What is PAYPAL on my bank statement?

PayPal is a payment processor, not a shop. Your bank shows PayPal as the merchant — but the actual purchase is inside your PayPal account.

PayPal — payment processor

⚑ Check PayPal for details

PAYPAL, PAYPAL *, or PP*[MERCHANT NAME] on your statement means a payment was made through PayPal. PayPal acts as a middleman between you and the actual seller — your bank only sees PayPal, not the merchant you actually paid.

Common formats you might see: PP*SHOPIFY (a Shopify store using PayPal), PAYPAL *EBAY, PAYPAL *ONLYFANS, or just PAYPAL with no further details. The actual merchant name is always visible inside your PayPal account transaction history.

PayPal is also used for subscriptions — many services let you pay via PayPal, which then charges your linked card or bank account on renewal dates. These show as recurring PAYPAL charges.

Company

PayPal

Type

Payment processor

Recurring?

Depends on merchant

Regulated?

Yes — FCA regulated

How to find out what the PayPal charge was for Log into your PayPal account at paypal.com → Activity. Find the transaction matching the date and amount — it will show the merchant's actual name. If you use PayPal for subscriptions, check Activity → Recurring Payments.

Got a different charge?

Paste any bank statement charge and get an instant plain-English explanation.

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Frequently asked

Questions about PayPal charges

How do I dispute a PayPal charge I don't recognise?

First log into PayPal and find the transaction. If you don't recognise it, click on the transaction and select "Report a problem." PayPal has a buyer protection scheme that covers most purchases — you can open a dispute directly through PayPal before involving your bank. Disputes must be opened within 180 days of the payment.

How do I cancel a PayPal subscription?

Log into PayPal → Settings (gear icon) → Payments → Manage Automatic Payments. You'll see all active subscriptions and pre-approved payments. Click on the one you want to cancel and select Cancel.

Someone made a PayPal payment using my bank card — what do I do?

If you didn't authorise a PayPal payment, report it to PayPal immediately via their Resolution Centre. Also contact your bank to flag the unauthorised transaction. If someone has set up a PayPal account using your card, your bank can block further charges and issue a new card number.

What is PP*SHOPIFY on my statement?

PP*SHOPIFY means the payment was processed via PayPal (PP) for an online store built on the Shopify platform. To find the specific store, log into your PayPal account and look up the transaction — it will show the merchant's full trading name.

What is PAYPAL on my bank statement?

PayPal — payment processor

Got a different charge?

Questions about PayPal charges

Other payment processor charges