What happens to paypal balance deposit, if original funds are moved before complete?

[sedohr]

I have a pending transfer that is set to go through in a few days, where I chose to move some money from my bank account into my paypal balance. The transfer has not gone through yet, and so the money is still there in my bank, but I am needing it for something sooner than the transfer date provided.

If I removed it from my bank account, would the pending transfer fail? Would they just charge my card anyways? Would some of the intended amount go through, but not all? Is there a penalty of some sort?

Since no one else is involved and I am not actually making any transactions, I don't think that it should be any major problem. I am simply moving money from one account into another, and then deciding to put it back. In fact, the very thing that I wanted to put the money into paypal for is what I am using it on now, so it would literally just be sending it on the transfer day, if not now. But I am unsure how it would work on the day of, if they go to do the transfer, and the full amount is not there.

Any information/clarity is appreciated. Thanks.

[sedohr]

Worth noting that I'm posting this here after having already asked paypal over the phone directly if they could speed the transfer up or cancel it. They declined and said they couldn't change anything "until the communication with my bank is over, when it has gone past the estimated time date.", and I did not have the chance to ask them my question above while I actually had them on the phone.

[sharpiemarker · Accepted solution]

@sedohr 

When you add money to PayPal balance, I don't think they put it on your card. You weren't asked to select a back up card when scheduling the transfer to PayPal, right? If not then the transfer will ultimately fail. Your bank may charge NSF if PayPal can't get the money on the first try. PayPal might make another attempt before it fails.

There's documentation on what happens when making purchases and your bank account is insufficient but not with adding money so it might happen the same way:

https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/what-happens-when-an-authorized-payment-is-returned-for-...

Yeah, nothing on what happens if bank is insufficient when adding money to PayPal:

https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/how-long-does-it-take-to-add-money-from-my-bank-account-...

https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/how-long-does-it-take-to-transfer-money-from-a-u.s.-bank...

Once you initiate a transfer to or from PayPal account, it can't be stopped, it has to go through the motions of completing. If your bank account is insufficient, best to add funds to the bank account asap. Do not try to add funds to PayPal balance if it is negative as PayPal may make a couple more attempts after initial attempt. When buying, PayPal will use your back up card if you do not take action to add funds to your bank account at all. NSFs be d*mned.