More about Purchase Protection eligibility

What is a Purchase?

A “Purchase” is a payment you send to a seller when you buy a good or service from them -- as opposed to a payment sent as a gift, charitable contribution, or reimbursement for a payment the recipient already made. Certain Purchases you make using your Venmo account are eligible for Purchase Protection, as explained below.

What kinds of items are eligible for Purchase Protection?

Designating a transaction as a “Purchase” or for “Good and Services” does not mean that Purchase Protection automatically applies. If an item is not eligible for Purchase Protection, you will not receive a refund if something goes wrong with your purchase. Items that you purchase online and that are shipped to you are often eligible for Purchase Protection including physical goods like clothing, household electronics and housewares, as well as certain intangible items like event tickets and hotel reservations. Certain categories of payments and items are ineligible for Purchase Protection. Common examples of these exclusions are set forth below. See the Venmo User Agreement for more information and feel free to contact Venmo customer supports if you have questions about eligibility.

Common examples of ineligible payment categories

Certain categories of payments are not eligible for Purchase Protection. These include:

• Payments that you make without swiping “on” the “Turn on for purchases” toggle when completing a purchase transaction
• Items that you collect in person or arrange to be collected on your behalf, except for in-person Venmo QR code transactions
• Payments that you make to someone else reimbursing them for a purchase (for example, splitting the dinners bill with a friend)

Common examples of ineligible items

Some items are not eligible for Purchase Protection. The following are examples of common items that are not eligible for Purchase Protection.

• Vehicles, including but not limited to motor vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, aircraft and boats
• Real state, including residential property and recurring and long-term rent payments
• Financial products or investments of any kind, including stocks, bonds and mutual funds
• Gambling, gaming or ay other activity with an entry fee and a prize
• Donations, including payments on crowdfunding platforms
• Gift cards and pre-paid cards
• Cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and other digital assets
• Businesses (buying or investing in a business)

See the Venmo User Agreement for more information and feel free to contact Venmo customer support if you have questions about eligibility.