Having a PayPal account that has been permanently limited can be particularly distressing, especially when you have funds trapped in it. This scenario often results from suspected fraudulent activities, non-compliance with PayPal’s User Agreement, or unresolved disputes, leading PayPal to decide to permanently restrict transactions. Nevertheless, the withdrawal of money from a permanently limited account isn’t always impossible. It’s a process that requires you to follow certain steps while adhering to PayPal’s stipulated guidelines.
After my Paypal account had a negative balance due to an online scam, I created a new one and tried to avoid any risk with the new account.
However, after I set up and received money from buyers, it was permanently limited right away and the limitation cannot be appealed. In the email Paypal sent me, they said they decided to close my account because of security issues. There would be no problem if my account balance is zero as I could get rid of that account. I just received nearly $1,000 from my online revenue sources and then Paypal closed it immediately. My money is still there but the balance is frozen and I couldn’t send or withdraw it.
I contacted Paypal again to ask for my money and it was another frustrating experience. My money would be held for 180 days (6 months) and Paypal promised that they would send me an email when the balance was available to withdraw. But it never happened and I almost forgot about the incident.
I had to contact Paypal by myself again and they sent me an email to verify that my Paypal funds are eligible for withdrawal now. They also mentioned that my account is still limited, that means I still can’t send or request money, receive payments, add funds and close the account. The positive side is that I can withdraw funds from my account now, and it is the same process as I did earlier. I can either transfer to a bank account, request a check or get a Paypal Debit Mastercard. Here is how I withdraw the funds to my bank account.
1. Log in to PayPal account.
2. Navigate to My Account -> Withdraw.
3. Click ‘Transfer to bank account’, the minimum amount you can withdraw is $1.
4. Enter the amount you want to withdraw, I filled in every penny of course.
I tried to add another bank account but I received the error message: “Sorry, your last action could not be completed“. Fortunately, I already added a bank account to the Paypal account earlier, so this is not a big problem. If you have the issue, you can request a check anyway.
5. Click ‘Continue’.
6. Review the confirmation page and click ‘Submit’.
Now I can really forget about the account and Paypal also sent me a confirmation saying “it usually takes 3-4 business days for transfers like this to go through.“
If you do not receive an email from PayPal about withdrawing your money after the stipulated waiting period, or if you encounter any issues during the withdrawal process, contact PayPal’s customer service. Keep your communication clear, respectful, and to the point, outlining the issue you’re facing. According to my research, the issue happens mostly to non-verified and verified Paypal users outside the United States. Do you have the same issue with your Paypal account? I’d love to hear about your experience.
Disclosure: We might earn commission from qualifying purchases. The commission help keep the rest of my content free, so thank you!
calvin tran says
pp such bs business. i spent around 20k on ebay to buy stuff for my oversea business. today one of my friend sent me 1000usd and bang it happens they dont want me as an customer anymore and i will not be doing business with u ever again. screw u pp !!
Jj says
They screwed me too outta blue and won’t say why. They completely give you a Scarlett letter and don’t even want to answer questions. They just wanna hang on to your money and make interest off it for 180 days while you get nothing. I hate PayPal and hope they fold soon. Just remember people take your money from your balance asap cuz when they file for bankruptcy you will lose your money.
Joseah says
I have same problem. My account is permanently limited, over 180days now, got e-mail that my funds are eligible for withdrawal. I have tried to withdrew but all in vain
Bright says
What method did you use when trying to withdraw?
Mellissa says
Did you ever figure how to transfer your PayPal funds my account is limited I already receive the email saying that I can now transfer money onto my checking account or debit card but it’s not allowing me to transfer money and PayPal is closed and I messaged them several times and I get the same stupid messages PayPal is the worst scandaest completely ever
Jonathan Gray says
23k of my (and accounts payable) hard earned money here… They aren’t keeping it under their pillow at night… it’s growing interest in some money market instrument probably. All while costing me and others
Bright says
Have you got your money now?
JC says
Ditto, me too, same sh!t. I understand the security issue but the 180 days seems a little much. F_ck those PP a$$hole$!
Victor says
Even after the 180 days, you still cannot withdraw your money.
paypalisgay123 says
**** pp dont use it use giropay i am out of this s*** i had 5000 on my paypal and they just limited it, thats probably their business. limmit random account for *security issue* and then if u send the stuff permanently do it.
steve says
so noway one can get his fund from a permanently limited paypal account until after 180 days
Lamar says
You may never get your funds back at all. Fck pp. I hope it goes down soon.
