I thought the idea of paypal was that you had an account that always had funds linked to it?

[adnarim19]

I thought the idea of having to have paypal was so that your account always had funds in it so instant payment could be... I often get buyers telling me I have to wait as they dont have any money in their account and it will take another 3 to 5 working days for the money to clear! Isn't it mant to be linked to a credit card or direct debit card?

[phorum_junkie*]

What you are describing is an echeque and while many buyers link a credit card as a secondary funding source so Paypal treat an echeque as an instant payment (because they can use the card if the payment is refused by the bank) they do not have to do so and if they don't then it will take a few days for the echeque to clear.

Look on the bright side, if they have paid by echeque they cannot initiate a bank chargeback six months after the transaction is over!

[putney32]

linking it to a cr or dr card certainly helps, and yes, some buyers do keep cash in their paypal  for buying, but it does NOT have to be the case, and a buyer can use paypal withdrawing from their bank to pay you, and yes it does take 5 days or so to 'clear' but you both still have the paypal buyer/seller protection.