What must I do to start using Virtual Terminal?

Before you start processing transactions using Virtual Terminal, check that your business information is correct and complete. Accurate information ensures that customers can contact you about their purchases and that PayPal can contact you about your account, if needed.

When a customer makes a purchase through Virtual Terminal, their next credit card statement will display a transaction descriptor that includes:

Your business name
Your business phone number
The state where your business is located (optional)
The amount of the transaction

The customer's bank determines exactly what information about transactions and your business will appear on credit card statements. Often, the description looks like this:

MYCOMPANYNAME 555-123-1234 NM $100.00

After a transaction settles, the customer's statement displays your business information and the transaction amount as a permanent record of the charge.

Sample card statement

Verify your business name

The business name can be up to 19 characters long, including spaces, and should include alphabetic and numeric characters only. The name appears in all capital letters on credit card statements. Some card processors may truncate the name.

Here's how to set up your business name:

Log in to your PayPal account.
Select Profile > Profile and settings.
Click My selling tools.
Click Update next to Credit card statement name.
On the Payment Receiving Preferences page, enter your Credit Card Statement Name (the name you want to appear on your customers' credit card statements). For example, if you owned the business highlighted in the example, you'd enter the name BURTON SHOES.
Click Save.

Note: Unlike PayPal Payments, Virtual Terminal's credit card statement shows only the merchant name as entered in the Credit Card Statement Name field.

Verify your phone number

Here's how to verify your business phone number:

Log in to your PayPal account.
Select Profile > Profile and settings.
On the MyProfile page, click My business info and verify your contact information.
Make sure that the phone number is exactly what you want customers to see. This number is printed on customers' credit card statements. Customers may use it to contact you.
If you need to make changes, click Update next to Business information and enter your updates.
Click Change Number.

Verify your email address

Virtual Terminal may use your email address to send email to your customers. PayPal may also use this email address to contact you regarding your account, if needed. Therefore, make sure your email address is correct. Here's How:

Log in to your PayPal account.
Select Profile > Profile and settings.
On the My Profile page, click My business info and verify your contact information.
If you need to make changes, click Update next to Business information and enter your updates.
Confirm that the email address is exactly what you want customers to see.
Click Change Email.

Note: Your email address won't appear on customers' credit card statements.

What must I do to start using Virtual Terminal?

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