---
title: "PayPal Charged Me Twice: How to Get the Duplicate Payment Back"
description: "Charged twice through PayPal? Check whether it's a pending authorization that will drop off, ask the seller to refund the duplicate, then open a PayPal dispute within 180 days or a card billing-error dispute within 60 days."
url: https://disputekits.com/paypal-charged-twice
---

For shoppers · checked 29 October 2026

# PayPal charged me twice: what to do

First check whether the second charge is real or just a pending hold. If it's real, ask the seller to refund the duplicate, and if they don't, open a dispute in PayPal's Resolution Center. You have 180 days from the payment.

## 1. Is it really two payments?

- **Pending vs completed:** in PayPal Activity, a "pending" or authorization entry next to a completed one is often a temporary hold that drops off on its own.
- **PayPal and bank both showing it** can be the same payment seen twice: once in PayPal and once on the card or bank account that funded it. Match the amounts and dates.
- **Two completed payments** with two transaction IDs to the same seller is a real duplicate.

## 2. Ask the seller to refund the duplicate

Use the seller's contact details on the transaction. Give both transaction IDs, say which one to refund, and give a short deadline. Sellers can refund a PayPal payment in a few clicks.

## 3. Open a PayPal dispute

- Go to the **Resolution Center**, choose the duplicate transaction and report a problem.
- You have **180 days** from the payment date.
- Attach the evidence: both transaction IDs, your message to the seller, and their reply or silence.
- If it isn't settled, escalate the dispute to a claim so PayPal decides.

## 4. Or go through your card

If a credit card funded the payment, a duplicate charge is a billing error. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, write to the card issuer within **60 days** of the statement. Don't run a PayPal dispute and a card dispute for the same charge at once.

Our free tool writes the dispute letter for you: [get a card refund](https://disputekits.com/card-refund).

Related: [duplicate charge chargebacks (for sellers)](https://disputekits.com/duplicate-charge-chargeback) · [PayPal dispute vs chargeback](https://disputekits.com/paypal-chargeback-vs-dispute) · [why PayPal holds money](https://disputekits.com/paypal-holding-my-money). General guidance, not legal advice. Read 29 October 2026.