Why does PayPal suck so bad? – ChatGPT Speaks
Why does PayPal suck so bad? I tried to set up a Venmo for donations and I failed. PayPal's UI is awful.
ChatGPT Speaks:
You're definitely not alone in finding PayPal frustrating—many users vent similar frustrations online. Here's a breakdown of the most common pain points, especially relating to UI (user interface) and the headaches with setting up Venmo for donations:
Why PayPal Can Feel Clunky
1. Terrible Navigation & Overly Nested Menus
Users frequently report that the PayPal UI buries features deep within nested menus, making it hard to find what you need:
“I agree with you that this interface is terrible. It has a form of design that is obviously intended to hide your information… finding a sub category … you will have to dig back and forth until you find the button.” [PayPal Community
2. Poor Readability & Excessive White Space
The redesign with larger fonts and spacing makes scrolling a chore and reduces visibility:
“The new Transaction page uses big font … You can see a whole 8 transactions and then I have to hit the more button and scroll…” PayPal Community
3. Inconsistent Layouts & Confusing Checkout
The checkout process is overly complex, full of fields and confusing flows, even for experienced users:
“So why is the checkout SO COMPLICATED??? ... I literally couldn't understand what's going on. So many instructions. So many fields to fill.” Reddit
4. Clumsy Authentication & Timeouts
Frequent logouts and multi-click login processes erode usability:
“PayPal times out... logging back in requires three clicks … click the log in prompt… log in button… ignore the promotional message… and click ‘go to my account.’ … design is annoying as all get‑out.” PayPal Community
5. Dark UX Patterns & Hidden Defaults
Some design choices seem intentionally deceptive—like defaulting to paid options even after selecting free ones:
“It had defaulted to the ‘transfer now’ choice, so it cost me $6. … What a horrible thing to do.” Reddit
6. Glitches When Adding Bank Accounts
Many users struggle to link bank accounts due to awkward UI behavior:
“Try to add Fidelity as a bank account… No path forward… Workaround: type a bunch of garbage, and it will show you a button that will let you manually enter account details.” Reddit
7. Slow Performance & Looping Login Screens
Frequent re-authentication and laggy pages make the experience feel sluggish:
“Every step needs so much loading time. Every 1 minute I need to re‑login. The dashboard and the activity feed is so confusing.” Reddit
Setup Nightmares with Venmo Charity Profiles
If you’re trying to set up donations through Venmo via PayPal (especially for nonprofits), that introduces an extra layer of complexity.
Common Issues From the Trenches:
- Loops and endless redirects between platforms:
“It takes me to Venmo Charity Profiles... then says ‘already verified’ and takes me back to PayPal. I’m getting so frustrated!” PayPal Community - Renowned for being flaky and unresponsive support:
“I’ve been struggling for two months… get the same error message… Venmo's support folks are stumped… they open a tech ticket and nothing happens.” Reddit - Account freezing or merging with personal profiles:
“It was a nightmare… The account was frozen upon creation… multiple chats… have led to nothing.” Reddit - Discomfort with linking a personal account to the charity:
“They require it to be linked to a personal Venmo account… I don’t want my personal account linked to the charity I volunteer for part‑time.” Reddit
Official Requirements That Make It Tough:
- You must verify charity status via PayPal.
- The same person must own both the PayPal and Venmo accounts—ownership is non-transferable. Venmo Help Center
- Venmo will reject setups if info doesn’t match or there's a mismatch in phone number, ownership, or account status. Venmo Help Center+1
- Additional errors like “we can’t confirm your info,” “this link isn’t shareable,” or “timeout” are common blockers. Venmo Help Center
Summary Table
| Issue Area | Why It Sucks |
|---|---|
| Navigation & Layout | Buried menus, oversized layout, poor readability |
| Checkout & Flow | Confusing steps, redundant forms — even returning users get tripped up |
| Authentication & Timeouts | Frequent logouts, multi-step login, slow loading |
| UX Design Choices | Hidden defaults magnified to extract fees or clicks |
| Technical Glitches | Bank linking weirdness, looping screens, unresponsive mobile buttons |
| Venmo Charity Integration | Ownership constraints, approval loops, flawed error handling, limited support |
What You Can Do Next
- For UI frustration: Consider providing feedback directly via the PayPal Community, or exploring third-party integrations (like DonorBox or Stripe) for smoother UX.
- For Venmo setup:
- Make sure the charity owner matches across accounts.
- Use unique phone numbers and avoid account overlap.
- Address any “good standing” issues with IRS or regulatory bodies first.
- Be prepared to navigate redirects and reach out persistently to support.