How to Verify Your PayPal Account

This post is a continuation of our previous article on how to open a PayPal account in the Philippines. If you don’t have a PayPal account yet, you can read that post to learn how to setup your own account. Remember that it is free to create an account. If you have already created your PayPal account, but have not verified it yet, this post shall guide you on the verification process.

According to PayPal, verification is not a requirement. However, getting verified will give you the following benefits:

• Send and receive money as much and as often as you like
• Boost your credibility with buyers and sellers worldwide
• Send payments instantly from your bank account
• Take advantage of exclusive services such as PayPal Seller Protection

When you first open a PayPal account without verifying your account, there is a limit on the amount of money you can send. Once you reach your limit, you’ll need to add a bank account, credit card or debit card to become verified in order to continue making transactions. Please see the image below.

Being a verified PayPal account holder will also boost your reputation and credibility as a seller or as a buyer. When you’re sending and receiving money online, the “Verified” status is your stamp of approval. It lets other members know that you are a confirmed PayPal member with a current bank account associated with your PayPal account.

A Verified PayPal account is also a proof that the holder has provided additional evidence of his or her identity to PayPal by passing key security checks and completing the PayPal Verification process. Verification increases the overall security of the PayPal network because most buyers prefer to do business with Verified PayPal account holders. Verification is also an important step when you have an online business and wants to accept credit card payments online. But take note that a verified status still doesn’t guarantee the member’s business practices. You still need to consider additional security measures to reduce risks, such as evaluating additional information and checking a member’s past reputation.


How to verify your PayPal account

The Verification process varies somewhat from country to country. In the US, a Verified member has either added and confirmed a bank account with PayPal or received approval for a PayPal Plus credit card. In the Philippines, you can verify your account by:

1. Confirming your email address
2. Adding a credit or debit card
3. Linking and confirming that card to your PayPal account

Confirming your email address is done during the setup of your PayPal account. But you can also add or edit your email address, and confirm them. To do that, just log in to your PayPal account, go to “My Account” tab, then to “Profile”, and select “Add/Edit Email”. See image below.


How to add your card to your account

Adding a credit or debit card to your PayPal account will raise your sending limit, give you the ability to withdraw funds from your PayPal account, and use it as a backup for funding. It will also confirm the address you indicated in your PayPal account.

To add a credit or debit card, just do the following (also see the image below):

1. Log in to your PayPal account.
2. Click the My Account main tab.
3. Click the Profile sub tab.
4. From the column, choose and click Add/Edit Credit Card
5. Fill out the Add Credit Card form.
6. Click Add Credit Card.

If you don’t have a credit card, you can use a debit card. In my case, I used an EON Visa Debit Card to verify my PayPal account. Here’s how you can apply an EON VISA Debit Card at Unionbank if you are in the Philippines. A VISA debit card works just like a credit card.


How to link and confirm your card

To link your card to your PayPal account and get it verified, you have to complete the Expanded Use Program enrollment. The following are the steps to enroll in the Expanded Use Program.

• Once you are logged in to your PayPal account, click the link Enroll in Expanded Use in the Activate Account column.

• Click the button Get Number to authorize PayPal to charge $1.95 USD to your card. Once you complete enrollment and make the first payment, PayPal will reimburse you $1.95 USD in your PayPal account. If you are using a prepaid or a debit card, make sure that your card has a balance fund to cover the amount that PayPal will charge you. In case you are using EON Visa Debit Card, make sure that it has a balance of at least Php200.

• Find the $1.95 USD charge in your next card statement. On the item description section, you will see the Expanded Use (EXPUSE) Number (a 4-digit number) next to the word PAYPAL.

If you can access your card statement online, you will see the number within 2-4 business days depending on the issuing bank. If you don’t have online access to your statement, you have to wait for your printed statement to arrive by mail. You may also contact your bank to know your PayPal EXPUSE Number.

• Once you have your EXPUSE Number, go back to your PayPal account, click the Finish Expanded Use Enrollment link on your Account Overview, and enter 4-digit numbers.

• After entering your Expanded Use Number correctly, you will complete your enrollment for PayPal’s Expanded Use Program. When you make the first payment with PayPal, it will reimburse you $1.95USD in your PayPal account.

If you are using Unionbank Credit card or EON VISA Debit Card for verifying your account, you can check Unionbank’s instructions on how to enroll in the PayPal’s Expanded Use Program.

If you have questions or experience to share about using PayPal, we can discuss it through our comment section below. Remember to always be a responsible and wise PayPal account holder. Shop from or sell only to trusted merchants.