Avoiding Paypal charges if I don't have an account but want to use a credit card?

spikeheeledvamp

I need to pay a vendor for work that I need doing, but they don't have credit card facilities, and suggested I pay via Paypal.  I don't have an account with Paypal, and want to pay by credit card so that I have cc protection should anything go wrong. The company say that they can generate a Paypal invoice, but it will incur charges ( a % of the amount paid).  I'm pretty sure I've used this method before when buying things on line, and myself and the vendor haven't incurred any Paypal charges.  How can I pay via cc without setting up a Paypal account, and that neither myself or the vendor incur and paypal charges?

born_again

The only way to avoid PayPal charges is to use friends & family. But that means you have no protection. No matter how you pay.

Sandtree

spikeheeledvamp said:
How can I pay via cc without setting up a Paypal account, and that neither myself or the vendor incur and paypal charges?

You cannot, PayPal dont work for free.

Either you have to open an account and use PayPal Friends & Family which means no fees but you have no protection at all

Else you dont open an account, pay directly using with a CC in which case you should have S75 protection however the merchant will have to pay a fee

penners324

If the vendor doesn't have a card reader you pay by bank transfer, cash or PayPal 

[Deleted User]

If you are using paypal simply as a payment processor (say the owner has an account and creates you an invoice), S75 may well apply, if you are using a paypal account to transfer money, you will not have the cover

phillw

I don't think paypal gives you section 75 rights

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/PayPal-Section75/

However, often paypal is better than section 75.
But not if you pay friends and family. You only get protection if you buy something and that will come with a fee.

Usually when you buy something online with paypal from somewhere like ebay, the charges are hidden from you. But the seller will receive a lower amount.

Sandtree

phillw said:

I don't think paypal gives you section 75 rights

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/PayPal-Section75/

However, often paypal is better than section 75.

Consumer Credit Act gives you section 75 rights, the use of a PayPal account will break those rights because it adds another party to the Debtor-Creditor-Supplier chain... paying without using an account shouldn't. 

Not sure what scenario you think PayPal is better? PayPal is fairly time limited whereas S75 mirrors your underlying statutory rights which is typically 6 years in England, PayPal is limited to the amount you paid whereas S75 is uncapped liability etc

[Deleted User]

phillw said:

I don't think paypal gives you section 75 rights

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/PayPal-Section75/

However, often paypal is better than section 75.
But not if you pay friends and family. You only get protection if you buy something and that will come with a fee.

Usually when you buy something online with paypal from somewhere like ebay, the charges are hidden from you. But the seller will receive a lower amount.

Using paypal solely as a payment processor is possible (we use them at work for ad hoc billing) - you send a link and the person simply inputs their card details and pays, no account, not paying by PayPal but rather via. 

We see the charges on receipt of money, same as say worldpay or a PDQ