Another dumb question, this one about paypal

[MaryAnn]

Someone refunded $50 to me and it went to something called "paypal balance." I don't seem to be able to access this and it appears I just lost $50. No, I don't and won't link a bank account to Paypal. Last thing I need is MORE personal information stored on a server that hackers will get at.

[bort]

I think you can ask PayPal to send you a check in the mail, instead of providing bank information.

[MaryAnn]

Either way, you're screwed because they will charge to send a check.

[bort]

It only costs $1.50 to have a check issued... so a lot better than losing $50.

[Donn]

There are a ton of internet places that take paypal just like credit cards. You could hold onto that money and spend it that way. It's not just eBay stuff anymore

A balance happened to me in a similar way, and that's what I have been doing with it. It's better than money in the bank, because that earns really pitiful interest, and the paypal balance saves credit charges, right? Since the alternative is that paypal charges my credit card, and they make me pay the fee. Haven't really looked into it, but such is my guess.

[MaryAnn]

There are a ton of internet places that take paypal just like credit cards. You could hold onto that money and spend it that way. It's not just eBay stuff anymore

Nope. Can't spend it. I have no access without linking a bank account.

[Donn]

Right, for sure the balance should be available to spend via Paypal transactions, without any bank linkage, it should come up as an option with the next Paypal transaction. That doesn't mean Paypal wouldn't take advantage of the situation to try to get you to link up a bank account. I mean, I have no idea how they'd justify it, but ... back in the early days, they would cut you off at some accumulated purchase usage, and tell you the bank account is required from here on. I complained, since that was absurd, and they lifted my limit and let me go on without any bank account. If they're somehow pulling something similar, you'd have an even better case, as they'd have impounded your funds without cause.

[bort]

Did the check by mail option not work? $1.50 to have a paper check mailed to you... sounds like what you are looking for!

[Donn]

Interesting. That article kind of fails to explain what they're talking about, but clearly there has been some change, so I went to see how my account was doing. As I mentioned, same thing for me - had a balance from a refund or something - and I used Paypal today and it didn't use it, needed to draw from my credit card instead. Well, the money is still there, but no Paypal Cash balance account, and no explanation, but they show the balance and suggest that I "accept" it. Which turned out to be a couple possibilities, including a bank deposit, but also set up a cash balance account. The only info they needed that they didn't already have, was birthday and SSN last 4.

Now my balance is apparently back in business, and as best as I can tell, the (very little) money in that balance can as before be spent without incurring any fee, as long as it's domestic. Unlike credit card purchases.