My bank has a paypal direct debit and i don't know why!

[LaurenH28]

Tonight i have gone into my banking to find a payment of £16.47 has come out the bank saying "Paypal Payment" .

When i click further it says this will be a monthly direct debit of this amount. I do not know what this is? I have been at work all day so have not set up any direct debits. Can anyone help please.

Thankyou. 

[kernowlass]

@LaurenH28 

When you add a bank account to paypal it sets up the direct debit mandate so that paypal can take authorised payments for any purchases you make (or pay your Ebay fees).

No company eg water/electric can take funds from your bank account on a regular basis without that direct debit.
However the amount shown is always the ''last'' transaction / amount that you paid to a seller via paypal.

Sometimes it does not coincide with the date you made the payment as paypal CREDIT the seller in advance and then paypal wait for the funds to transfer from your bank account, they can 'leave' that account at anytime from a few hours up to a few days later. Also the 'amount' can sometimes not be recognised if you used it as a part-payment with the rest coming from funds already in your paypal balance.