Muhammad Wakeel says
I Have same issue cam You tell me how to solve this Problem. Is there anyway to get back my account.
Jim says
Unfortunately no there isn’t much that can be done. PayPal is holding near 5k of mine and I have been fighting with them for almost two months. Such a corrupt Buisness. I offered to send Buisness Licence and everything they just ignore you and send automated answers. F*** PayPal.
Audrey Watson says
OMG this is so familiar. I am a new business owner and I recently switched my personal account to business. My online store made about 6 sales in the first week and they told me cause i was new they will jold my 1st fund for 7 days., So during those 7 days i was getting more sales, but when it reached the 7 days i get an email saying my account is limited permanetly. Know All of my funds are on hold for 180 Days..wtf!!!! Then I google and I see all these complaints.. Did you ever receive your money after the 180 days that they claim
Yeoh ek says
I am just facing same issue by today , they holding my 80k USD inside the account
Samitha says
I’m also facing the same issue Yesterday and PayPal holding all my $600 and my account is now Limited. I can’t withdraw my funds.
Edwards says
Paypal to me i feel like is such scared bunch dudes that just is looking for means to take from its customers in the name of violation.
I had an account that was doing well receiving payments from buyers. I got over $1000 and withdrew till it was left with 100+ bucks then boom permanent limitation. The said I could withdraw after 180 days and after the 180 days, I went to check to withdraw only to see paypal has taken the money for themselves as violation fee.
now I have close to $600 that paypal has held up and would take it as violation fee after 180 days.
if there is any means to get this out, I will fall for it
Collins says
Hey buddy did you make any attempt to issue law suit or something related in attempt to get the money released to you during the first 180 days you were asked to wait? I think I’ve read somewhere where it says the withheld fund will be taken as a ‘violation fee’ if any attempt is made to issue legal claims. So was that the case with yours?
Luckyduck says
I had my account limited with over $900 in it. Luckily almost all the money in there came from the sale of one item on eBay so I contacted the buyer and told them there was an issue with the PayPal account that their payment went into and asked if it would be alright if I refunded their money then sent them an invoice (from my friend’s PayPal account) and they pay the invoice instead. I also made sure to add that they could wait to pay the invoice until their item arrived so they could make sure it was as described so they wouldn’t think I was trying to scam them somehow. So I refunded their payment THRU EBAY so that on eBay the item showed as not paid. After that I went into PayPal and looked at the transaction details of the refund to get the buyer’s PayPal email address and sent the invoice to that email. After they paid the invoice I had to have them confirm ON PAYPAL that they already received their item or PayPal would continue to hold the payment for up to 21 days. And it WORKED! But I was very lucky I had an honest buyer who actually paid the invoice after I refunded his money and even luckier he also followed thru with quickly confirming he already received the item so I didn’t have to wait 21 days for the money to be released. But unfortunately the paypal account that I sent the invoice from was permanently limited just a few days later. I’m guessing PayPal found out somehow what I had done and so they closed the other account because of it….but at least I got my money out first!!! In your f*#%ing face PayPal!!!! >:-P
Savindu Wijesiri says
Same happened to me. 180 days have long gone and I still did NOT receive an email and there are only automated responses to my emails…
sammy runya says
me too ,my money hold on paypal 4months now ,coz of limitatiopn,isent many mails but no respond till now,
Karen says
I suspect that my account is limited too since I could not get my money as well. I cant send or transfer money to other account and to my bank account.
PayPal is shit says
Please help I’m 17 got limitation ban and they’re asking for ID I have about 400-500£ there what will happen now? Can I get it back? Please imagine losing £500 at 17 😤
Jodi says
Is PayPal the only option out there if you want yo sell on eBay? I’ve heard EBay was parting ways with them in July 2020 because of all their unfair business practices. Up until now, PayPal had the monopoly on eBay ? Because that’s all there was. I pray to God that the rumor is true so I can go back to selling on EBay. PayPal is the most crooked company I’ve ever come across.
STEPHANIE says
yes having the same issue with PP now they have refunded a customer money 2 times $112 and I have $177 still in there I can’t do anything with for 180 days. IS THERE NOT SOME KIND OF LEGAL ACTION WE CAN TAKE TO GET OUR MONEY NOW> THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED
Nickson says
Paypal also limited my $1200. I received and immediately they temporarily limited my account. I know that if I provide the details they asked it would just be a mess because they would limit my account permanently. Should I wait for 180 days? Will I be able to withdraw my money successfully?
