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Payment via paypal, acceptable for translators, yes or no?
Thread poster: Djana Surkovic
Djana Surkovic
Djana Surkovic
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 16:20
Member
French to Bosnian
+ ...
Jun 1, 2013

As we all know, when we receive payment via paypal, we wait for at least 21 days for the funds to became available. Before the money was even sent, we usualy wait for 30 days after the invoice is sent to the outsourcer. Paypal policy for money to become available after at least three weeks is good for ebay sellers and buyers, but it is not at all convenient for translators. Outsourcers know that but they still send the payment via paypal 30 or 45 days after the invoice. It seems that everyone is... See more
As we all know, when we receive payment via paypal, we wait for at least 21 days for the funds to became available. Before the money was even sent, we usualy wait for 30 days after the invoice is sent to the outsourcer. Paypal policy for money to become available after at least three weeks is good for ebay sellers and buyers, but it is not at all convenient for translators. Outsourcers know that but they still send the payment via paypal 30 or 45 days after the invoice. It seems that everyone is waiting for translator to forget that once he was suppose to be paid. Don't you all think that somehow we should act to stop this? Should we refuse to be paid this way?Collapse


 
Pavel Mondschein
Pavel Mondschein  Identity Verified
Czech Republic
Local time: 16:20
English to Czech
+ ...
No waiting time Jun 1, 2013

Maybe PayPal has different terms for different territories, but I do not need to wait at all. I can use the funds as soon as they arrive to my PayPal account (I just have to wait 2 days when I transfer them to my bank account, but this is pretty much normal).

[Edited at 2013-06-01 19:14 GMT]


 
Sheila Wilson
Sheila Wilson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 15:20
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
??? Jun 1, 2013

Djana Surkovic wrote:

As we all know, when we receive payment via paypal, we wait for at least 21 days for the funds to became available.

I can only imagine you're talking about the period when the sender theoretically has the right to have that money refunded. But in my experience (not personal, thankfully) that's only going to happen if it's a scam or if there are serious quality issues. There's nothing to stop you spending the money the moment it arrives. It's just that IF the sender demands a refund, and has some plausible reason to do so, then PayPal will take from your bank account if necessary.
Should we refuse to be paid this way?

There's absolutely nothing to stop you doing that. Personally, I have a 10-day limit on "free" PayPal payments, with an extra fee for payments at 11-30 days (which I sometimes waive if there's a good reason, such as there's no viable alternative payment method). As far as Euro-zone clients are concerned, the only reason I accept PayPal is to get the money in quickly.


 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 16:20
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
21 days? Jun 1, 2013

Djana Surkovic wrote:
As we all know, when we receive payment via paypal, we wait for at least 21 days for the funds to became available.


Really? My money is always available within a week, or within a day.


 
Djana Surkovic
Djana Surkovic
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 16:20
Member
French to Bosnian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Answer Jun 1, 2013

Dear colleagues,

Well, this is the e-mail that I receive every time when I get the payment via paypal:

"Payments you receive go to your pending balance for 30 days. Payments in your pending balance belong to you, but you can't use or withdraw them. After 30 days, pending payments go to your available balance, unless PayPal is holding amounts for another reason, as specified in the PayPal User Agreement or other agreement that you have entered into with PayPal."


 
Pavel Mondschein
Pavel Mondschein  Identity Verified
Czech Republic
Local time: 16:20
English to Czech
+ ...
Make sure your account is verified. Jun 1, 2013

I see now what is your problem (more info here on PayPal FAQ).

As you are not eBay seller, most advices do not apply to you. But make sure that:
- you are "verified" used - verify with PayPal your identity and bank account
- make sure that all information in their system is up to date.


 
Steve Kerry
Steve Kerry  Identity Verified
Local time: 15:20
German to English
Works for me.. Jun 1, 2013

I only have one client who prefers to pay via Paypal, rather than bank transfer. The "angels' share" taken by exchange rates, fees etc. is similar to the banks' and the overall payment term from invoicing, including Paypal processing, is within 30 days, so I'm not complaining. Perhaps there are more delays in your country?

Steve K.


 
Djana Surkovic
Djana Surkovic
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 16:20
Member
French to Bosnian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Answer Jun 1, 2013

Well, as you can see, it is 30 days after the money come to paypal.

 
José Henrique Lamensdorf
José Henrique Lamensdorf  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 12:20
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In memoriam
Maybe in the UK, not in Brazil Jun 1, 2013

Steve Kerry wrote:

I only have one client who prefers to pay via Paypal, rather than bank transfer. The "angels' share" taken by exchange rates, fees etc. is similar to the banks' and the overall payment term from invoicing, including Paypal processing, is within 30 days, so I'm not complaining. Perhaps there are more delays in your country?

Steve K.


It apparently varies from one country to another.

Until PayPal opened their offices in Brazil (2011), the best way to transfer funds from there to a Brazilian bank account was Xoom. As soon as funds were available in your account with PayPal, for USD 4.99 (for up to USD 3K) per transfer, Xoom would make them reach a Brazilian bank account between 1 (most usual, during banking hours) and 24 hours as a cash deposit.

As soon as PayPal set foot here, they burned bridges with Xoom, and began offering the transfer + currency exchange themselves. Not only PayPal Brazil delays the transfer by 3-5 banking days, but they also openly adopt (it's stated on their help pages) a 3.5% lower-than-market exchange rate.

I don't know if this is uniform in all countries, but for Brazilian account holders PayPal deducts a 6.5% fee from the proceeds as soon as the funds become available in the account there.

