How Does a Paypal Account Work?

Signing Up
Go to the Paypal homepage (see resources). Click on the 'Sign Up' button. Signing up for a Paypal account is free, however you must have an email address. In addition, you either need to link your account to one of your credit cards or to your bank account. You do this by inputting your credit card or bank information. Paypal then deposits a few cents into your bank or credit card account. Confirm this information, within two days of receiving the deposit amounts, to verify the account. You will need to choose one of the three types of accounts: Personal Account, Premier Account, or Business Account.
Personal Account
Choose a personal account if your needs are basic. A personal account allows individuals to send and receive money from anyone with an email address. Personal accounts are limited and are for people who don't plan to make a lot of transactions. These personal accounts only allow you to send and receive a certain number of payments per month, and not totaling more than $500. This is done to ensure that people are using the account for personal reasons and not business reasons. Anyone who wants to participate in more transactions must upgrade their account. Fees are only acquired when individuals receive payments from a credit or debit card.
Premier Account
Choose a Premier Paypal account if you plan to send and receive an unlimited amount of payments. Premier accounts are a step up from personal accounts and are perfect for individuals who spend some time selling auction items. Premier accounts can also be used by small businesses as they are capable of sending out mass payments. Account holders can also set up subscriptions for recurring payments. Premier accounts get access to a toll free customer service number for handling and questions or concerns. Fees are charged to sellers, but not buyers.
Business Account
Sign up for a Business accounts if you would like to have your account set up with a business name. Business accounts have all of the same features as Premier Paypal accounts, but users can set up their account under a business name which is great for tax purposes. Business accounts can also be set up to allow other users to access and use the account such as business partners or employees. This may be needed when a business owner goes away on vacation and needs someone to send out paychecks. Business accounts are also given tools for auctions and websites. Fees are still taken when items are sold, but not bought.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Use Paypal to conduct safe and secure financial transactions online. Paypal has an encryption service that is one of a kind. This means that whenever you make a transaction, your personal information is kept totally private. You can even send and receive money to anywhere in the world.On the flip side, some individuals have spoken out against Paypal, charging that the company shut down their accounts and froze their funds without just cause. Paypal can do this if they feel that you are conducting fradualant business or if they think you are participating in an MLM program. It can take up to 180 days to get your money back and you may never access to your account again. It is suggested that you withdrawal all of your money as soon as it is deposited. That way if your account is frozen you will not be out any money.

How to Get a PayPal Debit Card

1. Sign up online for a PayPal account so you can get a PayPal debit card. Although there are three account types (Personal, Premier and Business), you'll need to sign up for a Premier or Business Account to get a PayPal debit card. Unless you own a business or conduct frequent business-related transactions online, a Premier Account should suffice. (Each member is allowed to have a Personal Account and a Business or Premier Account.)
2. Ensure you register for a Personal Account first, even if you plan to upgrade to a Premier Account to get a PayPal debit card. After getting to the Create Your PayPal account screen, simply enter your country and language. Enter current information including your name and the primary email address you'd like to give out when you make and accept payments via PayPal. You'll also need to enter your name, mailing address, birthday, phone number and a password.
3. Confirm your account by linking a valid checking account and credit card. (If you're signing up for a PayPal account for the first time, you'll need to wait until two small payments are made to your checking account so you can confirm the transaction to validate your PayPal account.) Once you've successfully signed up for the Personal Account, you can upgrade to a Premier or Business Account.
4. Get a PayPal debit card by clicking on the "Debit Card" link at the bottom of your PayPal account screen. You'll need to confirm your mailing address before PayPal will send the debit card to you. The mailing address must match the billing address on the credit card you've linked to your PayPal account.
5. Follow the directions that are mailed with your PayPal debit card to activate it before use. You can do this by logging into your PayPal account, navigating to the Profile screen, pulling down to the PayPal Debit Card entry under the Financial Information tab and selecting Activate Now.
6. Read the PayPal stipulations to ensure you know the current daily withdrawal limits from ATMs (typically a four hundred dollar daily withdrawal limit from ATMs and a three thousand dollar daily spending limit), fees for accessing your funds through an ATM (typically one to three dollars) and current cash back bonus rewards for using the PayPal debit card like a credit card at brick-and-mortar retailers.

How to Link PayPal to Linkbee

1. Log into your Linkbee account or register for a new account.
2. Click 'My Account' at the top of the page.
3. Click 'Change' next to your email address.
4. Change the email address to your PayPal email address.
5. Click 'Save' to save the changes.

How to Claim Payment on PayPal

Linking
1. Choose the “My Account” tab from the PayPal website (www.paypal.com).
2. Choose the “Profile” menu and select “Add or Edit Bank Account.” Then click the “Add Bank” button.
3. Pick “Checking” or “Savings.” Then enter the required account numbers, which you can find at the bottom of your check or in a bank statement. The bank name appears after you enter the routing number.
4. Click “Continue” to confirm your bank account. PayPal makes two deposits of less than $1 to your account. Check to see that you received those deposits and then log into your PayPal account. Click “Confirm” so you can deposit PayPal amounts.
Claiming Funds
5. Choose the “My Account” tab.
6. Choose the “Withdraw” menu and select “Transfer to Bank Account.”
7. Enter a deposit amount that is less than or equal to the current balance. If you have more than one account, choose the receiving bank from the “To” drop-down menu.
8. Click “Continue” to display transaction information. After confirming that all the figures are correct, click “Submit” to move the money into your account. An email will quickly confirm your deposit. Depending on your bank policies, the amount may not show up in your account for a few days.

How to Receive Bank Transfers Into PayPal Accounts

1. Open a browser window and go to PayPal.com. Log into your PayPal account.
2. Hover the mouse over Profile, and click Add Or Edit Bank Account. Click Add Bank. Select the radio button for a checking account or savings account. Enter the nine-digit routing number and the account number, and click Continue. Within three business days, PayPal will make two small deposits of less than $1.00 in your bank account. When these deposits are made, return to your PayPal account and click Confirm Bank Account. Enter the amounts of the deposits to confirm your bank account for use on PayPal, and click Submit.
3. Click Add Funds, and select Add Funds From A U.S. Bank Account. In the From drop-down menu, select the bank account you want to withdraw from. Enter the amount of the withdrawal in the Amount text box, and click Continue. Confirm that the withdrawal bank account and amount are correct, and click Submit. The money will be transferred to your PayPal account in three to five business days.

How to Use a Visa Gift Card With PayPal

1. Connect your name and address to the gift card. If you bought the card or received it as a reward, then you should be fine. Just go online to register the card. From this link you can choose the type of Visa gift card received, and then head to the appropriate website to complete registration. If you received it as a gift, call the person who bought the gift card and have them contact Visa and add your address and name to the card. This information is needed to verify you as the owner of the card in PayPal.
2. Set up a PayPal account if you have not already. If you have an account with PayPal, simply log in.
3. Click on the 'Profile' tab and choose to 'Add Credit Card.'
4. Enter the Visa card information and the address now connected with the card. You will be taken to another screen to confirm.
5. Select the option either to make this your primary funding source or leave it as secondary. Once you have finished selecting, you should be able to pay for items using the Visa gift card attached to your PayPal account.

How to Receive Donations Online via PayPal

1. Visit the PayPal site to enroll for a free account (see Resources). You will have to provide confirmation of your organization's nonprofit status.
2. Set a donation amount or allow visitors to enter an amount. After registering, you will receive coding to place on your website which will link visitors to PayPal. Your organization will directly receive the donation, minus PayPal's fees.
3. Inform prospective donors they need not have a PayPal account to donate. They can enter their information for a one-time transaction.