How To Easily Cancel Automatic Payments on PayPal

Do you have automatic payments enabled for PayPal subscriptions that you no longer use or need? Over 158 million people actively use PayPal for convenient online payments. But those automatic charges can really add up if you‘re not careful!

Not to worry – I‘m here to guide you through quickly canceling any unwanted PayPal automatic payment in just a few simple steps. Whether you use PayPal on your phone or log in via the website, you‘ll soon stop those subscription fees in their tracks.

Stick with me and you‘ll reclaim control of your finances. Let‘s get started!

Why You Might Want To Stop Automatic Payments

First, let‘s briefly cover what automatic payments are and scenarios where canceling makes perfect sense:

PayPal lets merchants automatically charge your account every month without needing to re-enter payment info. This allows for seamless subscriptions for digital services.

But problems can occur, like:

You canceled a subscription but continue getting billed
You finished an online course or contract but recurring payments continue
You notice charges from merchants you don‘t recognize

When this happens, canceling the automatic PayPal payment protects you and your money. Now let‘s walk through how to do it swiftly whether on mobile or desktop!

Step-By-Step: Canceling In The PayPal App

The PayPal app allows managing bank accounts, sending peer payments via Venmo, and yes – even stopping automatic billing charges.

Here‘s how to cancel automatic payments right from your smartphone:

Step 1: Login To Your Account

First, open up the PayPal app and login with your credentials:

Complete any additional verification if prompted before moving on.

Step 2: Navigate To "Wallet"

At the bottom right of the app, tap the "Wallet" tab:

This houses your payment information, past purchases, and other financial details.

Step 3: Select "Automatic Payments"

Scroll down and choose "Automatic Payments" from the Preferences menu:

You‘ll then see every active and inactive automatic billing setup.

Step 4: Identify And Cancel The Payment

Review the list and tap the automatic payment you want permanently canceled.

Near the bottom, select "Remove PayPal" to stop payments:

And you‘re all set! But don‘t forget to also cancel the actual subscription if you no longer want it. More details on that coming up…

Step-By-Step: Canceling On PayPal.com

Alternatively, you can stop unwanted automatic payments right from PayPal‘s website. The process is very similar:

Step 1: Login As Normal

Visit PayPal‘s website and login with your email and password per usual:

Enter any special codes if the site requests further identity verification.

Step 2: Access Account "Settings"

In the top right corner, click the gear icon to enter your PayPal settings:

This is where you can manage payment information.

Step 3: Visit The "Payments" Page

Along the horizontal menu at the top, click on the "Payments" tab:

You‘ll likely need to scroll down to see it.

Step 4: Locate Automatic Payments

Under "Automatic Payments", click the "Manage" button:

You‘ll then see the complete list again showing status.

Step 5: Cancel The Payment

Find the automatic payment entry you want gone for good. Hover over it, then select "Cancel" to stop payments:

And with that, you‘ve successfully halted payments from this source going forward!

But don‘t stop yet…

Important: Also Cancel The Actual Subscription!

Now, canceling on PayPal prevents that company from charging you automatically again. However, it does not always outright cancel any active subscriptions or billing relationships in one fell swoop.

Many online services bill through PayPal but have independent accounts and profiles that persist even if PayPal billing ceases.

So I always recommend taking an extra step to fully sever ties:

After stopping the PayPal automatic payment, also:
Go directly to the retailer/service‘s website
Login to your account dashboard
Locate the cancellation or subscription management options
Cancel the actual subscription completely

This ensures no possibility of surprise charges down the road or billing mix-ups. Cover your bases!

Beware Unauthorized or Fraudulent Charges

Now for a bit of tough love: you must remain vigilant against scams – even with a trusted service like PayPal.

Auto-billing means merchants withdraw money without needing to ask again, so questionable companies can take advantage.

In fact, [X% of PayPal users] report being victim of fraudulent automatic payments.

So get into the habit of periodically checking your "Automatic Payments" list for any unfamiliar merchants or charges you don‘t recall permitting.

If you ever spot a charge you‘re sure you never approved? Cancel immediately then get in touch with PayPal support to dispute. They have excellent fraud resolution and tend to refund mistaken payments. Don‘t let scammers take advantage!

Let‘s Recap – How To Stop Automatic PayPal Charges:

If you want to take back control from recurring PayPal charges, follow these quick steps:

Login to PayPal app or website
Navigate to "Automatic Payments" page
Identify the payment source you wish to cancel
Click "Cancel" or "Remove PayPal" accordingly
Also cancel subscription directly if completely unnecessary

Claim back your finances with ease! And if any other questions come up, never hesitate to ask. I‘m always happy to provide cancellation advice to stay safe online. You‘ve got this!