PayPal · PayPal User Agreement

Mandatory Binding Arbitration & Class Action Waiver

High severity
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What it is

You and PayPal agree that any claim or dispute at law or equity that has arisen, or may arise, between you and PayPal (including any claim or dispute between you and a third-party agent of PayPal) will be resolved in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement to Arbitrate. Please read this section carefully. It affects your rights and will have a substantial impact on how claims you and PayPal have against each other are resolved. In this Agreement to Arbitrate, you and PayPal agree to resolve any claim between us only by binding arbitration, on an individual basis, and not in any court or before any judge or jury, except for matters that may be taken to a small claims court.

Why it matters

Arbitration is significantly more expensive and less accessible than small claims court for individual consumers, and eliminating class actions means PayPal faces no coordinated legal pressure even if it harms millions of users in small amounts.

Consumer impact

PayPal's User Agreement significantly affects your financial rights and access to funds — PayPal can place holds on your money for up to 180 days and limit or suspend your account at its discretion. You waive the right to participate in class action lawsuits and must resolve all disputes through individual binding arbitration, which is generally more costly and less accessible for small-dollar claims. You can opt out of the arbitration agreement by sending a written notice to PayPal's Legal Department at 2211 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95131 within 30 days of first accepting the User Agreement.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Opt Out of Arbitration
    Within 30 days
    Write a signed letter stating your name, account email, and that you are opting out of the arbitration agreement. Mail it to PayPal Legal Department, 2211 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95131 within 30 days of first accepting the User Agreement. Keep a copy and consider sending via certified mail for proof of delivery.

Applicable agencies

  • CFPB
    The CFPB has supervisory authority over PayPal as a nonbank payment service provider and has active interest in arbitration clauses in consumer financial contracts under UDAAP authority.
    File a complaint →
  • FTC
    The FTC has authority under Section 5 of the FTC Act to challenge unfair or deceptive practices, including arbitration clauses that may unfairly limit consumer legal recourse.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
PayPal User Agreement
Entity
PayPal
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 6, 2026
Last verified
April 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-002576
Document ID
CA-D-00044
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
787aedff80f89f2d9da4fd79756bbd226f8a5338c9e19c15b2a2fa0d01f59a90
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: PayPal | Document: PayPal User Agreement | Record: CA-P-002576
Captured: 2026-03-06 20:26:28 UTC | SHA-256: 787aedff80f89f2d…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/paypal/paypal-user-agreement/mandatory-binding-arbitration-class-action-waiver/
Accessed: April 20, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
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