Here is something that continues to annoy me about using PayPal to complete internet transactions. If you are a frequent PayPal user you might recognize these types of transactions showing up in your online banking reports:

PAYPAL INST XFER 010423 5T3J339YZKBAL SHAWN SMITH

Unfortunately, this provides NO detail as to what the transaction was for? So when it comes to analyzing your spending habits on Mint.com for example you then have to remember the fact you bought a show or song on iTunes vs paying for software, and eBay item etc. If you head over to PayPal’s website they give you the option of running a transaction report. You then quite clearly see the name of the merchant you completed the transaction with.

Hey, PayPal, why not pass the merchant name in the transaction detail to the banking system. That would help us categorize our transactions better!