{"id":499,"date":"2022-02-15T22:24:46","date_gmt":"2022-02-15T22:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/?p=499"},"modified":"2022-02-15T22:24:47","modified_gmt":"2022-02-15T22:24:47","slug":"change-name-on-paypal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/change-name-on-paypal\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I Change My Name On PayPal? (Explained)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It can be difficult to make major changes to your name on a Personal or Premier PayPal account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It may be easier with a PayPal Business account, but this still depends on the type of business account you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll show you how to change the name on both types of accounts. But we\u2019ll also explain what problems you could face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66019ef9b1002\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66019ef9b1002\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/change-name-on-paypal\/#Valid_Reasons_For_Changing_The_Name_On_Your_PayPal_Account\" title=\"Valid Reasons For Changing The Name On Your PayPal Account\">Valid Reasons For Changing The Name On Your PayPal Account<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/change-name-on-paypal\/#Potential_Problems_From_Changing_Your_Name_On_PayPal\" title=\"Potential Problems From Changing Your Name On PayPal\">Potential Problems From Changing Your Name On PayPal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/change-name-on-paypal\/#How_To_Change_Your_Name_On_A_Personal_Account_On_PayPal\" title=\"How To Change Your Name On A Personal Account On PayPal\">How To Change Your Name On A Personal Account On PayPal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/change-name-on-paypal\/#Alternative_Solution_To_Changing_Your_PayPal_Name\" title=\"Alternative Solution To Changing Your PayPal Name\">Alternative Solution To Changing Your PayPal Name<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/change-name-on-paypal\/#Why_Is_It_Difficult_To_Change_My_PayPal_Name\" title=\"Why Is It Difficult To Change My PayPal Name?\">Why Is It Difficult To Change My PayPal Name?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/change-name-on-paypal\/#How_To_Change_The_Name_On_A_PayPal_Business_Account\" title=\"How To Change The Name On A PayPal Business Account\">How To Change The Name On A PayPal Business Account<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"valid-reasons-for-changing-the-name-on-your-paypal-account\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Valid_Reasons_For_Changing_The_Name_On_Your_PayPal_Account\"><\/span>Valid Reasons For Changing The Name On Your PayPal Account<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You may think there are all kinds of good reasons for changing the user name on your Personal account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people would like to preserve their privacy and not have their real names disclosed when buying or selling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, this isn\u2019t a good enough reason for PayPal. We\u2019ll explain why in a later section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They will accept a small number of reasons in order to change the name on your account. These are the three reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Your legal name is changing due to marriage or divorce<\/li><li>You used a nickname or shorter version of your name and you now wish to use your full name<\/li><li>You made a small mistake when creating your account and you need to change one or two letters<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You will be asked to provide documentation for the first two reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"marriage-or-divorce\">Marriage or divorce<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are changing your name due to marriage, you can upload a copy of your marriage certificate to show your new legal name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Divorce can be a little more complex. You may need to upload several different documents. I\u2019d advise you to contact Customer Support and let them advise you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"changing-from-a-nickname\">Changing from a nickname<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>My legal name is John Summers, but people call me \u201cJonno\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Suppose that I created the account using \u201cJonno\u201d Summers. I may find I have transaction issues because the name doesn\u2019t match what\u2019s on my bank account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the name is an obvious nickname, this is likely to be a smooth process. You will be asked to upload a document showing the legal name, but PayPal is unlikely to block the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"minor-mistakes-in-the-name\">Minor mistakes in the name<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Suppose I had mistyped my name as \u201cJon Summer\u201d or \u201cJohn Sumer\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s just a difference of one character in these versions. If you\u2019re dealing with a Customer Support agent, it\u2019s easy to explain the mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"potential-problems-from-changing-your-name-on-paypal\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Potential_Problems_From_Changing_Your_Name_On_PayPal\"><\/span>Potential Problems From Changing Your Name On PayPal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a Personal or Premier account, you should be very wary about changing your name if it doesn\u2019t meet one of the three criteria I described in the previous section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The problem is that you are going against PayPal\u2019s terms and conditions if you don\u2019t use your legal name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I explain in the last section of this article, this isn\u2019t just because they are being awkward. They are governed by national and state laws on financial transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what\u2019s the potential problem for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"potential-suspension-of-your-account\">Potential suspension of your account<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If PayPal decides that they need to investigate your account, they may suspend it. This means that you will not be able to use the account or to withdraw your funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People have reported having their accounts suspended with many thousands of dollars in their balance. It has taken them up to a year to access their funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of us couldn\u2019t afford to lose access to hard-earned sums in our PayPal accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"precautions-you-should-take\">Precautions you should take<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you decide to proceed with trying to change your name, we suggest that you withdraw all funds from your account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have significant pending transactions, we suggest that you wait for them to clear!