Can I use PayPal to charge a Credit Card automatically?

Question

If I have a Visa card number saved in my database, is there a way I can charge that Visa automatically through the PayPal API without the user having to enter anything? We want to keep this site as easy and hassle-free to use as possible. It would be a variable amount, based on how they use the site.

(Don't worry, proper disclaimers will be in place, and the user will be notified)

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What about these "recurring payments"? That way I don't have to store the CC info on my website, but do they allow variable amounts that I could periodically send to PayPal?

Answer 1

Yes, you can.

Look at Direct Payments :

1 On your website, the customer chooses to pay with a credit card and enters the credit card number and other details.

2 The customer reviews the order.

3 When your customer clicks “Pay” to place the order, you call a PayPal API to request payment, and the payment transaction is initiated. Note: The customer does not see this step. PayPal does not send your customer a recipt for the payment.

4 You transfer your customer to your order confirmation page.

The payment is performed without redirecting the customer to PP site, so it's up to you to request CC data from the customer and submit them to PP API.