Don't understand why I can access money my sister in law sent to me 4 days ago

[docdaddy]

I paid for something for my sister in law, and she sent me the money to pay me back last week. It's been in my account for 4-5 days, but I can't access it to put it in my bank account. What's the deal? Does this mean if I want to use paypal to send money to, say, my daughter because she has an emergency she will have to wait forever to access it? I clearly don't understand this.

Thanks

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@docdaddy 

Its down to how the payment was SENT to an account.

1. If sent using money > goods / services option then paypal would see the recipient as a seller and apply the new seller hold. They would also charge a fee.

2. If sent using the send money > family / friends option then the recipient would have the payment instantly (as long as it wasn't an echeque pending with a clearance date) with no fee. (However that option is not available in every country).

There are however some occasions where friends / family payments are held for reviews but these are normally only 24 hours.

[docdaddy]

Thank you for that. Since I assume since it's been past 5 days and I still can't access the money, that she sent it via a non-family option. If so, how long should it take before I get access to it?

Thanks