Can I pay without a PayPal account? (Premium)

Can I pay without a PayPal account?

Yes. You don’t need your own PayPal account to pay your membership fee. For example, you can pay via SEPA direct debit from your bank account or with your credit or debit card. PayPal handles the payment processing for Photoclub. You do not need to open a PayPal account for this.

When do you need this information?

This guide is for you if you want to pay for Premium but don’t have or don’t want to use a PayPal account.

Payment method and payment service provider

It’s important to understand the difference between payment method and payment service provider: The payment method determines how you pay. The payment service provider processes the payment. If you choose SEPA direct debit, your bank account will be charged. If you choose your card, your card will be charged.

Even with a direct bank transfer, a payment service provider is involved – your bank. Which provider a merchant uses for payment processing is decided by the merchant. For Photoclub, this is PayPal. You then select from the payment methods offered through them.

How to proceed

1. Open your control center.
2. Go to the Orders section.
3. Click “Pay now” next to the relevant order.
4. If a "SEPA direct debit" button is shown directly, click it and follow the instructions to pay from your bank account.
5. If no SEPA button is shown, open the PayPal payment window via the PayPal button and select “Continue without a PayPal account.”
6. If none of these options are shown, first click “Pay with credit or debit card.” This entry point may offer other payment methods later on.
7. If the following form shows “Bank” or “Direct debit,” select this option and enter your bank details.
8. If you are offered to open an account, always choose to continue without a PayPal account.

Good to know

• Even if the entry point was “Credit or debit card,” you don’t need a credit card if you then select SEPA direct debit.
• Entering your email address does not mean you are opening an account.
• The name PayPal appears because PayPal processes the payment. You don’t need your own PayPal account for these payment methods.

What happens next?

After successful payment, the invoice will be marked as paid.

If it doesn’t work

Which payment methods are shown is determined automatically by PayPal for each transaction, depending on factors including your country. That’s why the options may look different for each member. If direct debit is not offered later on either, you can use another payment method available there.