posted on June 24, 2002 04:02:00 PM new
Even though I have tried and tried. I am a "little" seller...nothing major, not thousands of dollars...but I rely on my PayPal money for very specific things. Two months ago my account was restricted for "Unusual account activity". I faxed, that day, all of the information they requested. Five days later, still having heard nothing, I called PayPal and was told that the "The faxed documents have not yet been attached to your account" even though I had followed PayPal's instructions to the letter (using their fax documentation sheet, etc). Sound familiar? Sounds like the same song, different tune I am reading in almost every thread here. To make a long story short, two months later, my account is still restricted, even though I :1. Upgraded to a Business Account with PayPal 2. Opened and added a new bank account to PayPal 3. Added a different credit card to PayPal; 4 Wrote to Damon to ask his assistance in getting this restriction lifted since the old bank account "under investigation" was no longer viable. I received a canned response today from "Sandy" in Customer Service asking for the identical information that was asked for 2 months ago, even though I had sent all that I could, explaining that the account belonged to my daughter, etc.. I am finally "broken" by PayPal. I really don't think that I will ever see my money again...and it IS my money...it came from my customers for goods that I sold; I am a 2 year Verified PayPal customer, with nary a problem until now. This does not matter to PayPal..which is the way of all corporations as they go public...the original customers do not matter in the overall scheme of the bottom line. That said, please Coonr do not jump all over me on this..I am not trying to be combative or anything like that. I am tired...and broken...and very confused. Snuggle
posted on June 24, 2002 04:39:13 PM new
Snugglump
I sent you an email and hope you will read it and join us so we can become a large group and put a stop to this.
posted on June 24, 2002 08:28:32 PM new
you said your account belonged to your daughter.
your account = paypal account ??
can you ask your daughter to help you resolve this??
posted on June 24, 2002 11:04:14 PM new
Sorry I wasn't clear about that...my PayPal account was ,is and always has been MY account. Earlier this year, my husband and I separated and he closed our joint bank account, which was my PayPal verification. My daughter opened a checking account in her name for MY use; However, it was with a credit union and she was unable to add my name to the account. However, I listed all of this info with PayPal, along with HER name as the owner of the account; They accepted this, verified it with the two deposits and then, as money was again coming in to the PayPal account from auction sales, they restricted the account "due to unusual activity" in the bank accountmeaning that I was not the owner of the account). I faxed the asked for bank statement, underlining the 2 deposits on it, explained that this account was my daughter's for my exclusive use until things were straightened out with my ex. They then asked me for notarized statements FROM THE CREDIT UNION stating that I was authorized to use the account, which, of course, the credit union couldn't provide since I was not the owner of the account. All this was explained to them...and I heard nothing more from PayPal. As things cleared up with my ex, I opened a new business account with a new bank, upgradeded my Premier account with PayPal to a business account, added this info, had the new bank account verified with the 2 deposits, added my new credit card information, and informed PayPal that the other account was no longer viable. I also asked Damon for some help in the matter...to which the response was the canned response from PayPal asking AGAIN for the notarized statement from the old bank account stating that I was authorized to use it EVEN THOUGH I HAD JUST ESTABLISHED A NEW ACCOUNT WITH THEM. It should be noted that , at no time, was any money ever withdrawn or transferred in to that bank account...it was simply a means to remain "verified" with PayPal. Well, I am verified up the wazoo and still restricted...and I still do not have access to my money. I have had to change my Ebay password just to stop them from adding their logos to my auctions...people continued to pay with PayPal even though I could not use the money, close the account, etc. That's my story and I am sticking to it! Snuggle
posted on June 25, 2002 08:21:45 AM new
This kinda brings up an interesting point. Early on when I was doing business with payponzi, I was making daily withdrawals to my bank of 5-8k. One day I made a 15k withdrawl and waited 5 days and it wasn't in my bank. So I called CS and was told that large withdrawls were closely monitored. Several other withdrawls after the 15k one arrived in my bank account and then after about 3 weeks it finally appeared. By this time I had made atleast a dozen calls with no reasonable answer,except "you'll just have to wait". Funny thing is they didn't restrict my account over it. Just makes me wonder what,if any basic rules they have, or is it left up to the descression of so hourly paid employee.
posted on June 25, 2002 08:43:44 AM new
you cannot register other people 's bank account with your paypal account.
i am trying to think how a payment service know if the bank account you register with them is in your name ?
i think they will need to pick up the phone and call the bank and ask if so and so name is on the account??
assuming that if you can verifiy the 2 deposits paypal made to your bank or credit card account,you are the rightful owner of these accounts do not always work,if we have elderly parent living with us,we have access to their bank statements .
you went from a joint bank account to your daughter's account,then back to your own bank account could have triggered some security features within paypal which did not exist before.
posted on June 25, 2002 08:57:32 AM new
if you have merchant account ,it could take up to 14 days to see your sales proceeds in your bank account,especially if you sell in cyberspace.
posted on June 25, 2002 09:29:35 AM new
Snugglump199: Please see my posting about complaining to the Securities and Exchange Commission. You can complain here
http://www.sec.gov/complaint/cf942sec7040.htm
Stopwhining: The subject heading is Can't Resolve This Restriction. How it was trigged does it matter.
posted on June 25, 2002 10:28:21 AM new
Hi snugglump199,
"They then asked me for notarized statements FROM THE CREDIT UNION stating that I was authorized to use the account, which, of course, the credit union couldn't provide since I was not the owner of the account. All this was explained to them...and I heard nothing more from PayPal."
