Why Won’t My PayPal Credit Work

K

karen taylor

Member
When I go to check out on a site and choose “Pay with PayPal,” the pop-up only shows my debit card as a payment option. I don’t see any way to select PayPal Credit, even though I haven’t used any of it and the full amount is available.

Since they don’t issue a physical card for PayPal Credit, I’m confused as to why it isn’t showing up. Has anyone else run into this?
 
PayPal Credit only shows up if the merchant is eligible for it. Not every store that accepts PayPal actually lets you use PayPal Credit. It’s super annoying because PayPal doesn’t make that obvious when you’re checking out. I’ve had it happen on random sites but then it works fine on eBay or Best Buy. Try another merchant to confirm if it’s your account or just the site.
 
I had the same issue last month! Turned out I was logged into the wrong PayPal account on the browser, the one without PayPal Credit attached. Once I logged into the correct one, the option magically appeared. Might be worth double-checking your accounts if you’ve got more than one. Happened to me on Chrome but not Safari too.
 
PayPal Credit is like that friend who says yeah I’ll come but never actually shows up to the party. Technically available, but nowhere to be seen when you need it. Honestly though, it’s hit or miss depending on the site. I’ve stopped relying on it unless I know the merchant for sure takes it.
 
Are you sure it isn’t because PayPal doesn’t really want you using the credit unless it benefits them? I swear they hide the option sometimes to nudge people toward their debit or linked cards. Could be me being cynical, but I’ve noticed it mysteriously vanishes more often at smaller retailers than big chains.
 
Oh man, I feel your frustration. I remember staring at the checkout screen, money technically available but with no way to use it. I even thought my account was broken until I Googled it. Turns out it’s a super common headache. You’re definitely not alone ....PayPal could be a lot clearer about where it works.
 
Yeah this! I tried buying from a small boutique site and couldn’t use PayPal Credit. Then I tested it on Walmart’s site and the option was right there. So I think you’re correct that it’s more about the merchant’s settings than our accounts. Still a terrible user experience though.
 
If you want to check beforehand, PayPal actually has a help article buried somewhere that lists common merchants that accept PayPal Credit. It’s not exhaustive, but it’s a start. Otherwise, you basically find out at checkout whether it works or not. Pretty dumb system honestly.
 
I use PayPal Credit all the time on eBay and it’s flawless there! You can even split into easy payments if you qualify. But yeah, outside the big sites it’s not as reliable. If you mainly shop on marketplaces, it’s a great tool. Just wish they’d expand compatibility faster.
 
Did you recently change your default payment settings in PayPal? I had PayPal Credit set as my preferred option, but then it got reset after I updated my address. That caused it to disappear during checkout until I went into Settings → Payments and set it again. Worth checking.
 
I legit gave up on it because every time I needed it, it wasn’t there. I ended up just applying for a regular credit card instead. At least those show up everywhere. The inconsistency made it impossible to rely on, especially for emergencies.
 
I think you’re onto something. I’ve seen rumors that PayPal pays extra processing fees if Credit is used, so maybe they don’t prioritize showing it. Not sure how true it is, but it would explain why it feels random. Corporate greed at its finest.
 
One workaround I’ve used is transferring the balance. If you add PayPal Credit as a funding source to PayPal Key (if it’s still active for you), it creates a virtual card you can use anywhere. Not sure if PayPal has retired it fully though.....it worked for me last year.
 
Totally get the confusion. I had $1,000 of credit available, went to buy a $200 part for my car, and the option was nowhere to be found. Called support, and they just said “that merchant doesn’t accept it.” Felt like a waste of time applying for it tbh.
 
Oh wow, didn’t even think of trying another browser. That might explain why it worked fine on mobile but not my desktop. Thanks for the tip, I’ll give that a go.
 
Sometimes it depends on what you’re buying too. Certain restricted categories like digital gift cards or gambling-related items don’t allow PayPal Credit. If you’re trying to buy something like that, it could be why it’s hidden. Their terms of service mention it in fine print.
 
On the bright side, if it’s just a compatibility issue, your account itself is fine. You don’t have to worry about something being wrong with your credit line. Just annoying to have to guess when it’ll work.
 
Honestly, PayPal should be more transparent. Either make PayPal Credit universally available or list the exact merchants where it won’t show. Leaving users guessing at checkout is such a terrible experience. It feels half-baked compared to Klarna or Affirm.
 
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