. Did my first donation using paypal this year.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I only use paypal for ebay purchases, which I don’t make very frequently.</p>
<p>I’ve had PayPal acct for many years. I link my bank acct and credit card with it. I use it to pay for things, to send birthday money to my family, or they send money to me for various reasons. What’s nice about it is when people (dead beat family) send you money, you know it’s there, there is no issue with a check bouncing. It doesn’t cost anything unless your transaction is huge, or if you want to use credit card to receive payments, then the acct becomes a business acct. I can withdraw money from my PayPal acct directly into my bank acct, again, no cost.</p>
<p>^I hadn’t thought about it as a way to protect yourself from deadbeat family, old fort, but that is why vendors like paypal–they don’t have to worry about deadbeat buyers.</p>
<p>I have had a paypal account linked to my bank account for many years. I have never had a problem and have also had good results with their dispute resolution.</p>
<p>DH and I have had a Paypal account since 1999 and have never had a problem. I have used it for EBay purchases and for purchases from other small businesses. I prefer it to using a credit card directly, as the person you’re paying does not get any information about your account. When dealing with a small one-person business that may have very little security, that’s a good thing.</p>
<p>My parents are getting older, my siblings and I pay some of my parents’ expense. I live close to my parents, so I usually pay first then I collect from my siblings. There is one sibling that used to bounce checks, then I would be charged 25-35 by my bank. PayPal solved my problem.</p>
<p>If your college kid doesn’t use the same bank as you, PayPal is also a good way of sending money for free.</p>