Some clients pay via PayPal using eCheck, which also takes additional 3-5 banking days to clear before funds are available there.

Therefore in Brazil it may take anything from 3 days to 2 weeks (5+5 banking days) for a payment made via PayPal to a translator in Brazil to be available.

Now Brazilian banks' overdraft interest rates are around outrageous 8% (or more) per month. I am including this, assuming that the translator has bills to pay, for which s/he'd have funds available, if only had received payment without further delay. If we consider the average PayPal delay to be one week, there being four in a month, that's an additional 2% cost.

Bottom line is that in Brazil, receiving payments via PayPal costs 6.5% in fees + 3.5% in lower exchange rate + 2% in overdraft interest = 12%!

The cherry on the top is that PayPal strictly forbids users to surcharge payers using their system, threatening to close the account in case such practice is detected or reported.

My solution was to offer generous discounts on my rates to clients who pay me via any other method. PayPal cannot prevent me from giving discounts to anyone I like.


 
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 16:20
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Hmmm... Jun 2, 2013

The moment my clients send the money and I receive the notification (mostly on the same day), I can instantly transfer the money from my PayPal to my bank account, which take about 2 days.

As Steve and José stated, there might be different rules for different countries. That's the only explanation for such a delay.

Like Sheila I only use PayPal for clients outside the Euro zone. Depending on where the payment is coming from it takes between 2 and 5 days for it to arriv
... See more
The moment my clients send the money and I receive the notification (mostly on the same day), I can instantly transfer the money from my PayPal to my bank account, which take about 2 days.

As Steve and José stated, there might be different rules for different countries. That's the only explanation for such a delay.

Like Sheila I only use PayPal for clients outside the Euro zone. Depending on where the payment is coming from it takes between 2 and 5 days for it to arrive.
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IrimiConsulting
IrimiConsulting  Identity Verified
Sweden
Local time: 16:20
Member (2010)
English to Swedish
+ ...
I currently accept only wire transfer Jun 2, 2013

Most types of clients that are relevant to me have no problems paying with wire transfer. I offer PP payment but always after wire transfer and so far, everyone has agreed to wire transfer.

If PP was a prerequisite for a client I would definitely allow it. Just be aware of the risks, terms and conditions.


 
Mokhtar Oussama Alliouche
Mokhtar Oussama Alliouche  Identity Verified
Algeria
Local time: 16:20
English to Arabic
+ ...
Pending balance & available balance Jun 2, 2013

The same thing here in Algeria !

I think PayPal has a specific policy for certain countries. When I receive payments I need to wait for 30 days before they become available

I found in this forum that this can be avoided, and that money can be available without having to wait for 30 days if the outsourcer "confirms the receipt"...see pictures in this ink:
... See more
The same thing here in Algeria !

I think PayPal has a specific policy for certain countries. When I receive payments I need to wait for 30 days before they become available

I found in this forum that this can be avoided, and that money can be available without having to wait for 30 days if the outsourcer "confirms the receipt"...see pictures in this ink:

http://djelfa.info/vb/showthread.php? t=709248

I haven't tried it yet..but maybe it works !
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inkweaver
inkweaver  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 16:20
French to German
+ ...
Acceptable in certain cases Jun 2, 2013

I accept Paypal for payments from clients outside the EU.

The payment is either instantly available to tranfer to my bank account (which often only takes one business day), one US client makes "debit" payments which are credited after about 5 days and can then be transferred to my bank account. This last client pays very quickly though, sometimes even on the day I invoice them, so I find these five days perfectly acceptable.

The only reason I can see for a waiting time
... See more
I accept Paypal for payments from clients outside the EU.

The payment is either instantly available to tranfer to my bank account (which often only takes one business day), one US client makes "debit" payments which are credited after about 5 days and can then be transferred to my bank account. This last client pays very quickly though, sometimes even on the day I invoice them, so I find these five days perfectly acceptable.

The only reason I can see for a waiting time of 30 days is that either there are different rules for different countries or because the account is not verified.

I have never had any real trouble with Paypal, except for the time when they forced me to verify the account and I didn't have access to my funds, but that was sorted out very quickly.
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Djana Surkovic
Djana Surkovic
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 16:20
Member
French to Bosnian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
ANSWER Jun 2, 2013

Dear Mokhtar,

Thank you for the link, but can you send me some site on English, this one is on Arabic which i can not understand.


 
Mokhtar Oussama Alliouche
Mokhtar Oussama Alliouche  Identity Verified
Algeria
Local time: 16:20
English to Arabic
+ ...
Few tips ! Jun 2, 2013

Djana Surkovic wrote:

Dear Mokhtar,

Thank you for the link, but can you send me some site on English, this one is on Arabic which i can not understand.


Hi Djana,

I'll try to explain some of the tips in this link:

http://djelfa.info/vb/showthread.php?%20t=709248

The first picture shows the account of the one who has "received" the payment (And as you can see, he has two types of accounts, an available one which contains no sums and a pending one which contains the sums that have been sent by the outsourcer..etc).

The second picture shows the account of the one who has "sent" the payment ( Home page + transaction details). After clicking on "transaction details" the outsourcer needs to click on "confirm receipt".

The third picture appears to the outsourcer after clicking on "confirm receipt"..and he has to confirm this step by clicking on "yes".

Normally, after following these steps, the sums that were in your pending balance go to your available balance.

HTH


 
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Payment via paypal, acceptable for translators, yes or no?







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