I wasn't missing anything by not using the chat-bot customer service "people"

[Chester P. Dexter]

I absolutely loathe the cheerful "virtual assistants" (read: labor-savers for the credit card companies, and I was disappointed to see that TD Ameritrade brokerage is using them now, too) so I avoid them. But this time, I had a very simple question and didn't want to waste time on hold to get a person on the phone. So I tried it. Big fail.

Sarah - PayPal :

Hi. I'm Sarah, PayPal’s automated customer support assistant.

How can I help you today?

You :

Can I make more than one payment online per billing cycle to my Paypal buyer credit account?

Sarah - PayPal :

You can send money from your PayPal balance or directly from your bank account, debit card, or credit card.

If you don't have a PayPal account, you can easily sign up. You can send money to anyone who has an email address, even if they don't have a PayPal account or are in another country.

Here's how to send money:

1. Log in to your PayPal account.

2. Click Send Money at the top of the page.

3. Enter who you want to pay and how much, then click Continue..

4. Review the details and click Send Money.

Before we continue, was the information I gave you helpful?

-Yes, this was helpful

-No, this was not helpful

You :

No, this was not helpful

Sarah - PayPal :

How can I help you?

You :

Can I make more than one payment online to my Paypal buyer credit account?

Sarah - PayPal :

I might have answered your question already. Click here to see*the answer*again.

You :

No, you didn't. Can I make more than one payment online per biling cycle to my Paypal buyer credit account?

Sarah - PayPal :

You can send money from your PayPal balance or directly from your bank account, debit card, or credit card.

If you don't have a PayPal account, you can easily sign up. You can send money to anyone who has an email address, even if they don't have a PayPal account or are in another country.

Here's how to send money:

1. Log in to your PayPal account.

2. Click Send Money at the top of the page.

3. Enter who you want to pay and how much, then click Continue..

4. Review the details and click Send Money. I'm right here if you have any other questions.

You :

You did not answer my question.

Sarah - PayPal :

I'm sorry I haven't been able to help you. I'm a virtual agent, so I can't answer everything. If you'll rephrase your question, I'll do my best to try to help you.

You :

Paypal buyer credit account online payment times per month

Sarah - PayPal :

How making a payment works depends on whether you already have an account. Do you have a PayPal Account?

-Yes

-No

You :

Yes

Sarah - PayPal :

Are you trying to send a payment for an eBay item?

-Yes

-No

You :

No

Sarah - PayPal :

Here's how to send money or make a payment:

1. Log in to your PayPal account, using this link.

2. Fill in the form to send the money.

3. When you send the money, the recipient will receive an email telling them how to retrieve the money.

Since you have an account, you can choose from several payment methods as you pay.

Would you like to know more about that?

-Yes

-No

You :

No

Sarah - PayPal :

Okay.

Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.

[Chester P. Dexter]

Is anyone wondering what the answer was? I called and pushed the numbers for this choice and that choice and finally spoke to a person who put me on hold to go find the answer.

You may pay SIX times online per billing cycle.

Has anyone been burned by that? I paid Merrick (I think it was Merrick) twice online and then had the final amount to pay the bill and was told (foghorn sound here) "too bad" - that I could pay by mail or phone, but no more than twice online per billing cycle.

I paid that sucker off, anyway (Paypal.) It's an OK use-and-pay card. Never carry a balance with a paypal buyer credit card.