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The Goods & Services option on Venmo can be helpful when making a purchase, as it ensures your purchase is covered by Venmo. However, Venmo charges the recipient 1.90% of the transaction amount +$0.10 in exchange for coverage under the Venmo Purchase Protection Program. If you're just sending money to a friend or family member, it's easy to turn off Goods and Services on Venmo so the recipient won't be charged. This wikiHow guide details everything you need to know about turning Goods & Services off and on in the Venmo app.
Things You Should Know
- After tapping the blue Pay button on Venmo, a slider appears labeled "Turn on for purchases".
- To turn off Goods & Services, set the slider to the left, where it will turn grey. Tap it again to turn the feature back on.
- Turning off Goods & Services ensures the recipient won't be charged for the payment, but it won't be covered if you're making a purchase.
Steps
How to Turn Goods & Services Off & On
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Begin sending a payment on Venmo. Start sending a payment to a friend or family member on Venmo as you usually would. Tap the blue Pay button, choose the recipient, enter the amount, and then tap Pay.
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Toggle the "Turn on for purchases" slider off. If "Turn on for purchases" is enabled, you'll see a green shield that indicates your payment is protected by Venmo's Purchase Protection Plan. Because this option charges the recipient a fee, it's not ideal for money exchanged between friends and family members.[1] Turning off Goods and Services ensures that the person you're sending money to won't be charged.
- When Goods and Services is disabled, the slider will turn gray.
- To turn Goods and Services back on, tap the switch to display the green shield.
- Venmo's rules state that goods and services can only be sold over Venmo as sanctioned purchases, so you should always slide this on when making a purchase, especially if you do not know the seller.[2]
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Tap Pay. Tap the green Pay button to complete the transaction with Goods and Services disabled.
- Once a payment is sent, its status cannot be changed.
What is the Venmo Purchase Protection Program?
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Purchases made under the program are guaranteed a refund in case of certain issues. Venmo guarantees that users who take advantage of the Purchase Protection Program can be refunded in a variety of cases, such as:
- Ordering three items but receiving only two
- Receiving the wrong item
- Receiving a damaged item
- Receiving a knockoff when promised an authentic item
- Not receiving a service for which you paid
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Sellers receive certain protections under the Purchase Protection Program as well. Selling items under the program guarantees protection if the buyer claims to have not received them. You still receive your funds and Venmo handles any necessary refunds.
How to Dispute a Purchase
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Call Venmo at 855-812-4430. To submit a claim under the Venmo Purchase Protection Program, you must contact Venmo customer service.
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Describe the issue with your purchase. Once you connect with an agent, you can describe what went wrong with your purchase and work with them to put together a refund claim.
- Venmo will not refund any payments not tagged as payments. Only purchases will qualify for the Purchase Protection Program.
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Await a decision on your claim. Venmo users report mixed success with receiving refunds under the Purchase Protection Program. If you are approved, you will receive the funds back in your Venmo account within 1-5 business days.[3]