Ebayers - Beware of Paypal

[RichNKatHolly]

Just had my account frozen for the second time this year! Please be aware that in the event of a problem (no matter your fault or not) they will freeze the account, reverse any recent withdrawals and attempt to obtain any money they feel you owe from your linked bank account. In hindsight, with all the internet fraud, etc. this is not the time to be giving our all your account and personal information to such an entity.

I'm not trying to be too negative here, but paypal always seems like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow UNTIL something goes wrong. Please be careful and be aware. Please consider not taking credit card payments or any paypal payment from an international source. Also, if you take a break from ebay (as I did) check your account frequently for any signs that someone else is using your account. It is very hard to prove you DID NOT do something in the internet world!

I'm very sad to see that Green Zap appears to be a scam! I was so looking forward to an alternative to the high and mighty paypal. I'm back to MOs and checks only

 

[DisneyWisher]

Last week I received an email that looked as though it came from Paypal, saying that I had added someone to my Paypal acct. The email said to click the link to notify them if this was fraudulent. But when I moved my curser over every link that was on that email it was being sent to the same address. It was a bogus email. I forwarded it to Paypal and they sent an email telling me that it was a fake email and never to response to such an email. I remember in the beginning when AOL first started it always said never to enter your password anywhere but at sign in.

Is there a chance you received the same sort of email and it tricked you into entering your information?

Needless to say I have closed my Paypal acct. I don't need anything off Ebay that much.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

We get those emails on a regular basis too. Such a hassle. I doubt myself or my husband would click any link from an email, but who knows. All I know is that paypal offers me no protection. I'm very concerned about my linked bank account and am thinking of closing it now.

Anyway, I don't need paypal for ebay but I do need an account for some work that I do. Luckily I have a friend who will accept those payments from me. I will not give paypal another penny!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

When I first set up with PayPal I opened a separate savings account at my bank. I will tend to sweep most of my money out of PayPal into this account, and then move it to either my checking account or main savings account.

In the event someone should manage to hack PayPal they will only be able to get into this small account at my bank.

Also, I will never use a link from an e-mail to any web site where I have a password. I will only go directly to the site (usually from a bookmark) and long on properly. The only exception is when I am actually doing a PayPal payment from an ended auction.

 

[DW mouser]

Seems like PayPal is having all kids of bogus e-amils now days. I too closed my account when I had my ID stolen. It was my fault for answering an e-mail which I thought was from e-bay and I gave out my personal info. I should of been reading these boards and I would of known!! Anyone doing business on e-bay needs to read all about fraud on their website. I will do no business with them any more because it's just too risky. Internet fraud is on the increase. BEWARE!!!

 

[Marseeya]

I just posted about a similar issue on the community board, although they didn't freeze my account. I sold one item on ebay for the first time ever and when I went to withdraw the money from paypal, I made the mistake of trying to get the virtual mastercard debit card to shop from Walmart.com. Long story short, Walmart.com pre-authorized my account, but the sale couldn't be completed because they needed the 3 digit number from the back of the card. Since it's a virtual card, there is no 3 digit number. After talking to both paypal & walmart, I found out that the money's stuck there in limbo for 10 days. Ten days isn't much, but I was so angry that they even had that option available when you can't use it!

Just got a big runaround from paypal over it.

Also, I'd attached my savings account to the paypal account and I've read in different places that the only way to get that off of there is to close your bank account -- even if you close your paypal account, they can still have access to your bank account! So, that's what I'm going to do rather than chance them ever having access to it.

 

[Melrosgirl]

Seems in some cases paypal is being blamed b/c its users are not following the #1 rule of email: Don't click on links. If you get an email that you aren't expecting, don't click on links. anything from paypal will have your name on it, not "dear paypal user." Paypal says your cc # is expired? Don't click on the link. Go to paypal.com yourself and check it out.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Well, I didn't click a link and still feel paypal offers no protection for sellers. Marseeya is correct in saying that even closing your paypal account or removing your bank account info from the site does not stop them from having access to your account if they deem it necessary.

Thinking back, I can't believe that I have put that much info into a website.

Unfortunately with paypal there's no problem until there's a problem!

Best of luck to all, I was just providing another view of their site - the not so rosey side.

BTW, I have a payment from a buyer for a considerable amount sitting in my account now where I cannot access it. I will not ship this item and paypal will not allow me to access the refund feature. I'm sure this will lead to a negative feedback or worse for me, but I don't have access to the funds. Paypal has stolen this buyer's money, IMO. I told her to file a non-receipt claim if she had to.

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

I had my account frozen and they say it is because I had user complaints filed against me. These were people who I gave full refunds to, who received their products. They were for Washington Nationals tickets for games from April-October. Most of them got their tickets at least 3 months before the game. They complained because they didn't get them immediately after purchasing them, that is only because I did not get my tickets until a week before the season started.

I explained this to PayPal and they said I would have to refund these people to be reinstated. Well I refunded them all, so they got their tickets for free... PayPal then decided to permanently close my account b/c of this.

They reversed a withdrawal of $2,700 to my checking account... I can't access this money until November. I can't afford to attend summer school this summer b/c of this and I may not graduate on time.

BEWARE OF PAYPAL!

 

[Ladybugsy]

I closed my Paypal account because of all the horror stories I've read over the past year. My advice is that if you use paypal, set up a completely seperate bank account for it. Withdraw the money as soon as it's deposited. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER have Paypal linked to your primary account.