The woo says
I have exactly 1200 usd too, and my Acct permanently limited, they claim I’d get my money back in 180days.
MarcyDarcy says
I recieved this email today about waiting 180 days while I was telling my husband about it he went to his account to withdraw and was blocked as well. Ten minutes later he recieved the same email I did. What’s really going on? My husband rarely uses his account. Is the paypal bank stock shriveling up before our eyes due to Covid-19? This truly seems like a unfair practice as if they want EBay sales to die off and drown with the sinking paypal ship????
Garry says
My account had a limitation placed on it recently. No amount of emails, messages or even emailing the ceo could get an answer from them as to why? They appear to just refer to the user agreement which I have read and I’m confident I haven’t infringed upon. I think payp are one of the most unscrupulous companies around and as they are obviously going to lose millions when ebay gives them the boot, they are doing all they can to swallow peoples money by whatever means possible.
karen says
I’ve just had my account limited by paypal and all the numbers emails etc are just the same and i’ve now got to wait 180 days at least to get my money – mine is a small start up business as i lost my job and now they have my money. Paypal are sh!t….
ChArquez says
Wow so nobody got there money back my 180 is almost up nobody got there money back
Spike says
Did you ever get your money back?
Megan says
I got my pua benefits sent to my paypal soon as I tried to transfer to my bank it said “ error “ .. then I got an email about account limitations . I emailed them everything they needed .. then my account was closed .. & still can’t withdraw my funds .. pay pal is such a scam & nobody should lose .. 180days ? To wait on my MONEY ? .. their sad I have kids & a household to take care of
Walter says
PayPal is another scam of its own..why do you guys like limiting our accounts immediately we receive payments and use security issue as an excuse…what was the reason me creating the account if you people restrict my usage…I am so so disappointed with you…Improve your services…
Senay Yemane says
Where are you people all based; this vile company has just done the same to me and I am going to take action. How many of here with the same State sides and from Europe. All these things need are coordinated effort and determination. Whoever wants to take action, respond.
Latasha says
I want to take action im in the united states
Joewel Baisa says
I want to take action. My account has been put in limitation as they hold my money without discussing what the real issue was. Everything was fine as I was sending money out, no problem but all of a sudden once a large amount of funds is sent to me they wanna close out my account.
Lauren Lanteigne says
Yes. I want to take action!!! I already filed a BBB report against them!! They took my money that I borrowed from a friend to help with dr bills & household bills since me & my children have all had COVID-19… I’m a single mother & they took everything I had… I can’t even afford gas for my car or food… how is this going on? Why isn’t there a class action law suit against them! As soon as my friend transferred me money to help with expenses they closed my account…I’ve had this account for almost a year & there are barely even all transactions… absolutely NONE of them violate their User Agreement… I can honestly say they are robbing all of us… & to do it during this crisis makes it even worse
Fatima Mohamed Ali says
Hey there same issue here, sold a bag on Depop bc need a little extra money with all that’s going on. Only to find out my £600 is being held for 180 days and my account has been limited for no good reason. Any amount of emails, messages or calls I make no luck. I’ve even noticed they’ve blocked me from the ability to contact somebody on customer services which they had prior to the limitation (the pop up box when you click contact us to speak to someone).
Anyway I’ve done a little reading and I’ve decided I’m going to write a letter to an MP here in the UK, and considering getting people to help sign a petition so that not only my issue is sorted but hopefully everyone else’s and shine a light on the corrupt company that is PayPal and there crooked actions.
Please email me your details and within the day I’m going to create a change.org cause so you guys can sign the petition.
My email is [email protected]
Weird email I know.
Please let me know how everyone else is dealing with this issue.
Thank you
CocoaChanel75 says
No Pay No Peace I want action
Jase Q says
Same thing. PP is holding my daughter’s $1000, saying that she has to pay a negative balance on an old, closed account, that PP sold off to a collection agency. PP sold an old account, that I have proof that I paid everything on,then hold my daughter’s money, saying that she and I have the same last name and address?????
I’m really pissed off. What can we do? Almost 180, next month.
Jase Q says
The old closed account is my old account. Sorry, forgot to mention that.
Kimberle Taitano says
I am so ready to take action on this fraudulent company pp breaking many federal laws. Violating innocent peoples rights. In America no one no business can accuse you of a crime take action due to crime with absolutely zero proof or cause. There is legal facts I think for those who are victims of this crime!
