Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

PayPal

PayPal is trying to reduce the awkwardness of asking friends for money back

Although there are no “firm plans” to bring PayPal.me to Irish users yet.

PAYPAL HAS LAUNCHED a payment method that allows you to request money by sending a URL link.

The service, called PayPal.me, allows users to request money through personalised links and can be sent through email, SMS or instant messaging services like WhatsApp.

Once the link is clicked on, the person can pay from their own PayPal account by selecting an amount and hitting send. You can specify the amount needed to be paid or leave it up to the individual to decide.

The idea, according to PayPal, is to avoid the awkwardness that ensues whenever you ask friends, family members or colleagues to pay you back. Also, the link means you won’t have to leave the app or site you’re on so you can transfer money.

Of the 18 countries that it’s launched in today, Ireland isn’t included. When asked whether the service will be making its way over here, a spokesperson for PayPal said it has “no firm plans on the Irish launch as yet”.

As well as the US, Australia and Canada, the service is launching in a number of European countries including the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

PayPal joins a growing number of apps that offer similar peer-to-peer payments. Both Facebook Messenger and Snapchat introduced its own money transfer service to users in the US although there are no plans from either to expand to other countries.

Read: Google is making a big move to help treat diabetes >

Read: There’s a major downside to jailbreaking your iPhone (if you’re thinking about it) >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
10 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute IrishGravyTrain
    Favourite IrishGravyTrain
    Report
    Sep 1st 2015, 3:21 PM

    Only give Money to friends and family if you are not expecting it back. Consider it dead money. If you do expect money back give nothing.

    128
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Susan McLeod
    Favourite Susan McLeod
    Report
    Sep 1st 2015, 3:50 PM

    Can you lend me €100?

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Life in no motion
    Favourite Life in no motion
    Report
    Sep 1st 2015, 5:02 PM

    Can I borrow a feeling?

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute niall mullins
    Favourite niall mullins
    Report
    Sep 1st 2015, 3:51 PM

    Handy service for drug dealers.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sunshine
    Favourite sunshine
    Report
    Sep 1st 2015, 4:06 PM

    No more ‘I forgot my wallet’ excuses! Just get the round in and bill it to the guy who conveniently had to hit the toilet just as it was his turn!

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Corlett
    Favourite Alan Corlett
    Report
    Sep 1st 2015, 3:54 PM

    Won’t be long now before all money is digital, and I have to say this seems like one of the ways they are trying to get us accustomed to it.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute graham galvin
    Favourite graham galvin
    Report
    Sep 1st 2015, 6:27 PM

    Exactly which is why more people should use bitcoin & other cryptocurrencies so the banks can’t control everyone.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adrian de Cleir
    Favourite Adrian de Cleir
    Report
    Sep 1st 2015, 9:10 PM

    Yippee yet another piece of technology that allows us to avoid the challenges being a social adult.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O' Malley
    Favourite John O' Malley
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2015, 7:52 AM

    GroupVite.io is an Irish company that already does this. Except GroupVite is even better because it uses Stripe so when your friends pay you back the money goes directly into your bank account. PayPal is just copying an Irish Startup.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seany McDonagh
    Favourite Seany McDonagh
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2015, 5:12 AM

    Excellent thinking . Sounds fair handy in fairness but what if someone decided to be some elite hacker, cracker and just downright mean bastàrd and , oh I don’t know , not click on the link or just ignore the link. Then you have the awkward “Oi ya cunchya text ” to type out.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds