Why do I have to add a credit card if I use my bank account to pay?

[BenLQuestions]

Hello

I used to pay with Paypal with funds i sent from my bank account. Now i have a few dollars left to spend on my account but when I try to send money , I'm asked to add a credit card.

My account is verified, my bank account is linked to it, and i do not own a credit card. Why can't I pay anymore, when I could before.

Thanks in advance

[profdata]

If I understand you correctly you have a Paypal balance which will not cover the purchase in full, so you want what is not covered to come from the bank account.

The problem is the paypal balance will be instant but the remainder from the bank account will not be and thats the problem.

If you add a credit card or branded debit card (M/C or visa) to your paypal account the bank transfer will be instant because of the back up funding source (credit card).

Or you can transfer the paypal balance to yor bank account and then try to pay for the item with payment in full coming from the bank account

[snowshoe]

It's part of the requirement, PayPal uses the info as additional proof of who you are.  Basically they set the rules, if you want to use the services, one goes with the program.  It's really no different than other businesses out there, the business has a policy, if a person is uncomfortable with the policy, they find another business to work with.  Personally, I think having a bank account would be sufficient.  Banks ask for personal information as part of setting up a bank account.  If the bank thought you were a risk, they would not approve you for an account.  Bottom line, PayPal makes the rules, if it's not something you want to deal with there are other services same as there are other banks.

[profdata]

This is not a verify problem.  It is a problem of trying to mix instant payment and no instant payment, which can only be don if a credit card or branded debit card is attached to the paypal account.

[snowshoe]

It really is part of the verify issue.  Personally I don't have a problem with PayPal and their requirements, our business has been with PayPal a very long time and it works for us.  Here's the interesting part, PayPal's own FAQs state the following:

https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/helpcenter/article/?solutionId=10161&m=SRE

Why do I have to link and confirm my debit or credit card?

Linking and confirming your debit or credit card helps protect your account:

• It increases security within the PayPal community.
• It confirms your identity and verifies that you own the card associated with your PayPal account.
• It limits the risk with stolen credit cards and fake identities.

When you link your card to your account by authorizing PayPal to charge a small amount, PayPal generates a unique random code which displays on your card statement. Only the legitimate owner of the card has access to the statement. For this reason, this process limits the risk connected with stolen credit cards and fake identities.

I also take advantage of other services.  For example we use Square, yes it's different as it does not offer Send Money features like PayPal but, it is similar as it is a credit card processor.  To work with Square, all you need is a bank account, they don't ask for a credit card.

Having a credit card attached to your PayPal account does allow you a funding choice when it comes going thru a checkout and it's nice to have that option.

It just seems that for folks who don't have a card or don't want to register a card, experience account issues.  Indeed interesting.