Today’s plethora of financial tools gives you the luxury of choosing and constantly testing a newer, more attractive or innovative platform. So, with so much on offer, it’s easy to switch payment service providers to find the best one for you.
Although PayPal has been held high on a pedestal until now, there are customers who want to say goodbye. However, if you’ve found yourself contemplating the need to sever ties with your PayPal account permanently, it’s essential to understand the intricacies of the process.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to delete a PayPal account permanently, shedding light on the considerations, implications, and alternatives associated with this significant decision.
Whether it’s due to security concerns, a desire for a fresh start, or a shift to alternative platforms, understanding the intricacies of closing your PayPal account is crucial.
Reasons to delete PayPal account
Deleting your PayPal account is a decision that may have many reasons. It can be due to business closure, a switch to an alternative platform, the need for a new account with a different email, objections to specific fees, or a commitment to financial privacy.
While the reasons may differ, and maintaining an unused PayPal account incurs no costs, it is advisable to delete it if not in use. Deleting details from unused platforms reduces the risk of potential breaches.
Moreover, some users close their PayPal accounts for safety reasons, especially if the account has been compromised.
A more mundane reason for deleting PayPal is when you only want to open an account using a new email address.
Before deleting a personal Paypal account
Closing your account means permanent closure. There’s no reactivation option. All associated data, including transaction history, is permanently erased. To retain this information, save it through screenshots or printouts.
Copy your transaction history
Permanently deleting your PayPal account is irreversible, with no recovery process. All associated data, including transaction history, is permanently lost.
To retain this information, consider screenshotting, printing, or saving your transaction history before closure. Even opening a new PayPal account with the another or same email address won’t grant access to the original account’s information after closure.
Transfer your PayPal balance to another bank account
You cannot close your PayPal account if it has a remaining balance. Therefore, before closing your PayPal account, transfer funds to your bank account or account on another financial platform, or request a check for a fee.
You can opt for a free standard withdrawal to your linked bank or pay a 1.75% charge for an instant withdrawal.
Alternatively, spend or donate your remaining balance. Be mindful of PayPal’s currency conversion fees, typically 3% to 4%, applicable when converting non-USD balances for withdrawal.
📚Related: How Long Does PayPal Take to Send Money?
Resolve issues
Ensure your account is in good standing by checking the Resolution Center for any pending payments or unresolved issues before attempting to delete your PayPal account.
If there is a need, contact customer service for issue resolution. If there are still pending payments or other unresolved matters, seek assistance from PayPal customer support to address them.
📚Related: Transaction Pending but Money Deducted From Your Account
Cancel recurring payments
Make sure to suspend any recurring payments or subscriptions from your PayPal account.
How to delete a PayPal account permanently?
The process of deleting a PayPal account is straightforward and takes just a few minutes. However, it is a permanent action, and everything tied to the account is lost.
How to close a personal PayPal account?
Here are the steps to delete your personal account:
- Log in to your PayPal account.
- Find the gear icon in the screen’s upper-right corner to access the Settings menu.
- In the Account tab under Account options, select Close your account. Verify there are no outstanding balances or issues before proceeding.
- Enter any requested bank details and click Close Account.
How to close a PayPal business account?
Before deleting, business account holders have the option to downgrade to a personal account. However, you need to contact customer service to do so.
- Log in to your PayPal account.
- Navigate to the top right of the screen and click on your Profile icon.
- Click Account Settings and select Account Preferences.
- Click the Close Account link in the Account Type row (ensure it specifies Business!).
And this is it. PayPal will prompt you to verify your identity during the business account closure. Ensure you have your password and any other credentials used for logging in readily available.
On the final screen, a warning will appear, emphasizing the irreversible nature of closing and deleting your PayPal account.
PayPal alternative
If you found the PayPal platform disappointing, there are numerous alternatives available, with swissmoney emerging as a standout choice.
Swissmoney, a Swiss-based financial platform, excels in providing seamless and straightforward daily transactions, diverse distribution of individual assets, and global access to your assets on the go.
Setting itself apart, swissmoney is known for its top-tier digital asset security, the flexibility of multi-currency payments, and the capability for instant internal and European transfers through SEPA.
Moreover, you can get a virtual or physical payment card to make offline and online payments.
FAQ
Can I delete my PayPal account from my phone?
Yes, follow these steps to delete your PayPal account on your mobile phone:
- Open the app.
- Tap on the profile icon in the top left corner.
- Find Close your account.
- Click Close Account.
Before you delete your PayPal account, make sure you have removed all money from your PayPal balance.
Why can’t I close my PayPal account?
PayPal warns that account deletion is not possible with unresolved issues or a balance. Suspicious activity may lead to limitations, preventing users from deleting their accounts.
To close your PayPal account, ensure your PayPal balance is zero. Transfer the remaining money to another PayPal or bank account, or contact customer service for a check issued for the remaining balance.
How do I delete my PayPal history?
You cannot delete your PayPal transaction history. However, you can accomplish a similar outcome by deleting your account instead.
Can I reopen a closed PayPal account?
Unfortunately, you cannot reopen your PayPal account once you have closed it. However, you can open a new PayPal account using the same email address.
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