# Question for PayPal gurus **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 6, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-paypal-gurus/618009 "2012-04-06T16:45:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-paypal-gurus/618009/1 "2012-04-06T16:45:45Z")
A customer wanted some items and paid by PayPal to our company PayPal account. Problem is I sent one too many items. The customer wrote to tell us that, and said he would PayPal the $7 for the extra item. I wrote him back and thanked him, and told him he didn’t have to do it. Now for the problem, he PayPal’ed the $7 to my e-mail address, not the company e-mail address. There is no PayPal account under my e-mail address. I really don’t want to bother him with this, but is there any way to redirect or transfer the money without going through the whole PayPal signup (which I believe requires a bank account?) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-paypal-gurus/618009/2 "2012-04-07T02:52:37Z")
I’m reasonably sure that PayPal will reject a payment to an invalid address. It might take a while, but since there is no account under that address, the transaction will never be completed. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-paypal-gurus/618009/3 "2012-04-07T12:30:36Z")
It appears PayPal lets the transaction go through, emailing the recipient “You’ve got cash” as a way to get them to sign up for PayPal. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-paypal-gurus/618009/4 "2012-04-07T12:42:08Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > It appears PayPal lets the transaction go through, emailing the recipient “You’ve got cash” as a way to get them to sign up for PayPal. I wonder if there is a time limit, after which they will cancel the transaction. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-paypal-gurus/618009/5 "2012-04-07T12:57:42Z")
I hope so, I will probably find out. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Paypal just leaves the money in limbo. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-paypal-gurus/618009/6 "2012-04-07T15:49:43Z")
No the money never goes through(it was never debited from the senders account) the source of my info is the numerous customers who jump the gun and send money to bizarre fictitious accounts they made up in their heads. You sent the money to [grude@grude.com](mailto:grude@grude.com)? WTF? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-paypal-gurus/618009/7 "2012-04-07T19:43:41Z")
Just last week, I sent my brother money through PayPal. He decided I should keep it, and told me so, adding that the email he got told him that after a fixed period if he didn’t claim the money it would be returned to my balance. I didn’t see the email he got, but I have no reason not to believe him.