GCash is a doozy for an ewallet with a tremendous market share. It is literally synonymous with online transfers and digital payments in the Philippines, but its competitors have vastly superior app experiences. In this case, I would like to point out my personal experience with GCash's transaction logs and PayPal codes.
Like back then, before ewallets became standard for digital payments in the Philippines, both Maya and GCash relied on virtual card tie-ins. Maya had a virtual Mastercard ever since, while GCash had AMEX Virtual Card.
And before online payment systems became diverse and competitive, there was PayPal. And you need a debit or credit card with Mastercard, Visa, or AMEX support to avail of its services. Back then it was rare for local banks to support any of these.
So, one of the ways you would be an early adopter of ewallets would be to avail of their virtual card tie-ins that can support PayPal requirements. That would still be the case today; avail PayPal, register your virtual card, and confirm it.
Now, to remove the restrictions of PayPal on your registered virtual card, it will deduct USD1.98 or PHP100 on your card. That transaction will be named in such a way that it will possess a 4-digit code; PP*1234CODE.
CIMB records this transaction as you would expect.
Maya records this transaction as you would expect. If it does not, you can anticipate a marked 'Updated' transaction days after with the newly amended transaction name.
GCash does not. Instead, it marks it as "MARK PAYPAL". And it feels like some form of unnecessary obfuscation, maybe a result of the implementation they had with the AMEX API, because other apps don't implement this kind of record keeping. In fact, if you request for your transaction statement records, that "MARK PAYPAL" would be named as "FIS AMEX ECOM".
Other forums have already mentioned this as well, but still, I would like to boost it, because online visibility for helpful solutions is tough and having backup payment solutions is helpful for emergency purchases.
How to Retrieve your PayPal Activation Code for your GCash Amex Card
- Screenshot your PayPal activation transaction message sent by GCash with "MARK PAYPAL". You will need this later.
- Go to the Help button in the GCash app. Usually it is in the sidebar.
- Click on the chatbox. As of writing this would be "Chat with Gigi".
- Tell her to "Chat with Agent". This would raise a button that will allow you to raise a support ticket.
- Selecting the appropriate category is tricky. But "Refund online transaction" would be most appropriate in my experience because it requires you to specify a specific transaction.
- Fill in the details for the support ticket, but use that transaction message details in the appropriate inputs.
- Attach the screenshot of the transaction message I mentioned earlier.
- Mention in the additional details that you are only requesting the 4-digit PayPal activation code attached to the transaction message. You may also mention that this code did not appear in your SMS or transaction history or bank statement.
- Wait for the response. In my case, I only had to wait less than a day before they sent me what I need.
Hope this helps.