Did you send money to someone through PayPal, and the transaction is showing pending on your PayPal activity dashboard, and as such you want to cancel the transaction before it gets late? If yes, then worry not!
In this article, I will be showing you the step-by-step process of how to cancel pending payments on Paypal.
What’s the Pending Transaction on Paypal?
The term pending entails that the transaction is not yet successful.
So, in PayPal payment, pending payment is an indication that the money has left your account (buyer), and it’s in the merchant’s PayPal account, but yet to be moved to their linked bank account.
In a case like this, the fund transferred is deducted from the buyer’s account and it’s withheld by PayPal till the transaction shows completed which means the merchant has successfully moved the fund from his/her PayPal account to a bank account.
However, I know that you might want to know why your payment is showing pending. So, here are the possible reasons why your PayPal payment is pending.
Why is your Paypal Payment Showing “Pending”
1. Wrong or Unverified Email Address/Phone Number
One of the reasons why a transaction you made on Paypal is pending, might be because the email address or phone number to which the payment is addressed, is not linked to a verified PayPal account and as such, PayPal sees it as suspicious.
2. Merchant Account Doesn’t Accept Payment Automatically
There are some PayPal merchant accounts that can’t automatically accept funds payment. So in this case, the merchant will be left with the option to either ACCEPT or DECLINE the transaction from his/her end.
Sending money to this type of merchant account is quite risky because once the fund’s transfer is successful, you might not be able to cancel the transaction.
3. Unverified Credit Card
One other reason why the payment may be put on hold might be because the buyer uses a credit card that’s not linked to their PayPal account to make the transaction. So, PayPal will have to put the payment transaction on hold till the card is verified by the buyer, which confirms that he/she is the true owner of the credit card used.
So, these are the possible reasons why your transaction might be pending and I know that you won’t love to lose your money! So, you’ll quickly cancel the pending payment transaction using the guide below.
How to Cancel Pending Payment on Paypal
Follow the steps below to cancel a pending payment on your Paypal account.
However, it’s pertinent to note that only a PayPal payment whose transaction status is showing “pending or “unclaimed” can be canceled.
To continue in the cancellation of a pending transaction, do these;
STEP 1: Log in to your PayPal account
STEP 2: Go to the “Activity” section of the account when you’re logged in.
STEP 3: Select “All Transaction” and scroll to where you have the transaction you are looking forward to canceling or better still search for the payment
STEP 4: If the payment status is still showing “Pending”, you will see the “Cancel” option which is next to the payment details.
STEP 5: Click on the “Cancel” option to cancel the transaction
That’s it! You have successfully canceled the pending payment on your PayPal account.
Now what happens after you’ve canceled the pending transaction?
Answer: Paypal will send your money back to your PayPal account or any payment method you use in making the transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel a completed transaction on Paypal?
NO.
It’s not possible to cancel a transaction that has been successfully carried out on Paypal.
Can I request a refund if the money was sent or if I am not pleased with the product?
Yes.
You have the right to ask the merchant to send your money back to you.
How to refund money on Paypal?
The person who is to carry out the refund should go to their PayPal account and click on the “Issue a refund” option to get started.
How long does it take for funds to be refunded?
If the seller has carried out the refund process, then it may take days or weeks for the fund to arrive your account.
Conclusion
Most transactions on Paypal are instantly processed. So, if you are too late, you might not be able to cancel the payment but can either request a refund from the seller or undergo a dispute process if the seller seems not to be ready for a peaceful refund.