If you can't charge to PayPal, we suspect it's usually one of two main things:

1. Your Browser is not set up to handle the PayPal "Pop Up" Windows or
2. You don't have a PayPal account, or there is something going on with your account.

Setting Up Your Browser

"Pop-ups" are Windows that open, seemingly by themselves, in your Browser. They range from annoying (advertising, sweepstakes, etc.) to malicious (spyware). Modern browsers are set up to be able to block Pop-ups unless you permit the Pop-ups to run.

The "Browser" is simply the program that you typically use to look at Internet stuff. Usually, when you click on a link to a web site, a personal computer is set up to use Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Other browsers can be used, typically

1. by people who want a faster, friendlier, non-Microsoft browser, or
2. when your Internet Service provides you with a customized browser to use on their network or
3. if you are at work or otherwise on a network where the IT staff has set things up to use a particular browser.

Setting Up Your Browser to Use the PayPal "Pop-Ups".

First -- you probably should permit a Pop-up from www.companionability.com. The only things we have that are anything like a "Pop-up" are the PayPal buttons.

Second -- you may also need to set up your browser to permit Pop-ups from PayPal itself.

1. Internet Explorer users:
   1. Tools (on Tool Bar at top)
   2. Internet Options (Drop Down)
   3. Security Tab (On Tab Display)
   4. Trusted Sites (the “Check” Cartoon In the Security Tab Window)
   5. Click the Sites Button
   6. Type In the URL (the Internet Address) for PayPal
      1. It should be in the Address window in the browser – accurate typing is important, especially if you are putting in “slashes” “/” “//” where it’s easy to mis-type.
      2. If you want to be sure, escape out of this, go up to the Address window, highlight the address, copy it to your clipboard, go back to 1. and on 6. just “Paste”. Then you won’t have typed it. (Paste is also the keyboard shortcut Ctrl “V”)
   7. Then click OK.
2. FireFox (sometimes Mozilla, Netscape, or some Internet Service Provider’s version)
   1. Tools (on Tool Bar at top)
   2. Options (Drop Down)
   3. Content (the Cartoon Globe)
   4. In the top row, “Block Pop Up Windows” should have a check on the left, click on the “Exceptions” button on the right.
   5. Type In the URL (the Internet Address) for PayPal
      1. It should be in the Address window in the browser – accurate typing is important, especially if you are putting in “slashes” “/” “//” where it’s easy to mis-type.
      2. If you want to be sure, escape out of this, go up to the Address window, highlight the address, copy it to your clipboard, go back to 1. and on 6. just “Paste”. Then you won’t have typed it. (Paste is also the keyboard shortcut Ctrl “V”)
   6. Then click OK.
3. AOL or some other Internet Service Provider’s browser – no idea what to do, but probably the same type of thing.

What's PayPal?

PayPal FAQs

Q: What's Paypal?

A: PayPal is an independent on-line payment service, kind of like a bank or credit card company and you should exercise at least as much care in securing your personal information as you would with a bank or credit card company. CompanionAbility simply has an account there, like you need to have in order to make a payment.

Q: What's a PayPal account?

A: You can't use PayPal unless you set up an account to some way move the money from one place to another. As far as we know, it's usually either charged to your credit card or comes from a bank account when you create the PayPal account. The PayPal account is the account you set up with the required information.

Q: Why use PayPal?

A: If you use PayPal, security is between you and PayPal. CompanionAbility only receives the money from the PayPal account and never gets your credit card or bank information. Of course, it's also convenient to pay by clicking -- once you have your account set up.

Q: How do I get started on PayPal?

A: These remarks are from experience, not because we have any control or even interpret PayPal’s procedures. And we're sure they can change them when they want. Based on what we've seen, if it is your first time using PayPal, you can arrange to charge a credit card. If you turn out to use PayPal a lot – over a certain dollar amount – their procedures require you to give them a bank balance. We expect you could give them the bank account right away, but that's up to you. And you should deal directly with PayPal.

Q: What's your connection to PayPal?

A: CompanionAbility does not endorse, supervise or have responsibility over PayPal. It is completely independent, like a bank or credit card company and you should exercise at least as much care in securing your personal information as you would with a bank or credit card company. CompanionAbility simply has an account there, like you need to have in order to make a payment. CompanionAbility does not get any financial information on you from PayPal.

Q: Have you checked to see if it's working?

A: Yes. It worked for us when we tried it. But keep good notes on what you do and what happens, and if we need to, we'll send that to PayPal to see what's wrong. Or you could contact PayPal directly about your account. They probably have tech support to help you.

If PayPal is working, what can I expect?

1. Start with the CompanionAbility.com Sign Up page
2. Click on Buy Now button for the Classes you want.
3. Your Browser will open a PayPal page.

   If it doesn't then this might be where you need to set up to permit Pop-ups as described above -- probably for www.companionability.com, and maybe for PayPal itself.

4. Log In To Paypay:
   1. You must have a PayPal account.
   2. Type in the Email Address you used when you signed up with your PayPal account.
   3. Type in the Password you gave yourself when you signed up with your PayPal account.
   4. Click the Log In Button.
   5. There are the typical links if you’ve forgotten the email address you used or your password, but watch out if you decide to just forget it and sign up for a new account. PayPal may not let you have two on the same credit card or bank account.
5. A page will Pop-up for your charge. Lynn’s Email Address Appears at the top.
   1. The “invoice”: appears and you scroll down to see the rest of the information.
   2. Payment Method is shown – which will identify the source of the payment. In this case there is a cash balance in the PayPal account which will be used first.
   3. From time to time, your PayPal account will work to get the money from a credit card you input or a bank balance you input.
   4. If Everything looks OK, click the Button showing the charge -- the dollar amount and class.
6. The next page shows confirmation, gives you a confirmation number and includes Lynn’s email address and links to
   1. your PayPal Account and
   2. Print a Receipt.
7. Your account balance page will be shown. Have a look and see if it appears accurate. If you have money in your PayPal account -- like a bank account -- that will show up. If the money is coming from a bank account you set up, then that will show.
8. The receipt window pops up and only has a “Print” and “Done” option.
9. You can click on the buttons to close the file or go back using normal browser procedures.