Paypal versus card payments online

Lifeforms

Everyone is getting techier savy, so end up being reasonably protected (apart from dodgy sites/downloads etc) and more so about spending online, and using cards online.

I just wonder what is better online consumer rights wise. Particularly with newer sites, or sites that haven't been shopped on before.


When I buy from a site I don't know, I always seek out paypal payments rather than inputting my card details. I'm now also being lazy, and using it just where ever I can to avoid me having to get out my purse, and card, and use it, and put it away etc.

I understand using debit cards have some protection (credit more so, but I don't have one) from bad transactions, and then I understand that Paypal also has protection, but generally the bank wont be interested in a Paypal transaction as it constitutes more parties than the 3 way one? Me -> Bank -> Merchant etc. One reason why I avoid large amounts market place transactions from likes of Amazon, Play etc.

Obviously using Paypal provides ultimate protection on a site you're not really trustworthy about (regarding sharing your card details), but is it really better to do that?

Having never had to claim back at all either with card, or paypal, would I be likely to have an obstacles in either method? Would claiming back via a debit card be faster/easier (if paid by card) versus making a claim with Paypal. I know the claiming system from reading and such with ebay deals, but how is the complaints procedure like for regular selling on sites where payment is taken via Paypal?

?Just in case it's a TL/DR:
Am I better paying using Paypal over my Debit card when shopping online. Or does it just come down to personal choice?

Labmanager

Lifeforms wrote: »

Everyone is getting techier savy, so end up being reasonably protected (apart from dodgy sites/downloads etc) and more so about spending online, and using cards online.

I just wonder what is better online consumer rights wise. Particularly with newer sites, or sites that haven't been shopped on before.


When I buy from a site I don't know, I always seek out paypal payments rather than inputting my card details. I'm now also being lazy, and using it just where ever I can to avoid me having to get out my purse, and card, and use it, and put it away etc.

I understand using debit cards have some protection (credit more so, but I don't have one) from bad transactions, and then I understand that Paypal also has protection, but generally the bank wont be interested in a Paypal transaction as it constitutes more parties than the 3 way one? Me -> Bank -> Merchant etc. One reason why I avoid large amounts market place transactions from likes of Amazon, Play etc.

Obviously using Paypal provides ultimate protection on a site you're not really trustworthy about (regarding sharing your card details), but is it really better to do that?

Having never had to claim back at all either with card, or paypal, would I be likely to have an obstacles in either method? Would claiming back via a debit card be faster/easier (if paid by card) versus making a claim with Paypal. I know the claiming system from reading and such with ebay deals, but how is the complaints procedure like for regular selling on sites where payment is taken via Paypal?

?Just in case it's a TL/DR:
Am I better paying using Paypal over my Debit card when shopping online. Or does it just come down to personal choice?

Are you asking if it is better to use Paypal, a debit card or a credit card in terms of protection when making purchases?:D

Lifeforms

It's difficult, because I know both offer protection, but I'm thinking by using paypal over inputting debit card details, then I remove the possibility of the site, or anything in between stealing my card details. But I wonder if there's any obvious problem that I'm missing by using paypal. Like certain amount, limit wise, or certain items, or if it is fine to just pay with Paypal and rely on their own protection kicking in.

For ebay I know that if you don't get an item, or it's not what you bought/expected you can claim your money back, but does that same protection pass over when you're using them on online stores? Like if I bought a £100 pair of shoes paid through Paypal, and they didn't turn up, or turned up fake, or turned up damaged/different shoes from what I ordered, would I be protected by Paypal, or would I have been better to have paid with a Debit card to use their protection.

I guess I want to cover myself before purchasing, rather than finding out after that If I'd paid by card over paypal it'd have been easier to get some come back, or vice versa indeed.

My main reason for using paypal to begin with was to not have to use my card details on sites I'd never used before. Now, I use paypal for that reason, but also for convenience is it ok to still do so? Before it was a couple of sites every blue moon, now it's most sites that allow me to shop with paypal.

Labmanager

I use Paypal, my debit and my credit card regularly online and have never had problem with any of them. I tend to use paypal for ebay and less well known online Companies and use my cards for the known places like Tesco, Asda, Dixons etc.

Nilrem

I only ever use Credit cards online (never debit, well unless paying my CC bill), as you normally get more protection with a CC than a DC, and if anything happens with a CC it's not your money being taken out of your bank account.

I use Paypal, but only for low value items (normally under a tenner) when I can't be bothered to use my credit card.

Paypal offers much less protection in many circumstances than either a debit or credit card, and from memory if you pay with a CC via paypal (IE your paypal account takes the money from your normal card), you may lose a lot of the cards natural protection.

Basically:
Credit card >£10-30, and certainly anything over £100
Debit card - sometimes, but preferably not.
Paypal - Only when I can afford to completely write off the money if anything goes wrong.

GamerInfo

Nilrem wrote: »

Basically:
Credit card >£10-30, and certainly anything over £100
Debit card - sometimes, but preferably not.
Paypal - Only when I can afford to completely write off the money if anything goes wrong.

I always thought paypal offered maximum protection (as per buyer protection recommendations) - but as ive recently found out (and been advised) is that paypal do NOT guarantee full refunds in SNAD claims (im currently waiting to see if i'll get my full £260 refunded or if some paypal employee will decide how much i actually get refunded. Paypal purchases = playing monopoly with your money).

I would follow Nilrem's 'rule of thumb' when it comes to online purchases.

arcon5

I use PayPal if a available for two reasons

- its linked to my bank and card. Also to use the PP balance

- dispute resolution can be easier and quicker than a chargeback

However despite the speedier resolution centre and convenience, wouldn't consider it more secure - equal if anything. For example, the time limit to open a claim is 45 days compared to 120 days for chargeback - important for things like furniture which can take 6ish weeks to deliver in some cases.

Evilm

I've heard some horror stories about Paypal when something does go wrong but I've never had a problem myself.

I do stick to only using Paypal for ebay usually though.

pmduk

I only use paypal for low value transactions in a foreign currency. Whilst the exchange rate is poor, it's lower than the bank's fee for such transactions.