I disagree, I've had my credit card and bank account on file on my Paypal account for a long time. I used to sell on ebay quite a bit and it's an upgraded account, but it's still free too. Paypal sellers account or whatever it is you need to sell on ebay....I can't remember it was so long ago. But anyway, I've never had any mysterious charges on my CC or mysterious withdrawals from my bank account. I feel paypal is the safest way to buy online.its free.
But i would be careful, don't take their advertising as fool proof. I got scammed 425.00$ but luckly i managed to get it all back thanks to paypal. But it took a very very long time.
My advice to you, if you decide to use paypal (which is a safe way to buy stuff btw), just don't leave your credit cards active on your account or bank accounts. If you need to purchase something, enter your credit card imformation every time, its safer that way, encase you ever do get hacked.
But to answer your question, yes its free completely.
Luke, your situation must have been an exception, I think I remember you posting it on here, wasn't it that you left your account open on a public computer or something? Maybe it was someone else.
Let me just clarify Paypal being free.....It's free for you to send money to other people, but if someone sends you money, Paypal will take a percentage of that. I sent my buddy in Canada $1.00 one time (a bet) and with the exchange rate and Paypal's percentage, he got like 40 cents.