Vn Student in AU says
In Au and Vietnam also. PP locked my account just because I want to temporarily keep my 1200 AUD in its balance in stead of my no-longer-use bank account. And they turn ‘temporarily’ in to ‘forever’ in no more than a day. I hope I had checked my account right at the second money went in, may be it was not lock then. Ah. They asked me to confirm information that I’m in AU to unlock the account but why should I be in AU. I graduated, I left the country. What’s the problem with that?
Dorothy says
my isuue is as below email sent to paypal….. anyone with contacts who can respond not the automated numbers and mails on their site please.
I have had my PayPal for several years now, I have no idea how my account was signed up with another nationality mistakenly somehow i ended up with US nationality instead of kenyan thus when i put my phone number 0780567066 the prefix code entered was US instead of kenyan (+254),Initially i had linked a kenyan account debit card and i could send money easily, however when that debit card expired i have tried taking the money on a master card and it didn’t work. i have tried to contact you since January 2019 to no avail. i tried severally linking my cards with the same billing address as my expired card card and it isn’t the right address so it gives me errors and MAJORLY I CANNOT RESOLVE MY ACCOUNT LIMITATIONS BECAUSE i can’t add the right address as the nationality is set to US which apparently i cannot change from your site so I can’t receive the money on MY KENYAN card as before…..what changed?????I can’t accept the money on the account and use to buy any product online as i don’t have any document to prove I’m a resident of the USwhat happens to my money ($1,274.33) that has stayed in waiting status forever ? kindly assist because i’m damn frustrated with your automated responses which do not help at all.
Jill Leach says
I AM A NEW SELLER ON EBAY AND AFTER READING ALL THE COMMENTS ABOUT PAYPAL I DI NOT WANT A PAYPAL ACCOUNT, IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO DO BUSINESS WITH EBAY WITHOUT GETTING PAID THROUGH PAYPAL? PLEASE HELP, & ANSWER MY QUESTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
John Williams says
Yes you can actually use eBay for payments now. I am on there starter service. It’s all right. Sometimes they make you wait a little bit for your money but it’s not as long as PayPal’s been making me wait and they don’t permanently limit me for some scandalous reason that doesn’t make sense.
Paypaluser12345 says
Hi somebody here familiar with Tirlu? its a cyptocurrency but the payment is thru paypal account my paypal is currently limited now they need an contract service but i dont have one haha. anyway, what will happen if my issue with limitation cannot be resolved. Can i just ignore them and wait for 180 days to withdraw my money? I have no bank account linked in my paypal :(
Benary sareo says
Hey dear,
I’m very happy to read your post. It really give me hope. But something’s bothering me. Can i withdraw the money into my previous linked bank account? Or do I need new account to be link in? Please help me. I’m facing the same situation here.
PayPal really sucks 😂😂😂😅😅.
Harish Mehta says
I heldup with 3000 euros and they put limitation on account . There is no service desk avaiable . what is going on with pay pal are the gona still our money?
:(
Chty says
Paypal are a bunch of criminals
Johnny S says
PayPal froze my account due to a large transaction they say that was out of the ordinary. I had a transfer come in in the amount of $7,100 and they shut me down and froze my account. The money was for school. Now I’m about to be evicted due to non funds. Thanks PayPal.
Mary says
I don’t know what going on I use my PayPal account to accept a direct deposit of $10,000 and before I wake up in the morning my account have been permanently limited that Am gonna Wait for 180 days before I can remove my money I swear PayPal is a scum and I don’t know what to do my I need to Pay my house rent
Robert says
What the f___ wrong with y’all PayPal a__es
Why hold people’s fund after they gotta verify their identity and even address…this sh__ ain’t funny any longer..y’all gotta stop this sh__ ..got my $19600 all f______ locked up in your PayPal ass ..***!! Concerns you with people fund !! I hate pp Fr !!!!
Wake up fake a__es and stop scamming your customers..Thank you !
Bogdan says
did you solve your problem somehow? I have the same problem…
Steve Clark says
Limited my account just as I started selling after years of just using it to buy. No Warning,Email came after Shutdown. The Sooner Ebay ends its ties with Paypal the better.
It cannot be legal to hold Peoples Money for 6months?
Well Pissed off with it.
Casey says
My Pay Pal accounts are both permentaly limited because pay pal wants to say that i am potential at risk activity. They want to say that i own a business which i know nothing about. They sent me an email asking me questions about a business like have i been buying or selling products and items or have i been shipping products and items and i gave them my correct information but they permentaly limited my accounts. I do not understand it. I do not own a business at all. I do not know why they would be doing me this way. There are funds in the account. They said 180 days then they will send me an email telling me how i can access those funds back but i do not know.
