Popular

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

65 67 November 19, 2025 at 09:38 PM in Tech & Electronics
Deal
Score +25
2,779 Views

Deal Details

+25 Deal Score
2,779 Views
Copied this from Reddit:

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.
Add a Comment
Report Reply
About the OP
Send Message
dealhelmet
Joined Dec 2006 L2: Beginner
67 Reputation Points
5 Deals Posted
12 Votes Submitted
65 Comments Posted

Community Wiki

Create a Wiki

30 Comments

View Forum Thread

Your comment cannot be blank.

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Sep 2014
Bread Makes you Fat!?
> bubble2 1,599 Posts
1,922 Reputation
Pro
Global Mod
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.
Reply
Joined Sep 2011
There Is Always Hope
> bubble2 17,692 Posts
30,447 Reputation
Pro
Deal Hunter
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.
Reply
Joined Jun 2013
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,474 Posts
516 Reputation
Pro
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.
Reply
Joined Apr 2010
L7: Teacher
> bubble2 2,370 Posts
1,862 Reputation
Pro
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.
Reply
Joined Aug 2009
Spectre
> bubble2 940 Posts
377 Reputation
Formless
11-20-2025 at 12:02 AM.
11-20-2025 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
1
Reply
Joined Jun 2021
L2: Beginner
> bubble2 35 Posts
30 Reputation
Resetclock
11-20-2025 at 12:15 AM.
11-20-2025 at 12:15 AM.
PayPal Credit is also another option you can use to avoid this.
Reply
Joined Nov 2008
L3: Novice
> bubble2 236 Posts
38 Reputation
tomatoshoe
11-20-2025 at 12:16 AM.
11-20-2025 at 12:16 AM.
Yep. Made 3 orders using PP on AE. Got hit with 3x $10 fee.
1
Reply

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Dec 2006
L2: Beginner
> bubble2 65 Posts
67 Reputation
Original Poster
dealhelmet
11-20-2025 at 05:16 PM.
11-20-2025 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.
Reply
Joined Dec 2006
L2: Beginner
> bubble2 65 Posts
67 Reputation
Original Poster
dealhelmet
11-20-2025 at 05:17 PM.
11-20-2025 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.
Reply
Joined Dec 2008
L7: Teacher
> bubble2 2,513 Posts
739 Reputation
the.barbrR
11-20-2025 at 08:48 PM.
11-20-2025 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.
Reply
Joined Dec 2006
L2: Beginner
> bubble2 65 Posts
67 Reputation
Original Poster
dealhelmet
11-20-2025 at 09:19 PM.
11-20-2025 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.
Reply
Joined Jul 2010
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 404 Posts
55 Reputation
MrDoc
11-21-2025 at 12:32 PM.
11-21-2025 at 12:32 PM.
I also got hit on my Costco Citicard with a $10 fee. Is this stated somewhere official that there was a technical glitch?
Reply
Joined Feb 2005
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 15,485 Posts
2,234 Reputation
thund3rcat
11-21-2025 at 02:15 PM.
11-21-2025 at 02:15 PM.
Been using apple pay, no issues.
Reply
Joined Oct 2006
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 655 Posts
518 Reputation
pumm3l
11-21-2025 at 02:24 PM.
11-21-2025 at 02:24 PM.
reached out to both paypal and fidelity, paypal said they would get in touch but I called Fidelity and they pushed back like it was supposed to be there until I showed them previous transactions which didn't include cash advance fee. Rep at fidelity said they would credit me back and note my account for potential interest charges. Paypal finally reached out to me and offered $10 credit. I'll check my statement when it closes for interest charges.

FYI I made an order on 11/11
Reply
Page 1 of 3
Start the Conversation
 

Popular Deals

Trending Deals

More Tech & Electronics Deals & Discounts

Link Copied

The link has been copied to the clipboard.