Received money from abroad in my personal account but it doesn't reflect on my balance.

[Axmex]

Received money from abroad (this is my first transaction ever) from a friend, regarding a personal issue. PayPal sent me an email mentioning a high risk transaction, and that the money would be released once the "product" had arrived. I didn't send the payer any products, as I mentioned, the money was received as help for a personal issue. How do I get a hold of that money? What do I need to do to use it?

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@Axmex 

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 if funded from a bank account or balance (a fee if you use a card). 

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