Measa says
So, even with my PayPal being limited I “used” to be able to deposit money into my card through instant transfers. But this one company screwed me over so now I couldn’t transfer $200+ into my card because of the transaction error, this never happened and it’s just this one company. PayPal would be so much more useful if it didn’t have that bad system of making you unable to transfer your money to your OWN card, it hinders both parties the consumer and your revenue. This affected me greatly, it really sucks because I can’t even do anything about it and that I ordered my money through check which takes about a WEEK compared to instant funds. Being under 18 and using PayPal for my business is just limiting everything I can do with payments + receiving them, I can’t even earn enough due to it being a nuisance of getting paid as low as $10 and being unable to buy food with it since I can’t deposit it into MY card. If PayPal didn’t have the 18+ rule and enabled a way to let your guardian confirm, it would literally be the best thing ever and it would help so much more people with earning and spending money. Now I’m more scared if I call PayPal to unlimit my account if they find out I created it under 18 which they wouldn’t care at all and close the account down on the spot, losing ALL of YOUR MONEY and CONTACTS.
Bogdan says
Please I need your help, I’ve got my account limited without a warning before and I can just get payments until I confirm my identity the problem is that I was super dumb and didn’t think to much when I made the account and I have a fictional name so I can’t confirm it…
VJ says
PayPal is a serious scam and we all should file a larger consumer court complaint in different countries and continents. If you are willing to support, just email me all your Case IDs at my email
My Situation:
I myself deposited 7500 EUR in PayPal for an urgent transaction and they limited my account right after they received the same. Even after giving them all the proofs they are not unlocking my account.
I am filing a consumer court case in the Netherlands and would appreciate you all can share your PayPal Case IDs that you must have registered trying to solve the issue. All EU cases can be filled together as one.
Gio Nardi says
I have the same problem they limited my account for $465. its almost 180 days and I feel they are not going to give me my money back. I am not sure what non American company is responsible for their telephone support, but any time I call any representative I speak to is not only unhelpful, rude , and actually seemed happy not to provide me any service and to keep my funds. Every time I call I am subjected to wait on hold for a minimum of an hour and then be subjected to this abuse and discrimination for whatever reason whether its because I am American or homosexual. Either way this is uncalled for, unprofessional, and borderline criminal to hold my funds without a valid cause , reason or explanation. Lets see what we can do to give these despicable , criminals what they deserve so that nobody else has to experience what we have and get our money back. We should all proceed with a class action or some type of legal recourse.. I hate these foreign criminals. Lets all figure this out asap and get this resolved and make sure we recoup or monies which have been illegally detained, stolen really. this is petty or grand larceny depending on the state and dollar amount. It can even go as far as being wire fraud, or an organized scheme to defraud. Even a step further this could potentially turn into as Racqueteering situation plus discrimination depending what an investigation uncovers. The monies they have held are my unemployment benefits which I rely on. My family and I almost become homeless and also suffered in numerous ways for this money we depend on. The money has not been taken out of the account, and there have been zero complaints made against me or my account. I just want my money back just like the rest of you and would hope that not another soul has to experience this insanity. God Bless you all and may the devil not be victorious in this situation and steal our joy during this holiday season. Stay in touch and in prayer..
James says
I waited the 180 days and received an email that my funds ($5,000) were eligible for withdrawal but when i log in to withdraw it I receive an error. The customer service rep on the phone hung up on me, and it is impossible to email them because they removed all options to contact them in the resolution center. I believe they are truly trying to steal our money.
Noah says
There’s a way to remove it through VPN, and you use the funds to buy bitcoins directly from your PayPal
J dubb says
I agree it’s bull crap that they’re taking our money but I seriously doubt your sexual preferences have anything to do with it. I think it has a lot more to do with the fact that eBay has given them the boot as they’re only way of accepting payments. What’s funny is as soon as I told them I will be switching to eBay is when my account gets limited. They are scandalous I don’t think it has anything to do with being derogatory in any sense.I hope you don’t think that’s me being derogatory either as my best friend is also a homosexual. I’m just stating facts. I don’t know if you just wanted to blurt it out to the world or something but it’s not why they limited you.
Ikechukwu says
What’s happening…I have watched up to 500 videos and am not being able to cash out…and all the could say is that….not completely don’t I need help here
jimmy says
paypal is purely scam, that’s all i could say
Something need to be done Asap.