DO PAYPAL and EBAY COMMUNICATE WITH "CODED DISCOUNTS"

[heychook]

I have been communicating with Paypal just trying to get an answeer to my question.

I think I have worked it out but maybe someone can confirm for me ...... but have to tell the whole sorry story.

In June I purchased an item for approx $100 but less the "eBay coded discount" it was about $70.   This amount of $70

was in my Paypal account but Paypal decided to take the funds from IMB BANK account.   many phone call later 

Paypal wouid insist that I had changed my Preferred Method of Payment to my IMB Bank account.  NO WAY.....Dishonour fees totalled $35.00       At no time did I change my preference to the IMB account - but as I needed Paypal  I just shut-up.

I withdrew my IMB account down to almost nil thinking that Paypal could not try that trick again...WRONG.

On 5 October I purchased an item for $198 but with the eBay coded discount the price was $159.   There was $180 in Paypal and checked before I paid that my Preferred method of Payment was still Paypal - next thing was emails NEGTIVE BALANCE IN PAYPAL but on checking I still had $21.   Total confusion.   Again the emails back and forth   -  them telling me I changed my preference and me telling them No Way.

Unfortunbately it took me a month to work out (maybe) that there was no communication between eBay and Paypal about these coded discounts and although the lower amount  was in Paypal they tried for the higher amount and as I use a debit card............Guess who got another dishonour fee and believe me IMB Bank is not cheap!

Am I correct that this is what is happening. 

It is no good asking Paypal because every email is from a different person so they quite frankly dont know what is what  .......... EXCEPT THAT I CHANGED MY PREFERENCE - BS

[countessalmirena]

heychook, emails really are a useless way of communicating with eBay, and possibly also with PayPal (although I can't confirm that as I always phone if I have an issue).

The problem seems to be with the funds source within your PayPal account, so try logging in to your PayPal account (https://www.paypal.com/au/webapps/mpp/home), click onto Wallet (at the top), and see the PAYMENT METHODS in the left panel. Under this will be Payal balance, probably your bank account, possibly a credit card or debit card, etc.

One of these will have the word Preferred showing just under it.

If you really wish to have your PayPal balance your preferred payment funding source, make sure that this is showing as having been selected as your Preferred option.

I would never have anything other than my card selected as the Preferred option. That way, if there's a problem with a purchase, and neither eBay nor PayPal can/will help, my card provider is a backup protection. However, you certainly have the right to choose your preferred funding source. If your PayPal balance is not showing as the Preferred option, click onto that (PayPal balance), and information about the balance will show. Under "Preferred method when paying online", there will be a link saying "Set as preferred". Click onto it. That should then be showing as your Preferred option.

PayPal will not, so far as I am aware, attempt to charge you for the full item amount if part of the transaction is paid for by an eBay discount voucher.

If you have a very low balance in a bank account that is linked to your PayPal account, that will not stop PayPal from attempting to access that bank account for payment, if you have that bank account selected as your preferred option. (PayPal don't know what your bank balance is.) I don't know what has occurred with your two purchases, but the scenario you have suggested doesn't sound credible.

It actually seems to me that you may be confusing two different things. You may have PayPal selected in your eBay account as your preferred payment method, but that is not the same thing as your preferred funding source for PayPal (which is within your PayPal account, not your eBay account). Could that be the case?

[lyndal1838]

Countess, unless things have changed recently, if you have a balance in paypal that will always be used to pay for items before your Preferred funding source is used.

I don't keep a paypal balance so I don't have a problem with paypal not using my preferred funding source but some of my friends who sell have said that they have, in the past, withdrawn money from paypal to make sure that the funds have come from their preferred source, not from paypal.

[brerrabbit585]

If you know how to find it there are settings in paypal so that ebay/paypal doesn't use your pp balance first.

[lyndal1838]

Then it must be fairly recent....in the past paypal always used a paypal balance first.

I found out the hard way when I was sent a birthday gift which I had not withdrawn before I paid for some ebay items....my birthday gift sailed off into cyberspace to pay for some printer inks.

I never keep a paypal balance now so have had no reason to look for ways to prevent paypal using it first.

[countessalmirena]

lyndal, I think you're right that it's recent.

The user agreement now states that

"10.7 We’ll process Commercial Transactions made online using:

1. the Payment Method you nominated as your preferred Payment Method in your PayPal account settings; or
2. an available Payment Method you choose for a particular transaction during checkout."

I have my card selected as the funding source, and when I click onto that (linked under the Payment Methods panel), the centre of the webpage reflects the details of that payment method and says:

                                                  ✅

                      Preferred method when paying online

                                             Change

We'll use this when you shop or send money for goods or

                                            services.

                           More about payment preferences

(PayPal probably had complaints about PayPal balances being used. The "Wallet" and the current set-up are new-ish; I think I first saw them just a few months ago. Mind you, like you, I keep a zero PayPal balance!)

[heychook]

Thanks for your reply.   I have done everything correctly - wallet, checked before Confirm & Pay but now I no longer have a linked bank account but when I withdraw I will provide one and remove it.   Of the $50 IMB charged me, Paypal has refunded $15.  Better than nothing but I wasn't asking for money all I wanted was an answer to my questions - but eventually I worked out their system (I think).

Thanks again.