Fee doesn't make sense (or match the info I found on PP website)

[jlane330]

Hi,

I am having an issue with the fee not matching the information on this site.  I called customer service and was given different information via the automated message.  When I tried to speak with a customer rep, I was disconnected with the error "the system is having techincal difficulties."  Urgh!

I am an individual (no business).  I am selling some watercraft parts and was willing to split the fee with the buyer.  The information I found on here said the fee would be 3.4% of the transaction + $.30.  The transaction was $405, so the fee should have been approx. $14.07.  Instead I was charged $18.43.  I also see advertisements for a 2.9% fee.  What gives?

The buyer is in Canada, and therefore I think he used CAD dollars.  According to the automated message on PP when I called, International transfers are a 3.9% fee.  On the website it says 4.4% + .30.  Why is there a descreptancy, and what is the correct answer?  This is crazy, and a hassle.  Had I know the correct amount, I would have requested a little more out of the buyer.

So, how do I reliably calculate the fee I'll be charged BEFORE having money transferred?  Why does the information on PP's website differ from that of the automated system.  Of course no skin off their back...they get their (bigger) cut.

[PayPal_Michael · Accepted solution]

Hello jlane330,

Welcome to the PayPal Community! I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the payment you mentioned, the discrepancy with the Transaction Fee, and the problem getting information from the automated system and being disconnected on the phone. That's not the kind of experience PayPal wants for customers! I'll do my best to assist.

The best source of information is on the website. You can see the different fees by navigating to https://www.paypal.com and clicking Fees at the bottom of the page. The fee that's assessed on a received payment depends on the type of payment you receive and where the sender is located.

If you're located in the US and you receive a payment from someone in the US, the fee is 2.9% + $0.30 USD per transaction. If you're in the US and your buyer is in Canada (as you mentioned), then the fee would be 4.4% + a fixed fee based on the currency received. If the payment you received was in USD, the fixed fee would be $0.30 USD. If you received CAD, the fixed fee would be $0.30 CAD.

Based on the information you provided (assuming you're located in the US), a payment in the amount of $405 USD received from a buyer in Canada with the payment being in USD, the fee would be 4.4% + $0.30 USD which would be about $18.12 USD. You mentioned the fee was $18.43 USD. Was the payment you received $405 USD or a little more. If it were a little more, then the fee sounds right.

I'm sorry there was any confusion with the automated system. The best source of information is the Activity section of your PayPal account, however. You can see each and every transaction there (both received payments and sent payments) and you can click on a transaction to display the Details Page. On the Details Page, you can find all the specifics related to a particular transaction, including how the fee was calculated.

I hope this information is helpful. In addition to clicking Fees at the bottom of any PayPal page, there's also more information in the Help Center (click Help at the bottom of any page) and in the PayPal User Agreement (click Legal at the bottom of any page).

Thanks for taking the time to post your question and comment here in the Community Forum. PayPal absolutely appreciates your business!

Sincerely,

Michael

PayPal_Michael

[Whac-A-Mole]

Did you ask for Canadian 405 or US 405?

what about shipping?Is that included in 405?

fee differs ,depends on how you get paid,if you use a device like a reader or pay a monthly fee in store ,else it is 30 cents plus 4.4% for cross border transaction.