You must be an authorized party on the bank account.It may be ok for your daughter to verbally state you can use it, but the legal liability belongs to her. Your name must be added to the bank, or you must provide documentation (from the bank) to show that you are authorized.
I am not sure if I am entirely understanding your new account issue. Please send me a follow-up email to [email protected].
posted on June 25, 2002 10:42:21 AM new
unfortunately this is the perils of dealing with paypal you give them all the documentation your DNA sample and still they will not believe you......
do you have alot of money in the account? if the sum is minimal I would just leave it as is and move on......
posted on June 25, 2002 10:45:05 AM new
flaoisland,
can one complain to SEC if he/she does not have her paypal fund invested in money market mutual fund??
how it trigger security alarm helps us understand why an account can be restricted so we do can avoid future restrictions.
one question for you- if SEC instructs paypal to release your fund in the money market account,how do you withdraw it ??
posted on June 25, 2002 01:37:31 PM new
Snugglump199: It is plain to all as day that you added a new bank account. How terrible it must be for you to read the same awful unhelpful answer. If your Paypal account is the kind where you got interest, complain to the SEC.
Stopwhining: No, you can only complain to the SEC if you have the Paypal account with the interest - also called the money market account.
Mrfoxy76: Fnewborough who did this had his account unrestricted very quickly. Similar to my experience when I used the Travelers route (no longer available).
posted on June 25, 2002 09:33:44 PM new
Thanks for understanding everyone; Stop whining, I understand what you are saying...I made an admittedly silly error in listing my daughter's bank account with PayPal...actually, I should have just withdrawn my funds, closed the account and reopened a new account, an UNVERIFIED one, to do business for awhile until I had a new bank account to return to Premier status. Now I am , shall we say "forked". I received a nice note from Damon today and have responded to him with some pertinent questions: i.e. If the account can't be unrestricted, how do I close it and retrieve my money? To just let it go, even though that is the avenue of least resistance, means that PayPal gets to steal my money. Can that be legal? And if it was not in a Money Market fund, what recourse do I have? This is the latest response (NON-DAMON, I must emphasize) from still another customer service rep. Sounds to me like they plan to just keep my money and that I should "go away" ""Thank you for contacting PayPal.
If you are unable to provide the required information we will not be
able
to lift the restriction on your account.
Your email states that the account was not opened in your name and you
are
not an authorized user of the account.
Per the User Agreement, reports of unauthorized or unusual bank account
use
associated with the account may be restricted.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us
again.
Yes. Small sellers get just as screwed as big ones...we just go mostly unnoticed. Snuggle PS..interesting the verbiage of that "User Agreement"..."reports of unauthorized ....use...MAY be restricted". Not SHALL or WILL but MAY...and, ya know what, I never used that danged account for one thing.!
posted on June 26, 2002 06:27:19 AM new
Snugglump199: It appears you have done everything Paypal has asked and more. If it was not the money market account, you will have a hard time. I suggest you find out from Mr.Paypal what it is they want again and send it again via postal mail with signature confirmation. Then keep posting here and everywhere possible until you get your money back. If there is a local media outlet where they solve consumer problems, call 'em up. Eventually you will get you money back and someone from Paypal will tell the media or write a message stating you are completely at fault. At least you will have your money. In my case it was somewhat similar. Paypal wanted me to submit the same documents repeatedly, then wanted identification information which had nothing to do with the situation. I got help from an outside organization (Travelers) and then it was still so hard to get Paypal to move. Then finally success. Paypal told the Better Business Bureau a story blaming me even though they had confirmed on the phone they had misinstructed me.
posted on June 26, 2002 10:20:53 AM new
is there anyway your daughter can add you to her credit union bank account??
in hind sight,after your ex closed the joint bank account,just tell your bidders to send check or money order until you establish your own banking resources.
i dont think bidders really notice if seller is verified or not or do they??
if your daughter had open a bank account with a commercial bank,not a credit union,i dont think she will have any problem adding your name to the account,i did that ,i add my mother to my bank account and my mother does not even live with me!!!!
posted on June 26, 2002 02:44:28 PM new
it will be lumped together with all the other paypal accounts which are not in money market mutual fund.
it would be recognised as a liability under customer deposit but the actual cash could be at the disposal of paypal.
no difference than the non interest bearing checking account at the bank,as the name implies DEMAND DEPOSIT,it has to stay very liquid,it could be in 3 months t bills,overnite jumbo cd or could be used to meet working capital needs of the bank or company(paypal)
posted on June 26, 2002 09:43:05 PM new
Good suggestion, one and all.. and I have no intention of keeping quiet about it! Did not hear back from Damon re my questions posed in an email to him...must be a busy day for him. Stopwhining, are you saying that they CAN LEGALLY keep my money for their use "just because "?? If this is the case...head for the hills and close your PayPal accounts... the inmates are in charge of the asylum. Even at a "real" bank, you can close your account and your funds are returned to you. BTW, today I am getting the "Trouble With Your PayPal Logos" email...seems they can't insert their logos because my password has been changed...go figure. I find it absolutely astonishing that PayPal is able to hold on to your money, put logos automatically on your auctions to steal more money from you, and you, the dumb seller, have no recourse. I wish I could afford an attorney for this...is their a class action suit anywhere regarding this issue? Thanks all. Snuggle