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-change-your-name-on-a-personal-account-on-paypal\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Change_Your_Name_On_A_Personal_Account_On_PayPal\"><\/span>How To Change Your Name On A Personal Account On PayPal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now we\u2019ve reviewed the potential problem, let\u2019s show you how to start the process of changing your name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Click on the settings cog at the top right of the Paypal home page.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The cog opens the first settings tab which shows your account profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Click the \u201cChange name\u201d link beneath your user name.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"436\" height=\"246\" src=\"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/personal_change_name.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/personal_change_name.jpg 436w, https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/personal_change_name-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 436px) 100vw, 436px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The link opens an input box to enter a first and last name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Enter the first name and last name that you wish to replace your current user name.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"261\" height=\"268\" src=\"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/personal_change_name_step_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-501\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>When you click the link to continue, you will be taken to the next page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul type=\"1\"><li>Choose the reason that you are making the change.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"492\" height=\"279\" src=\"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/personal_change_name_step_3_i_think.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-502\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/personal_change_name_step_3_i_think.jpg 492w, https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/personal_change_name_step_3_i_think-300x170.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 492px) 100vw, 492px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Upload one or more documents to support your name request<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You should have prepared these documents in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The preferred documents are a passport or valid driving license that has not expired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, other documents such as letters from utilities may be enough. This is more likely if you are making a very minor correction to a misspelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"alternative-solution-to-changing-your-paypal-name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Alternative_Solution_To_Changing_Your_PayPal_Name\"><\/span>Alternative Solution To Changing Your PayPal Name<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve discussed the potential issue of having your account suspended and your funds held until you sort out the problem with PayPal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say that you have some, but not all, of the documentation that PayPal wants to process the change of name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this case, your better option may simply be to open a new PayPal account in your preferred name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Suppose I had opened an account in the name of \u201cJohn W. Summer\u201d. But the initial was causing issues and I wanted to drop it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I might simply close the \u201cJohn W. Summer\u201d account, and open a new account in my preferred name. Then I\u2019d close the other account. This seems to save a lot of hassle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-is-it-difficult-to-change-my-paypal-name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Is_It_Difficult_To_Change_My_PayPal_Name\"><\/span>Why Is It Difficult To Change My PayPal Name?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As we have seen, if you are using a Personal or Premier account then it is difficult to change the name you registered with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is because they are governed by the same laws as banks in the United States and other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In recent years, state and national laws have targeted the use of false or untraceable names for fraud, money laundering, and other nefarious purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under these laws, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.PayPal.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PayPal<\/a> must ensure that they have verified the identities of customers using their services for financial transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, they also understand that there are circumstances in which people change their names. The most common are with women who take their husband\u2019s name in marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-change-the-name-on-a-paypal-business-account\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Change_The_Name_On_A_PayPal_Business_Account\"><\/span>How To Change The Name On A PayPal Business Account<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When people are interested in changing their name, they most likely want to change how it is displayed to other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on how you set up your Business account, you will have the option of setting a business name that is separate from your account name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To have this option, you must have set your business type to one of these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Partnership<\/li><li>PLC<\/li><li>Limited company<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have set your account as a sole trader, then you won\u2019t be able to set a separate business name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are a sole trader, then you face all the issues as I\u2019ve reviewed for Personal accounts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It can be difficult to make major changes to your name on a Personal or Premier PayPal account. It may be easier with a PayPal Business account, but this still depends on the type of business account you have. We\u2019ll show you how to change the name on both types of accounts. But we\u2019ll also &#8230; <a title=\"Can I Change My Name On PayPal? (Explained)\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/change-name-on-paypal\/\" aria-label=\"More on Can I Change My Name On PayPal? (Explained)\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=499"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":503,"href":"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499\/revisions\/503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bandittracker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}