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  • How do I close my Paypal account?

How do I close my Paypal account?

March 9, 2007 / Dave Taylor / Amazon, eBay, and Online Shopping Help,, PayPal Help / 91 Comments

I hate Paypal and have too many friends who have had their money frozen or accounts frozen, never then able to get their balance out. I want to just close mine up completely, but, predictably, they make it hard to figure out how to do so. Dave, how the heck do you close your Paypal account?

I’m surprised to read of your intense dislike for Paypal, actually. I have always found it a superior way to transact online business and have completed hundreds of transactions without a glitch. Heck, I remember visiting their predecessor X.com years and years ago, being amazed at how much they all worked, and the delighted when X.com and Paypal.com merged and then were bought by behemoth eBay (Nasdaq:EBAY). But that’s another story…
I didn’t find it difficult at all to figure out how to close a Paypal account. In fact, if you’re logged into your account, click on “Help” and type in “close account” you’ll find concise instructions on exactly how to proceed.
To close your account, start by clicking on the My Account tab, then the Profile subtab:

Paypal / eBay: My Account : Profile

On the left side you’ll see a list under the header “Account Information”, the very last of which is Close Account. Click on that and it’ll ask you to verify your account in some manner or other, probably by confirming the credit card number you used when you first signed up for the account.
Enter that correctly, confirm that’s exactly what you want to do, and you’ve just canceled your account. The remaining balance will be mailed to you as a physical check to the address you have specified in the account.
Good luck to you!

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Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

91 comments on “How do I close my Paypal account?”

  1. mjazz says:
    September 22, 2017 at 11:52 am

    I just went to PayPal and closed out my account using that option under the “account” heading.
    If there are any problems I will return and let the people here know.

    Reply
    • Cynthia Kraus says:
      November 17, 2017 at 12:32 pm

      They are crazy at Paypal
      These new changes have left me in the dark…I am 84

      How do I close my account

      Thank you

      Reply
  2. Claire Bowler says:
    May 11, 2017 at 4:11 am

    I dont have photo ID and my selling account has reached its limit! So i rang them but if i use my birth certificate as ID as im married i have to send a copy of my marriage certificate off as well!!!!! All to get my own money out to close my account or lift my limits!!!!! This is stupid i e been with them 5 yrs why are they querying me?????

    Reply
  3. Elven Stewart says:
    December 5, 2016 at 2:24 pm

    I got an e-mail from pay pal saying i ordered a product. Called all their phone lines and never got to speak to a person. I don’t like pay pal never have. If anyone reads this that can do it, close this account.

    Reply
    • Dave Taylor says:
      December 5, 2016 at 11:11 pm

      Sounds like a third party scammer phishing for your password, Elven.

      Reply
  4. norm vandeberg says:
    April 16, 2016 at 6:11 pm

    I just closed my account after finding out pay-pal is run by a left-wing bully.

    Reply
    • larry cole says:
      June 3, 2016 at 6:38 am

      I tried to close my account for the same reason ( leftest bully). I followed the instruction above and there is no “list” under account information on the left hand side, There is no option to “close account”. I even called them to close the account. all funds were transferred to my bank and there are no transactions or balances. The phone person for PayPal could not be understood very well because of a foreign accent. I ended the call politely thinking the account was now closed, but I am still able to log in and see all of my information.

      Thanks for listening to my vent.

      Larry C

      Reply
    • larry cole says:
      June 3, 2016 at 7:04 am

      I tried the “close account” instruction above again. This time when I logged in it did appear on the left hand side under account options. I clicked close account and it simply told me “there is a problem”
      I called the customer service number again, and this time a man answered , he had an accent but it was not as thick. He did close the account !

      Ignore my first reply, It finally worked. You can’t actually close your account on-line they make sure you have to call in personally in order to really get it closed. Lesson learned.
      They always give you some sort of “sorry” message.on-line.

      Thanks for your web site.

      Larry C

      Reply
  5. Carolyn Roessler says:
    April 5, 2016 at 9:28 am

    I have been scammed by the people representing ZYE a computer repair (?) company.
    I did pay them $350 to repair my computer. It did sort of work after they got into it. Now I have been called by them again. They want to refund my money. They created a paypal account for me and put $2,350.00 in it. Oh,my!!!! the fellow mistakenly put to much in the account and now I must go to Walmart and money gram him the extra amount. NOT
    I would like to cancel the account set up for me and IF there is any money in it (which I doubt) give it to a charity like Goodwill.

