How to Dispute a PayPal Charge
PayPal disputes are usually about an item that never arrived, something that was not as described, or a payment you did not authorize. PayPal has its own dispute process, and using it first is usually the right move.
Whether you're calling it a refund request, a chargeback, disputing the charge, or just contesting it, the steps below are the same.
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Find the transaction in your PayPal activity
Open the payment and check the details: who was paid, the amount, and the date. Some charges that look unfamiliar are recurring payments you set up earlier, so check the automatic payments list.
Contact the seller first when you can
Message the seller through PayPal about the problem. Many issues get fixed at this stage, and it also creates a record.
Open a dispute in the Resolution Center
PayPal has time limits on opening a dispute, generally measured from the payment date, so check the current window and do not wait. Describe what happened, the amount, and the resolution you want.
Escalate to a claim, or involve your card issuer or bank
If you and the seller cannot agree, escalate within PayPal. If the payment was funded by a card or bank account, you may also be able to dispute it there with your written account.
- •Keep all communication inside PayPal and the seller's platform so it counts as part of the record.
- •For an item not received, tracking information showing it was never delivered is the strongest evidence.
- •Payments sent as friends and family usually have less protection than purchases, so check how the payment was sent.
Don't want to write it yourself?
Describe what happened and FixACharge writes the dispute letter, email, and evidence checklist for you.
Write My DisputeA self-help document tool, not a law firm. We can't promise refunds or provide legal advice.