Why Does a Paid Order Show "Awaiting Payment" or "Pending" Status in PayPal?

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Why Does a Paid Order Show "Awaiting Payment" or "Pending" Status in PayPal?

Last updated on Dec 29, 2025

If your PayPal payment is completed but the order still displays "Awaiting Payment" or "Pending" (either in your PayPal account or the merchant’s platform like Justway), this is typically due to PayPal’s payment processing rules, account settings, or risk reviews. Below is a detailed breakdown of the causes and step-by-step solutions:

Core Reasons & Corresponding Solutions

1. Most Common: eCheck Payment Has Not Cleared

- **Cause**: You used an **eCheck** (electronic check) as the payment method. Unlike instant credit/debit card payments, eChecks require 3–5 business days to clear through the banking system—PayPal marks the payment as "Pending" until the funds are fully processed.

- **Solution**:

- No action needed—wait 3–5 business days for the eCheck to clear. Once confirmed, the status will automatically update to "Completed."

- Avoid re-paying the order to prevent duplicate charges. Check your PayPal "Activity" tab to track the eCheck’s clearance progress.

2. Unconfirmed Shipping Address + Manual Acceptance Preference

- **Cause**: You provided an **unconfirmed shipping address** (not verified by PayPal), and the merchant’s PayPal "Payment Receiving Preferences" is set to "Manually accept/deny payments with unconfirmed addresses."

- **Solution**:

- For the merchant (e.g., Justway): Update PayPal settings to auto-accept payments with unconfirmed addresses (Go to PayPal > Profile > Payment Receiving Preferences > Adjust "Unconfirmed Addresses" to "Accept").

- For you (the payer): Verify your shipping address in PayPal (Go to Wallet > Addresses > Select the address > Click "Confirm") to avoid future delays.

3. Non-U.S. PayPal Account Without a Withdrawal Method

- **Cause**: The merchant has a non-U.S. PayPal account and has not set up a valid withdrawal mechanism (e.g., linked bank account, debit card for fund transfers). PayPal requires the merchant to manually accept such payments.

- **Solution**:

- The merchant must log in to their PayPal account > Go to "Account Overview" > Locate the pending payment > Click "Accept" to confirm.

- Long-term fix: The merchant should link a valid withdrawal method (bank account) to their PayPal account to enable automatic payment acceptance.

4. Currency Mismatch + No Auto-Conversion Setting

- **Cause**: The payment currency (e.g., EUR) does not match the merchant’s PayPal account balance currency (e.g., USD), and the merchant’s "Payment Receiving Preferences" does not allow automatic currency conversion. PayPal holds the payment until the merchant manually accepts or rejects the conversion.

- **Solution**:

- The merchant should update PayPal settings: Go to Profile > Payment Receiving Preferences > Set "Currency Conversion" to "Automatically accept and convert to [default account currency]."

- Alternatively, the merchant can manually accept the conversion in their PayPal account (locate the pending payment > Choose to convert the funds to their account currency > Confirm).

5. PayPal Risk Review (Payment Under Verification)

- **Cause**: PayPal’s security system flagged the transaction for risk review (e.g., first-time transaction with the merchant, unusual payment amount/location, or potential fraud indicators). This applies to both standard payments and credit card payments via PayPal.

- **Solution**:

- Wait 1–3 business days for PayPal to complete the review. Most reviews resolve automatically if no risk is found.

- If you paid via credit card through PayPal: The status "Pending—funds not credited to the payee" means PayPal is manually reviewing the captured payment (see [PayPal Developer Docs](https://developer.paypal.com/docs/api/orders/v2/) for details).

- Avoid canceling or re-paying—contact PayPal support if the review exceeds 3 days.

6. Merchant’s PayPal Account Needs Upgrade

- **Cause**: The merchant is using a PayPal Personal account, which has limits on accepting credit card payments or monthly transaction volumes. PayPal requires upgrading to a **Business or Premier account** to unlock these features.

- **Solution**:

- The merchant must upgrade their PayPal account (Go to PayPal > Profile > Account Type > Select "Upgrade to Business/Premier Account") and complete the required business verification.

- Once upgraded, pending payments will be processed automatically.

7. Merchant’s PayPal Account Is Unverified

- **Cause**: The merchant has not completed PayPal’s identity verification (e.g.,No ID uploaded, no verified address). Unverified accounts have restricted payment receiving capabilities, leading to pending payments.

- **Solution**:

- The merchant should log in to PayPal > Go to "Resolution Center" or "Verification" section > Submit required documents (government-issued ID, address proof) to complete verification.

- After verification, pending payments will be released.

Special Case: Credit Card Payments Via PayPal Show "Pending"

- **Cause**: Even if you paid with a credit/debit card through PayPal’s guest checkout or linked card, PayPal may still subject the transaction to manual risk review. The status indicates: "Funds for the captured payment have not yet been credited to the merchant’s PayPal account—pending review."

- **Solution**:

- Wait for PayPal’s review (1–3 business days). No action is needed from you unless PayPal requests additional verification.

- Check your credit card statement to confirm the charge is "Pending" (not "Completed")—this ensures no duplicate payment is processed.

What to Do If the Status Remains Pending?

1. **Check PayPal Activity Tab**: Confirm the payment’s exact status (e.g., "Pending: eCheck Clearing" or "Pending: Merchant Action Required") to identify the root cause.

2. **Coordinate with the Merchant**: If the issue requires the merchant’s action (e.g., accepting the payment, updating settings), remind them to check their PayPal account’s "Pending" section.

3. **Contact PayPal Support**: If the status has not updated after the expected time (e.g., eCheck not cleared after 5 days, risk review exceeding 3 days), contact PayPal support with:

- Your PayPal transaction ID.

- The order number (from the merchant).

- A screenshot of the pending status.

4. **Avoid Duplicate Payments**: Never re-pay the order unless the original payment is explicitly canceled or refunded—this prevents double charges.

Key Reminder

"Pending" status in PayPal does not mean the payment failed—it indicates the transaction is in a temporary processing stage. Most cases resolve automatically with time, but coordinating with the merchant (for account/setting issues) or PayPal support (for review/technical issues) can speed up resolution. If you’re a Justway customer, feel free to share your PayPal transaction ID with our support team at service@justway.com for assistance in following up with the payment status.