    Reply
    • Dave Taylor says:
      April 5, 2016 at 3:25 pm

      There is no account. There is no money other than what you’d send these scammers. I’d tell ’em to “go to hell” if they call, and definitely get your computer cleaned up by a competent tech person or company, because the infection’s still there. 🙁

      Reply
  6. Michael Van Nostrand says:
    March 13, 2016 at 4:22 pm

    I had a Pay Pal account for over 15 years! I used it once when I resided in Brooklyn! I since then moved to Florida! Then out of the blue three years later I have been getting letters that I tried to open or use my PayPay account! The letters kept coming! So recently I went on line and closed my Pay Pal account for good! I got a letter stating that my account was closed out! I had to try and remember my old e-mail that I used and I finally remembered it! Pay Pay advised me that they thought that the purchases were not made by me! I thank god that it was not approved every time someone used my name. I also wrote a letter to tell them, that these attempted purchases were not made by me and I am a victim of Fraud! Which is on file with the local police department. The account was closed out on Saturday, March 5th, 2016! I hope now I wont get any more letters from Pay Pal that I tried to open up or use my Pal Pal account!

    Reply
  7. Anthony says:
    April 17, 2015 at 11:06 am

    Pay – pal – you gonna pay pal – you gonna pay dearly pal if you use PayPal. Before you decide to use PayPal you really have to believe these reviews if you don’t want to become another victim. I am appalled at how quickly I lost faith entirely in PayPal to process credit cards for my website, I didn’t even process a single transaction. Without reading the reviews first, something was telling me that I was going to run into problems with PayPal and I am appalled at how quickly that happened and how quickly a company can lose a potential client. I don’t understand how any one single person uses PayPal. First, I give them all sorts of information, get approved and everything looks fine. They called me directly to make sure everything was fine and I was just ready to go with my website. But then, before making my website live, I decided to recheck if everything was ready to go on the PayPal side and was locked out of my virtual terminal account. I called them and they told me that they needed the updated URL to a fully functioning website and that a testing site was okay. Well, I updated the URL and the next day they just sent me an email requesting the exact same information that I had just provided. Then we just started going back and forth, they asked me for service agreements and contracts and who was my supplier of merchandise – obviously, if they looked at my website they would understand that my business does not deal with merchandise, it is a service provider… so that went nowhere fast. These people are horrible, unethical and dare I say evil. One minute they approve you and the next they yank the rug from under you. Take it from me, if you have a business that is considering relying on PayPal for anything, don’t do it. I didn’t even get to do a single transaction and was already having all sorts of problems with them and now can’t even close my account because “there are unresolved issues”. What the heck, I will not be using them at all and what issues are unresolved? It does not make any sense whatsoever and I am amazed how they are a multibillion dollar business. Now, I have to go to the bank and close my business account and reopen another one just to make sure that they don’t have access to it. If you do not want a migraine headache and want to protect your business, DO NOT USE PAYPAL …. they will kill your business. Don’t learn the hard way.

    Reply
  8. aviral says:
    February 13, 2015 at 7:36 am

    thanks for this but it is not still working

    Reply
  9. Rajanikanth Godishala says:
    April 15, 2014 at 9:47 am

    Step – 1 : Log in to your paypal account

    Step – 2 : Copy below link and paste it on your browser’s address bar other wise directly click on below link ..

    Click on below link to delete your pay pal account
    https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_close-account
    Before deleting your Paypal account please check below points
    Checklist :
    Make sure that all funds $$$ in your Paypal account was transferred before you removing your pay pal account .
    Think again once and confirm your decision

    Reply
  10. Josh Pool says:
    November 7, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    Ebay and PayPal need to be regulated by the FEDS as they have unauthorized power to do what they want with your money, its your money not theirs, I sold a chainsaw three months later the buyer put in a ebay claim saying item not as described, they extracted the money for that item from my paypal account, I filed a dispute and after a month of BS won the case and the funds were to be put back into my paypal account and to this day I have not seen those funds, so the guy got the saw, I won the case and have never got my funds replinished, the funds in my paypal account were not enough to cover the item value so they tried to extract funds from my bank account which failed but they tried, Who in the hell do they think they are Judge, Jury and IRS that can do what they want to with your funds and bank account? They need stopped dead in their tracks, I know so many people that have been screwed by Ebay & Paypal whom they own or thousands and thousands of dollars. The FEDS Need To Stop THEM

    Reply
  11. Janet Rosales says:
    April 20, 2013 at 8:50 pm

    Hi Dave, Iam been have trouble with my paypal account that I had since December.Everytime when I delete it said have outstaning authorizations and can’t deactive it. I just wanted to know if i can still delete?

