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PSA: Aliexpress charging $10 cash advance fee on Paypal payments

55 67 Yesterday at 09:38 PM in Tech & Electronics
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Aliexpress/Paypal Credit Card Processing Problem:
There appears to be some technical glitch happening to US Customers from Aliexpress or Alipay where the credit card transaction was miscoded via Paypal.

Credit card companies receiving the charge from Paypal are adding cash advance fees in the $10 range per transaction (Up to 5% if it's over $200 transaction). Fees probably vary by credit card.

Interest charges may also be accruing on the cash advance.

Who is Affected:
Recent credit card transactions via Paypal for US customers in November 2025. Earlier orders from October may be safe. Check your credit card statements immediately. Wait a few days after the credit card transaction clears to doublecheck.

If you have a balance on Paypal or used a debit card, then this wouldn't apply since they take money from your account balance directly.

Apparently there was a wave of similar incidents in 2020.
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dealhelmet
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Joined Sep 2014
Bread Makes you Fat!?
> bubble2 1,573 Posts
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Dashey10 | Staff
11-19-2025 at 09:44 PM.
11-19-2025 at 09:44 PM.
Gonna keep an eye on my credit card statement, I recently did an order and paid half with paypal balance / half credit card. Still pending so we'll see what happens.
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Joined Sep 2011
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> bubble2 17,430 Posts
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Eragorn | Staff
11-19-2025 at 10:48 PM.
11-19-2025 at 10:48 PM.
Thanks for the headsup. Actually bought from Aliexpress a couple days ago and thankfully used my paypal balance - checked and everything appears to be correct.
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Joined Jun 2013
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> bubble2 1,462 Posts
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oldbridge
11-19-2025 at 11:07 PM.
11-19-2025 at 11:07 PM.
Had a transaction on November 3. Just checked the account and it looked just fine.
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> bubble2 2,360 Posts
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FatFaluz
11-19-2025 at 11:11 PM.
11-19-2025 at 11:11 PM.
Using a virtual credit card (also called one-time use or single use credit card number) is another option, bypassing PayPal altogether. I believe most popular credit cards have it (Chase, Citi, Discover, AE) using their app or website.
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Joined Aug 2009
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> bubble2 928 Posts
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Formless
Yesterday at 12:02 AM.
Yesterday at 12:02 AM.
Holy crap - just looked and with orders for the 11.11 sale on a chase card I've got 5x $15 cash advance fees showing up. Ugh
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Joined Jun 2021
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> bubble2 31 Posts
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Resetclock
Yesterday at 12:15 AM.
Yesterday at 12:15 AM.
PayPal Credit is also another option you can use to avoid this.
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Joined Nov 2008
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> bubble2 234 Posts
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tomatoshoe
Yesterday at 12:16 AM.
Yesterday at 12:16 AM.
Yep. Made 3 orders using PP on AE. Got hit with 3x $10 fee.
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Joined Dec 2006
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> bubble2 55 Posts
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dealhelmet
Yesterday at 05:16 PM.
Yesterday at 05:16 PM.
Quote from Formless :
Holy crap - just looked and with orders for the 11.11 sale on a chase card I've got 5x $15 cash advance fees showing up. Ugh
I haven't seen anyone have success disputing with Paypal and you're in customer service hell if you contact Aliexpress. Best bet might be to ask Chase to waive it. Good luck.
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Joined Dec 2006
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> bubble2 55 Posts
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dealhelmet
Yesterday at 05:17 PM.
Yesterday at 05:17 PM.
Quote from tomatoshoe :
Yep. Made 3 orders using PP on AE. Got hit with 3x $10 fee.
Supposedly Aliexpress knows there's an error on their part but I haven't seen them refund anyone's fee.
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Joined Dec 2008
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the.barbrR
Yesterday at 08:48 PM.
Yesterday at 08:48 PM.
Quote from dealhelmet :
Supposedly Aliexpress knows there's an error on their part but I haven't seen them refund anyone's fee.
I just got off the phone with citi for my cash advance fees and they did not refund. They stated that some merchants treat transactions like a cash advance when you pay with venmo and similar etc. She was either playing stupid or didnt want to help. In the end she said i had to take it up with the merchant because they received it from them as a cash advance. it didnt help that it was an overseas call center and it was hard to understand her.

I dont know how Aliexpress would refund the fee since the credit card companies are the ones collecting it. What a shit show.
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> bubble2 55 Posts
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dealhelmet
Yesterday at 09:19 PM.
Yesterday at 09:19 PM.
Quote from the.barbrR :
I just got off the phone with citi for my cash advance fees and they did not refund. They stated that some merchants treat transactions like a cash advance when you pay with venmo and similar etc. She was either playing stupid or didnt want to help. In the end she said i had to take it up with the merchant because they received it from them as a cash advance. it didnt help that it was an overseas call center and it was hard to understand her.

I dont know how Aliexpress would refund the fee since the credit card companies are the ones collecting it. What a shit show.
Yes, this is very bad. I'm seeing data points of some people getting charged 10x$10 in cash advance fees. So far, it seems like the only reprieve is either getting a refund for the item or convincing the credit card company to refund the fee.
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