Last Updated on June 23, 2023
So you received some $$$ and it’s pending but you need to use the money ASA. How do you get the money out of pending? That’s the purpose of this guide – to show you how to accept pending payment on PayPal.
If you find that a payment you’ve made is either pending or unclaimed, this implies that you have not yet received or accepted the payment.
How to accept pending payment on PayPal
When someone sends money to your email address or mobile number via PayPal, you are notified that you have received the funds.
This money can be accessed from the homepage of your PayPal account. Once there, you have two options:
- You can transfer the funds to your bank account without a bank account or with a bank account, or
- Retain the money in your PayPal balance for use in future online shopping or to send to friends and family
To claim the pending money, you need to have a PayPal account and have your email address verified. That’s just how you accept pending payment on PayPal.
As an added security measure for receiving payments, PayPal now offers the sender the option to provide a direct link to the recipient. The recipient can use this link to access and redeem their funds. Remember that you can also receive funds on PayPal anonymously.
How to get pending money from PayPal faster
If you can provide proof of delivery via tracking information showing the goods or services have been received, that is typically the quickest way to get pending money from PayPal faster. Otherwise, request your buyer to confirm receipt.
Some sellers opt to send a thank you note with tracking information. This would generally lead to funds being released 3 days after the tracking shows the item was delivered. Domestic shipping typically costs around $2.60. For overseas payments, the costs will be higher and the process will take longer.
Payment holds are in place to ensure the seller dispatches the item, and the buyer receives and is satisfied with the purchase. Holds usually last for 21 days or a few days after delivery is confirmed via (required) tracking. New users often experience holds until they establish a good selling and shipping history. If no physical product was involved, you can mark the payment as no shipping required and ask the sender to confirm receipt. This may expedite the hold in some cases.
If over 48 hours have passed since the tracking was updated to delivered, you can contact support and typically, they’ll release the hold.
A pending transaction represents a transaction that is still in progress. The most common reason for this is the clearance time for an eCheck from the sender’s bank account, but other factors can also cause a pending status. A seller should refrain from shipping any items while the payment is pending.
Should you receive an email stating a payment won’t be visible in your account until you demonstrate shipping, the buyer has likely sent a fraudulent email. Always ensure the payment is in your account (even if on hold) before shipping any items.
Why can’t I accept a pending payment on PayPal?
The PayPal payment could be pending if your email address or phone number is not registered with a verified PayPal account. So, ensure that the sender sent the payment to your correct email or phone number.
In some cases, you may need to create a PayPal account or verify your existing account for the payment to be successfully processed.
The PayPal payment might also be pending or unclaimed if you have chosen not to automatically accept certain types of payments. These might include payments not in your chosen currency, or from senders with unconfirmed addresses.
In such scenarios, the sender will not have the ability to cancel the payment themselves. And you must either accept or decline the payment within 30 days.
Why is the money someone sent me on PayPal pending?
A pending transaction denotes a transaction that is still undergoing processing. The most common reason for this is the time it takes for an eCheck to clear from the sender’s bank account, among other factors that could lead to a pending status.
If you’re a seller, refrain from shipping any items while payment is still pending.
Meanwhile, here are detailed tips to get your PayPal funds almost the next day.
How long does it take to receive pending money on PayPal?
The process took approximately a week to complete in my case. It certainly involves checks and banking procedures. Payments through PayPal accounts that are directly linked to a debit or credit card are processed instantaneously, whereas those linked to bank accounts process payments as an eCheck, thus taking a few business days to get approved.
PayPal may request your date of birth to process your payment.
How do I cancel a pending payment on PayPal?
You do have the ability to cancel the payment.
To cancel an unclaimed payment through the web:
- Navigate to the Activity section.
- Locate the payment in question and click Cancel.
- Follow the provided steps to cancel the payment.
To cancel an unclaimed payment via the app:
- Click on the Wallet icon.
- Select Activity.
- Find the payment in question and tap to open.
- Tap Cancel.
Pending or unclaimed payments are automatically canceled by us after 30 days and the funds are returned to the original method of payment. Refunds to bank accounts may take up to 5 business days, whereas refunds to credit or debit cards could take up to 30 days.
Conclusion — accept pending payment on PayPal
So, if a payment sent as family and friends is pending, give it some time to resolve. PayPal could be renewing it for malicious activities or your email address is not registered to a PayPal account. If it involves a digital or physical item, work with the buyer to get it resolved to avoid a longer payment hold.
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