PayPal alternatives
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PayPal sprung up out of necessity for ease to pay on sites without putting in you card information each time, send family and friends money, transactions can be linked to business payment software, etc. But how safe is it really? Scammers can set up fake accounts, get the transactions pulled or even linked to false payment information, etc. What is everyone else using when sending money to family, etc?
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I send carrier pigeons with money tied to their feet.....
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I'm not sure I get the need for an alternative because of fraud.
Bank account transfer can be fraudulent too.
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Anyone can scam with anything, I don't see how that has much to do with finding an alternative to PayPal (edit see Breffini Potter said the same). Anyway, I use PayPal to send money to my brother in Turkey. I used to wire my sisters (in Bosnia) money the old fashioned way, but now I just use bitcoin. As far as taking payments, all of our web sites use PayPal, Stripe, and bitcoin.
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@BBigford I'm not sure what you're really looking at an alternative to here. Is it a replacement for accepting payments on a website (business use), international transfers, or just paying friends/family.
PayPal to send family money seems silly - it has a fee. I would just transfer it to their bank account from mine using BACS or send them an sms Paym if <£250, it doesn't cost a thing.
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I'm unclear as well, why use PayPal instead of a direct transfer?
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@StrongBad said:
I'm unclear as well, why use PayPal instead of a direct transfer?
Direct transfer was never easy in the past. That is why PayPal is so popular.
Have you ever tried to directly send money from your bank account to a relative's bank account?
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The above aside, fraud exists everywhere. PayPal is no more or less susceptible than any other option.
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@larsen161 said:
@BBigford I'm not sure what you're really looking at an alternative to here. Is it a replacement for accepting payments on a website (business use), international transfers, or just paying friends/family.
PayPal to send family money seems silly - it has a fee. I would just transfer it to their bank account from mine using BACS or send them an sms Paym if <£250, it doesn't cost a thing.
I just transferred $1000 to my brother last month. Free of charge. Another $300 to my mom 2 weeks ago, no fee. I'll have to look into why there is no fee if there is supposed to be.
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Paypal is free for personal use.
You choose if sending money to friends or family OR paying for products/services.
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@JaredBusch For the last 10 years (maybe more), I've always found it easy, get the sort code and account number, login to bank, enter sort code, account, amount and click send - done. sending via the mobile app via sms is even easier, no sort code or account number needed, just their phone number.
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@BBigford true, after looking at the fees page, transfers using PayPal balances or using bank account are free for same currency transfers. I only use PayPal purchasing or selling items and always use a credit card because of the extra protection and benefits credit card purchases have so fees always apply.
The added burden of having to create a PayPal account seems un-necessary when all I need to do is get bank details of an already existing account someone has to send them money.
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@larsen161 said:
@JaredBusch For the last 10 years (maybe more), I've always found it easy, get the sort code and account number, login to bank, enter sort code, account, amount and click send - done. sending via the mobile app via sms is even easier, no sort code or account number needed, just their phone number.
That requires private information, While something like an account number itself isn't doesn't need to be completely private, it's a starting point to future fraud. The sad customer service reps at most places are so easily overcome with social engineering, something like an account number might be all someone needs to get access to stuff they shouldn't.
In this regard, I consider PP and email address much safer.
now all that said, the bank account has FDIC, and I'm sure PP doesn't - so that's a reason to stick directly with the bank account.
But along those lines, I've hear reports that if your PIN is stolen/acquired and your debit card is used, the bank will refuse to return money that you claim was stolen unless there is unequivocal proof. But then, if you knew your PIN was compromised, why didn't you report it the instant you knew? yada yada yada...
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@Dashrender a sort code and account number isn't private. it's on every cheque you have right there for anyone you pay to see. it's also on some bank debit cards. i've never had someone not share their details if I needed to pay them.
these details are published widely even by major banks like Barclays and utility companies, Thames Water so you can pay them. -
@larsen161 said:
@Dashrender a sort code and account number isn't private. it's on every cheque you have right there for anyone you pay to see. it's also on some bank debit cards. i've never had someone not share their details if I needed to pay them.
these details are published widely even by major banks like Barclays and utility companies, Thames Water so you can pay them.In the US it is called the ABA not sort code. ABA are certainly not secret.
As for an account number. No thanks. not going to get it from me. Then again I also do not have a checkbook. I pay the minimal fee to get a money order when I rarely (typically not even once a year) need to pay that way.
