What does "eCheque Pending" mean on PayPal?

The short answer

“eCheque Pending” means the buyer paid using an electronic cheque, and PayPal is waiting for the funds to clear from their bank account before releasing the money.

What is an eCheque?

An eCheque (electronic cheque) is a payment method where PayPal pulls funds directly from the buyer’s bank account. Think of it like a regular paper cheque, but digital. Just like a paper cheque, it takes time to process because PayPal needs to verify the money is actually available.

This usually happens when:

• The buyer’s PayPal balance is too low to cover the payment
• Their linked card was declined or unavailable
• They chose bank transfer as their payment method

How long does it take to clear?

An eCheque typically takes 3 to 5 business days to clear. In some cases, it can take up to 7 business days. Weekends and holidays don’t count.

You can check the status by going to your Activity page in PayPal. The payment will show as “Pending” until it clears.

What should you do?

If you’re the seller

• Don’t ship anything yet. Wait until the eCheque clears and the money is in your PayPal balance. PayPal will email you when it clears
• The payment is not guaranteed. An eCheque can bounce, just like a paper cheque
• You won’t be covered by Seller Protection if you ship before the payment clears

If you’re the buyer

• Make sure your bank account has enough funds to cover the payment. If it bounces, the transaction will fail and you may owe fees
• Be patient. The seller likely won’t ship until the eCheque clears, so expect a slight delay

When should you worry?

• It’s been more than 7 business days and the eCheque still hasn’t cleared — contact PayPal support
• You didn’t authorize the payment — report it to PayPal immediately through the Resolution Centre
• The eCheque bounced — if you’re the buyer, try paying again with a different method like a debit card or PayPal balance