    Reply
  12. Doug Ledbetter says:
    March 6, 2013 at 8:39 pm

    Seriously, Dave? You haven’t ready *anything* negative about PayPal? Literally *everything* I read about Paypal is negative. I’ve had trouble with them on and off and am on the verge of closing my account. I’m going to explore Dwolla.com to see if they’re any better.
    -dougl

    Reply
  13. Stephanie says:
    February 17, 2013 at 6:57 am

    I wanted to close my account but it’s like being held hostage! I have a .98 balance in my account so they won’t let me close it.I can’t transfer the funds anywhere either–as if I give a rat’s butt about 98 cents. They’ve screwed me out of so much cash over the years, why not give them the last of it? I got new bank info but there is no way in hell I’m giving this internet mafia my information. I guess I’m stuck.I don’t use it anymore anyway because their fees are worse than a freaking payday loan operation. How either ebay or paypal are still in existence is a complete mystery to me. Isn’t there some government agency that protects consumers against fraud on the Internet?! I would stab myself in the eye with an ice pick before I would EVER use either of those companies again.

    Reply
  14. chente says:
    February 16, 2013 at 12:35 pm

    what can i do, if I bought a motorcycle at at bid from e-bay. Paid for it, selected a carrier enlisted in pay-pal. and this guy picked up the motorcycle but never gave it to me., I have sent all kinds of e- mails to e bay and pay pal and have not had any response. Its almost a year since I made the transaction

    Reply
  15. Dave Taylor says:
    February 7, 2013 at 8:57 am

    Dude, it also offers Paypal as an option. You should try it out. By buying me something. 🙂

    Reply
  16. Jaybob says:
    February 7, 2013 at 2:51 am

    lol @ you Dave, i just clicked on “Buy dave a chai” and it uses google wallet! Why don’t you use your own advice?

    Reply
  17. Joel says:
    January 19, 2013 at 10:53 am

    Pay! Pay! pay! Pay! You are gonna PAY PAL! because PAYPAL CRIME SHARKS are waiting around in the waters to screw you when they want to. It’s just a matter of time when they take a bite out of your wallet PAL!

    Reply
  18. Fedup74 says:
    December 10, 2012 at 11:02 am

    I have been trying to close my Paypal account and when i get to the page and enter my bank account number associated with the Paypal account it says there is some missing information…i only have the bank account number so i don’t undrstand what the problem is…i just want the damn thing closed!

    Reply
  19. Day Roberts says:
    December 6, 2012 at 3:04 pm

    Please close out my PayPal Account as I no longer require the service.

    Reply
  20. Day Roberts says:
    December 6, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    I no longer requir PayPal Services.

    Reply
  21. KATHLEEN KELLEY says:
    September 27, 2012 at 2:41 pm

    I too tried a dozen tips on how to close my account. None worked. I just found this phone number 1-888-221-1161 and it worked. I finally got my paypal account closed.

    Reply
  22. Captain Mike says:
    September 5, 2012 at 9:16 am

    Paypal does not protect buyers from crooks who take your money and dont deliver your goods.
    This is the second time since I ve used Paypal and Ebay. Now Im out over 2600 dollars.
    Unfortunately, we are denying your claim because your purchase was for a
    virtual, digital, or intangible item, which is not covered under PayPal
    Purchase Protection. We only cover claims involving physical items that
    can be shipped and tracked.
    oh yeah up yours Paypal and Ebay

    Reply
  23. Delayne says:
    August 28, 2012 at 3:36 pm

    Well, the only reason you like Paypal is because you never had to deal with their “lack of customer service”, 45 minutes on hold and counting.
    These guys are worse than trying to service your lifetime warranty with Ray Padula products.

    Reply
  24. Jeeez says:
    July 7, 2012 at 1:34 am

    please tell me what should i do about this:
    i want to buy an item outside in the Philippines, so the price is in a dollar form, but i only have Philippine money in my paypal account, should i have to convert it into dollar or it will be automatically converted into dollar???
    please someone help me with this problem

    Reply
  25. cora seaman says:
    June 28, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    I want to close this account because I have not been paid for a book sold 3 months ago….I’ve filed complaints etc…..still no money.

    Reply
  26. G& A enterprise says:
    April 27, 2012 at 2:52 pm

    as for me folks i could never sign in and do you think you ever could find someone to speak to you if you lost your pass ward or sign in name . I never received a dime from pay pal in payments from any thing i tried panda or other surfeys . but pay pal sure took money out of my account and i never have found out what for .
    just try to speak with anyone from pay pal it ant gonna happen folks never. that why I have asked them to close my account and to this day I have no idea if they ever have . it would be nice to know . as fare as i’m conserned they can have what ever they left in there after what they stole from my account. what I do not like is when they get in my personal credit card accont with asking first so I do not to have anything to do with them.. if you need it pay cash in person.

