To block payments on PayPal, you can prevent a specific person from sending you money by blocking them as a contact, or you can stop unwanted automatic payments by canceling recurring billing agreements. For payments that have already gone through, you can report unauthorized transactions through the Resolution Center, or if you simply didn't receive what you paid for, you can dispute charge on PayPal.
How to block payments on PayPal from a specific user
If you need to stop a particular person from sending you money, you can block them as a contact. This is the most direct way to block payments on PayPal from a specific user. When you block a contact, they will no longer be able to send you money, message you, or find you in the PayPal directory.
- Log in to the PayPal website.
- Click "Send & Request," then "Contacts."
- Select the person's name from your contact list.
- Click "Block this contact" and confirm your choice.
This action is immediate and permanent until you choose to unblock the person. If you are dealing with multiple unwanted senders, you can repeat these steps for each individual.
How to stop automatic payments and subscriptions
Many unwanted payments come from recurring subscriptions or billing agreements you may have forgotten about. To stop these, you need to cancel the automatic payment through PayPal. Note that this is a critical step in managing PayPal pending, blocking and cancelling payments, as it stops the money pathway but does not always cancel the underlying contract with the service provider.
- Log in to your PayPal account.
- Navigate to "Automatic Payments" (sometimes labeled "Subscriptions" or "Linked Businesses").
- Select the merchant or subscription you want to stop.
- Tap "Cancel" or "Unlink" to confirm.
After canceling through PayPal, you should also contact the service provider directly to formally close your account or service. This prevents any outstanding balances from being charged through other payment methods or from causing billing issues later.
How to report an unauthorized transaction
If a payment has already been processed that you did not authorize, you can take action to recover your money. This is a reactive way to block a payment that has already occurred. Unauthorized transactions should be reported immediately through the Resolution Center.
- Log in to your PayPal account.
- Go to the Resolution Center.
- File a case for the unauthorized transaction.
- Follow the prompts to provide details about the charge.
Filing promptly increases your chances of a successful dispute. PayPal will review your case and, if valid, reverse the transaction and return the funds to your account.
Additional payment blocking settings for business accounts
If you have a Premier or Business account, you have additional control over incoming payments. Under "Profile > My Selling Preferences > Getting paid and managing risk," you can find specific "Block Payments" settings. These allow you to block payments in certain currencies or prevent accidental duplicate payments. For example, if you do not operate in a particular currency, you can block those payments entirely. These settings are useful for merchants who want to streamline their payment acceptance and avoid unwanted transaction types.
