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【Update 2】Do not try stacking Privacy with PayPal Key for now; Privacy has started shutting down accounts

【Update】When I first introduced this “stacking” setup, I tested it on Amazon.com. Reader Tony did a real test for use outside the US: he used PayPal Key + Privacy on the Japan Nintendo eShop, and the purchase went through successfully. Feel free to share more DPs.

【The following was originally posted as a 101 Express update on October 25, 2020】

Background

As we mentioned earlier, PayPal Key and Privacy virtual cards can now be “stacked.” This is also one of the very few current ways to stack PayPal Key.

Test details

The virtual card generated by PayPal Key has two possible card BINs: 5581 and 5205. I specifically mentioned this before in the 101 Express post, Additional notes on how to use the PayPal Key debit card.

KUKU tested 5205 and had no issues at all. Reader Jason tested 5581, which could not be linked.

5581 is not accepted in many places. For example, European virtual card provider Revolut also bans 5581 by default (5205 works, but loads/top-ups will most likely fail), and some foreign exchange service providers also block 5581 by default. If you cannot link PayPal Key to Privacy, the issue may be the card BIN. Once a PPK card BIN is assigned, it does not change. The only workaround is to open a new PayPal account and hope for a different BIN.

In my case: N personal accounts were all 5205, while the business account was 5581.

After linking a 5205 PPK to Privacy, it will usually trigger a Privacy system review and require manual handling by a specialist.

Generally speaking, it gets cleared after a specialist review within 48h. If they need more documents, they will ask you. In KUKU’s case, no documents were uploaded and the restriction was removed directly.

After the risk-control hold was lifted, I used it to make an Amazon reload, and the transaction went through quickly.

Why this setup is powerful

What makes this stacking setup so useful? In the original PayPal Key post, I mentioned a few points.

  • Privacy features: a Visa virtual card, no FTF (foreign transaction fee), and you can freely change the cardholder name and address to almost any country.
  • PayPal Key features: a Master virtual credit card; see the original post for the main features. On its own, it does not have Privacy’s features and it does have an FTF.
  • After combining the two, PayPal Key effectively becomes Privacy. Downsides: the free version of Privacy has limits, and smaller merchants may be more likely to decline it (international acceptance of PrePaid Card products is not very broad, though large merchants should be fine).

In addition, Privacy has cashback offers. It currently costs $10 per month, cashback is capped at $45 per month, and you can add up to 36 virtual cards. Charges on all of those virtual cards can be pulled directly from PayPal Key.

The “Privacy + PPK” combo is already a great tool for US online shopping. With the extra cashback offers, it can also generate a fairly steady amount of additional income.

Downsides

If there is one unavoidable downside, it is the fraud/risk controls at PayPal and Privacy. Both companies are very sensitive to fraud. If you use them regularly and heavily enough that everyone is making money, they will naturally pay less attention to you.

Also, if you are using a VISA/Master card, be aware of potential Cash Advance risk. If you want to try this “stacking” setup, it is better to use an AMEX credit card, since the CA scope is smaller.

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