    Reply
  27. Green Thumbs says:
    April 25, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    I had a Paypal and an Ebay account and they both got shut down. I guess it was my fault for selling a bunch of ipads even though i actually have connections to a large wholesaler.
    To unlock my accounts i have to send documentation proving where i bought everything which is on the way to me now but i still dont think they will release my account.
    (FYI) been Paypal/Ebay customer 7 years!!!
    They tried to freeze 3grand in funds but i just refunded the last 10 people i sold to now they have only 200.
    HAHA how do you like me now.
    I dont care about ebay, but do want a paypal account for occasional purchases.
    Any suggestions about finding a way to open a new Paypal account just to buy a few items when i need to without them knowing it is me would be appreciated.

    Reply
  28. Tim says:
    March 11, 2012 at 8:00 am

    PayPal are great if you are not a seller in the USA or Canada, or a seller from another country selling into the USA or Canada. If you are however, then be prepared for PayPal holding your funds for a month before releasing them to you and outrageously high fees. I recommend Skrill / Moneybookers.com as an alternative. After a recent experience with PayPal hold my funds. I will not accept PayPal payments from the US or Canada ever again.

    Reply
  29. Jimmy says:
    February 1, 2012 at 10:11 am

    I opened a paypal account. I gave my bank account details and PAN card number. But after seeing reviews in net, i got afraid and deleted my paypal account immediately on the day of account opening itself. Now after 3 days i have recieved two small deposits in my bank account for verification. What should i do? Will paypal take money from my bank account without my permission? Pls help me. When I tried to access paypal account again to delete my bank details, i was unsuccessful. pls reply at the earliest.

    Reply
  30. ivan says:
    January 31, 2012 at 2:23 pm

    Paypal its JUST PROBLEM

    Reply
  31. Lori says:
    December 6, 2011 at 9:04 am

    Here is one example of why one might hate PayPal: http://thegreengeeks.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/why-paypal-is-wrong-regarding-regretsy-according-to-their-own-policies/. This is absolutely egregious behavior on the part of a company.

    Reply
  32. colin says:
    October 23, 2011 at 7:58 pm

    You really think Paypal’s all that great? Try changing countries.
    We were living in the UK, then moved to Australia. Paypal doesn’t know there is more than one country in the world, so we had to cancel the old account and setup a new one.
    AT least we tried to cancel the old one; like a zombie, it keeps reappearing, determined to make our online existence like a bad movie.
    Still trying, two years later.
    Paypal SUCKS.

    Reply
  33. joo says:
    October 9, 2011 at 3:56 am

    ebay stealth. beat their stupid system. paypal and ebay rob people so offen that forums are made on how to get back on ebay and sell using tactics which trick their automated system.
    all in all paypal pulled my account wth over 300 quid in, lost it all. how is their money? it isnt. they closed my account and havent helped me. making intrest off of MY money. absoloute scumbags. they demand ALL of ur documents, includin passport etc. they arent a government body, they are a shitty payment gateway, pumped up over the years, over rated, legalised robbing dogs.
    i suggest either using ebay stealth, and following the guide, and having hope… or… dont even deal with paypal, trust me, they know that they are robbin you, and they dont care.
    buyer/seller protection my eye.
    J

    Reply
  34. putin says:
    September 29, 2011 at 4:16 am

    Hello,
    I want to close my paypal account but I wonder if I can use my credit card information for the new paypal account in the future?

    Reply
  35. Laura says:
    August 19, 2011 at 8:07 am

    Just last week over 29 unauthorised transactions were made on my bank/paypal account. They had took deposits of money from my bank account and transferred them to multiple email addresses through paypal.
    I only found out when I got an email from paypal saying they were processing a transaction for over £1,500.
    I phoned paypal and in that respect they were helpful and got my refunds back… sort of.
    I phone my bank straight after and got a them to cancel my card, this morning I received a letter from my bank saying I was over £200 overdrawn. Because of my bank declining these payments to paypal, paypal disabled my bank details.
    I have £2 paypal balance with no bank account or correct bank card (other was disable and I’m to be sent a new one) to put it into.
    Paypal won’t close my account because apparently a refund is still pending, yet my transactions say they’re all complete.
    I don’t give a toss about that £2 either. I JUST WANT TO CLOSE MY ACCOUNT. I’m terrified it’s going to happen again, I’m in debit too because of this.

    Reply
  36. MMJDC says:
    June 14, 2011 at 9:52 am

    PayPal became useless when purchased by eBay when they quickly lost all accountability. Sorry Dave the new PayPal is not what it used to be.
    My account was hacked for a tremendous amount not only wiping out my ability to pay my bills but “when” this is resolved I have been informed the money will be returned to – you guesed it – my PayPal account – where it will take yet another week to get it back to my own bank where I can pay my bills.
    Needless to say I will be closing my account although from these posts that will be yet another challenge.

    Reply

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