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How to Block Payments on PayPal: Block a Person, Stop Automatic Payments, or Report a Charge

PayPal has separate controls for blocking a person, canceling a merchant’s automatic payment, and reporting an unauthorized transaction. Choose the route that matches what happened.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
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PayPal does not have one switch that blocks every kind of payment. To stop a person from sending you money, block that contact. To stop future charges from a merchant, cancel its automatic payment authorization—and contact the merchant separately if you also want to end the subscription. If a payment has already happened and you did not authorize it, report it through PayPal’s Resolution Center.

Choose the right PayPal action

What you want to stop PayPal action When it applies Does it end a merchant subscription?
A specific person sending you money Block that person in your contacts Future contact and payments from that person Not applicable
A merchant charging you automatically Cancel that merchant’s automatic payment Future charges through that PayPal authorization Usually not; contact the merchant to cancel the service or contract
A payment you did not authorize Report it in the Resolution Center A completed or otherwise unauthorized transaction Not applicable; investigate the charge and subscription separately

PayPal’s user-blocking instructions are published on its Faroe Islands help site; the linked automatic-payment and unauthorized-transaction instructions are US-specific. Menus and dispute options can vary by country and may change.

Block someone from sending you money

PayPal says blocking a user prevents that person from sending you money, messaging you, or finding you in the PayPal directory. Use the website or app route below; menu labels can change.

On the PayPal website

  1. Open Send & Request.
  2. Go to Contacts and choose the person.
  3. Select Block this contact, then confirm.

In the PayPal app

  1. Open Payments, then All Contacts.
  2. Find the person and tap the three-dot menu.
  3. Tap Block and confirm.

PayPal’s step-by-step instructions: How do I block or unblock another PayPal user?

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Stop a merchant’s automatic PayPal payments

An automatic payment is a merchant authorization to charge you through PayPal without requiring you to sign in for each payment. Cancel the authorization for that merchant if you want to stop future charges through it.

  1. On the PayPal website, open Settings.
  2. Select Payments.
  3. Open Subscriptions and saved businesses or Automatic Payments.
  4. Select the merchant and cancel the automatic payment. PayPal also provides an option there to change the backup payment method.

PayPal’s US guidance explains automatic payments and how to update or cancel one.

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Cancel the merchant authorization and the service separately

Canceling an automatic payment generally stops future charges to your PayPal account through that authorization, but it usually does not cancel the underlying subscription or contract. Contact the merchant to terminate the service, prevent renewal, or clarify any amount still owed. PayPal’s US article describes ways to cancel recurring payments.

Check the payment method assigned to the merchant

A merchant’s automatic payment may have its own assigned payment method, which can take priority over your general preferred PayPal method. Changing your general preferred method alone therefore may not change how that merchant charges you. Review the specific merchant authorization in payment settings.

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Report a PayPal payment you did not authorize

If you see a transaction you do not recognize, first check whether a family member used your account or whether the charge is an automatic payment, such as a subscription. If it still appears unauthorized, PayPal’s US help page directs account holders to report it through the Resolution Center:

  1. Open the Resolution Center.
  2. Select Report a problem.
  3. Choose the payment in question.
  4. Select I want to report unauthorized activity and follow the prompts.

PayPal says it will investigate and email you within 10 days after you submit a report. For a completed payment you made but want refunded, PayPal’s help page says to contact the seller rather than report it as unauthorized. See PayPal’s instructions for reporting unauthorized transactions or account activity.

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