I received an email from Hassan in Lagos recently, asking for guidance on how to use Paypal in Nigeria. I choose to answer him publicly so other interested parties can learn from my answer to him. Find his message below in full, unedited:
Hello David,
Saw your blog from search on Facebook. I was trusting your expertise on Paypal. I have dealt with Paypal with no success. I have had my accounts limited no once.
This happens whenever I received payments. I created a paypal button for my info prodct. I realized that the buyer gets the product but yet paypal asks for me to provide shipping details for the digital product that the buyer is already reading. Please, how do I supply shipping details of a downloadable product?
Now, my questions are:
How do I operate a paypal account in Nigeria safe n secure without limitationHow DO I withdraw the money myself? Specifically, how do I get my Credit card to transfer the PP funds into it and withdraw thru atm?
HOw DO I add a PP button to sell digital products without the money being limited?
I expect your swift, informative and practical response.
Thank you
Paypal is a global leader in the e-commcerce arena. Paypal has more users than any other website in the e-wallet business. However, it is critical to note that Paypal does not want to do business with residents of Nigeria at this time. Therefore, it is in your best interest to stay away from Paypal if possible especially when Paypal is NOT the only means by which you can accept payments online. There are some Paypal alternatives that gladly welcome residents of Nigeria.
As part of their anti-fraud measures, Paypal has developed a fully automated and highly sophisticated screening method over the years, that detect suspicions patterns in the use of their services. Despite the fact that they do not welcome residents of Nigeria, some find other ways to open Paypal accounts through other countries. Paypal knows this but waits till you receive payment or login from Nigeria. The account is then immediately “limited” with them asking you for documentation to prove your authenticity. Since you are not resident in the country you used in opening the Paypal account, chances are that you cannot supply the documentation they demand.
If you must continue to use Paypal, you can edit your Paypal account information in a way that it forces every buyer to enter their shipping address when making a purchase. It is also advisable that you use a shopping cart embedded with anti-fraud screening. This should reduce the incidents of fraudulent transactions drastically.
To your questions:
- How do I operate a paypal account in Nigeria safe and secure without limitation?
There is no safe way of operating Paypal from Nigeria. Since Nigeria is not welcome, they would find out your connection with Nigeria and limit your Paypal account automatically, asking you to supply some documentation in a bid to keep their system safe for everyone. - How do I withdraw the money myself? Specifically, how do I get my Credit card to transfer the PP funds into it and withdraw through ATM?
Paypal does not allow you to add cards issued by a Nigerian financial institution. When you try, you would receive a message advising you about this. Therefore, the chances that you can add a card issued in Nigeria are slim. Note that the card has to be Visa and must be enabled for withdrawal by your financial institution before you can use it for withdrawing on Paypal.
Another alternative is to find someone trust-worthy who would pay you cash when you send your Paypal funds to him/her.
Opening a US Bank account is also another alternative. Your US Bank would issue you a Visa or Mastercard debit card you can use at ATMs while you can withdraw your Paypal funds to your US Bank account. - How do I add a PayPal button to sell digital products without the money being limited?
Adding Paypal buttons to your website is simple and easy. Consult the Paypal documentation website for help about this. As advised earlier, using a shopping cart that has Paypal and anti-fraud screening modules is better. Zen-cart, OsCommerce, Magento are good shopping carts.
If you are tired of Paypal limiting your accounts, you should consider the Paypal alternatives here and read the Paypal related posts I have written in the past, as well.
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