PayPal requires all of its customers to have a phone number when they sign up. As such, it’s impossible to create an account without one.
PayPal has been my go-to online payment method for almost all of my life. Not only that, but I have a deep knowledge of its different policies. Both of those aspects allowed me to cover the topics outlined below.
Each section in this article looks at the PayPal sign up process. It does that by analyzing what the company is, how they operate, as well as the different security measures and restrictions they have in place.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- All PayPal customers must enter in a valid phone number, alongside their email address and name, in order to create an account.
- Though some may not like it, putting in a phone number is a key part of PayPal’s authentication process as it adds another level to their security when it comes to protecting customer data.
- Signing up for PayPal is a quick and easy process that anyone can do in a few short steps through the company’s website or official app.
Understanding and Using PayPal
PayPal is the premium online payment system. It’s used by people all across the world and is employed by thousands of companies to make sure all transactions on their website happen smoothly. As such, they need to be extremely diligent about who uses their service.
As with any billion dollar company, PayPal has to be careful when vetting their users. They want as many people as possible to use their service, but they also want to make sure that those customers are with them for reasonable, non-nefarious purposes.
To make sure nothing fishy happens, they employ standard checks on everyone who signs up for an account. That’s why personal information is so important to the company. It’s a way to ensure everyone is legitimate.
One part of that is asking for a phone number. PayPal utilizes a strict vetting process where they require a certain amount of information from all of their users. That includes a valid name, address, email address, and phone number.
As long as you have those pieces of information and everything checks out, PayPal will gladly help you set up an account. It only takes a few seconds and can be done right from home. Not everyone may want to provide a phone number, but it’s a key part of the process.
Why Does PayPal Require a Phone Number?
In today’s world, fraud is more of a problem than ever. So, while putting in a phone number with PayPal may seem like a hassle, it’s an important step in making sure your account is only being used by you.
The company runs a two-step verification process. For that to work, they need information. Most of the time, you log into the site with just an email and password. However, if something goes wrong they need your phone number so they can send you a one-time password.
That adds an extra level of security and enables PayPal to make sure that nobody else is able to access your information. In that way, giving PayPal your phone number is a key step in protecting yourself and keeping would-be thieves away from your money.
There are some third party sites that try to circumvent that process and let you make an account without a phone number. You can try to get a fake phone number as well. However, both of those methods aren’t recommended as they defeat the purpose of security.
By giving PayPal a valid phone number you’re ensuring safe transactions as well as greatly simplifying the login/recovery process if things don’t go according to plan.
How to Sign Up With PayPal
If you decide that you want to create a PayPal account, signing up for the service is much easier than many first assume. First, you need to know if you want a personal or business account. Businesses are, of course, for business owners. Personal ones are for everyone else.
Once you make that decision, go to PayPal’s website or download the app from the app store if you’re on mobile. From there, click the blue “sign up” button and select “personal account.” You will then be prompted to enter in your information.
Type in your phone number to receive a text that gives you a security code for the next screen. You’ll also need your legal first/last name, a strong password, as well as a valid email address. Put in your mailing address and agree to PayPal’s terms of service.
Finally, add on which account or card (debit/credit) you want attached to the PayPal account and you’re good to go.
If you don’t want to follow the above steps, there are some alternatives to the service as well. Things like Skrill, Cash App, and Venmo are also ways to send and receive money. They don’t have PayPal’s reach and functionality, but they can do in a pinch.
FAQs
These are some of the most common questions users have about signing up with PayPal.
Can You Have Two PayPal Accounts with the Same Phone Number?
No. Though PayPal requires a phone number in order to sign up, that phone number must be completely unique to that account. Trying to use it again on a different account will simply result in rejection.
Yes. A valid social security number is one of the aspects PayPal asks for when a user sets up or creates an account. That’s to add an extra layer of security and ensure the account is legitimate.
What are the Alternatives to PayPal?
In today’s technologically crowded market there are several big name competitors to PayPal. If you want to use something else, some of the biggest names are Venmo, Google Pay, Square, and Skrill.
Final Words
PayPal is a great service and one of the safest ways to purchase items online. They require a bit of information, including your phone number, but that only ups their security. If you haven’t signed up, it’s a quick process that’s more than worth your time.
Have you used PayPal before? If so, how did you find the signup process? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