 

[pediatric-rnp]

My advice is that if you use paypal, set up a completely seperate bank account for it. Withdraw the money as soon as it's deposited. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER have Paypal linked to your primary account.

Would this take care of the issue -I mean withdrawing the $$ as soon as Paypal deposits it? Can they go after you any other way? Can they go after the credit card if that is linked?

I have an extra checking acount I use, but I do keep a small amt of other $$ in it. I think I'll now open another savings account, and just link Paypal to that, and take the $$ out right away.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Would this take care of the issue -I mean withdrawing the $$ as soon as Paypal deposits it? Can they go after you any other way? Can they go after the credit card if that is linked?

I have an extra checking acount I use, but I do keep a small amt of other $$ in it. I think I'll now open another savings account, and just link Paypal to that, and take the $$ out right away.

NOPE, I had done a withdrawal the day before this whole thing happened. It was reversed. I never knew they could, or would, do such a thing. They will also attempt to take any money out of your linked bank account if there is a dispute. They will hold the money until you prove yourself innocent of whatever the claim is (which is very hard to do).

I do not think they go after credit cards, but I'm not positive on that.

I'm not saying all disputes cannot be solved, but to date I have not had any resolved in my favor (there have been 3 total in 4 years). As of today $400 of my hard earned money sits in that account and I cannot touch it. The poor woman who purchased from me now has to file a non-receipt claim to get her refund as I will not ship the item since I cannot get the money for it. I will probably end up with a negative remark and an ebay complaint as well because of this. Ebay has been how I pay my son's tuition for pre-K. Thank goodness he's done as of June!!!

I'm so sorry to read that story above from the college student. That stinks! WAsn't it nice of him to give all those tickets away for free!!!

 

[C.Ann]

NOPE, I had done a withdrawal the day before this whole thing happened. It was reversed. I never knew they could, or would, do such a thing. They will also attempt to take any money out of your linked bank account if there is a dispute. They will hold the money until you prove yourself innocent of whatever the claim is (which is very hard to do)

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I'm not sure I understand this.. If you open a bank account at a bank that is separate from your primary bank, there wouldn't be any way that Paypal could attach an account elsewhere..

The money goes into Paypal - you sweep it over to the separate bank account and you then withdraw it.. There's nothing there - and no connection to your primary account with a different banking institution.. Are you saying that the bank then calls you and says, "Hey, Paypal wants that money back.. Bring it in!"

I've had a Paypal account as an eBay seller for over two years now and knock on wood, have never had a problem - but I also make sure I don't leave any money "laying" around that could be snatched, reversed or whatever..

Hope you get the problem straightened out..

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Sorry, my last post was confusing. What I meant was that the night before this problem I had withdrawn the $400 to go into my linked account. That day it appeared the transfer was pending. The next morning they had reversed the transfer - it never made it into my account and never will.

I never had a problem with paypal for several years. Then, there was one problem. Then, another. With the first one they never actually got any money from my account because the amount they tried with take exceeded my normal balance. This time I will lose out on a $375 auction payment as well as a $25 work payment that was paid through paypal.

Unless I do all the verification steps which force me to provide even more financial and personal info, it will not be released. If I do the verification process it still may not be released. Therefore, I have given up. They have enough of my info already. I have a 100% feedback rating with ebay and have been selling for 4 years (buying for more than that). If that's not enough, I'll take any buyer's check or money order and keep what used to go out to paypal in fees.

 

[C.Ann]

I never had a problem with paypal for several years. Then, there was one problem. Then, another. With the first one they never actually got any money from my account because the amount they tried with take exceeded my normal balance. This time I will lose out on a $375 auction payment as well as a $25 work payment that was paid through paypal.

Unless I do all the verification steps which force me to provide even more financial and personal info, it will not be released. If I do the verification process it still may not be released. Therefore, I have given up. They have enough of my info already. I have a 100% feedback rating with ebay and have been selling for 4 years (buying for more than that). If that's not enough, I'll take any buyer's check or money order and keep what used to go out to paypal in fees.

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That's an awful lot of money to let them "keep".. How about you go to an entirely different banking institution and open an account - then use that for the verification process.. (Don't forget, they already have all of the other information..)

As for accepting checks and money orders, keep in mind that if a check bounces, you're still in a position where you run into a problem with your bank account - and unless you state that you accept only US Postal Money Orders, you still need a bank account to cash them..

Whatever you decide to do, I would NOT allow them to keep that much money when it's rightfully yours..

 

[Laurajean1014]

I'm not a big fan of paypal, but it has been useful for me. However, I do much buying and little to no selling. I pay immediately and withdraw any deposits, immediately.

I've read and retained all the information that I have received on this board, and will be keeping my funds more secure and become more watchful.

Thank you all for posting.................please continue.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

True. Actually, only the $25 is really mine. The $325 is from a woman who purchased something on ebay. It was international transaction so I never ship until the paypal makes it to my account. She will have to file a complaint to retrieve her money back. I know, it sounds mean, but I cannot afford to ship that item without the payment. She will get her money from paypal after the complaint is settled. As for the check payments, I haven't had a problem with them yet and have accepted hundreds of them (I'll keep my fingers crossed).

The verification process after a problem like this involves much more than linking another account - they want to run a credit check, verify my home telephone number as well as that of another member of our family who does not live with us, among other things. That is a real violation of my privacy and that of our relatives. Not to mention that the credit check would lower our credit score (only slightly, but still, it's the principle of it).

Anyway, I really just wanted to let people know what can happen.

 

[Lewisc]

Are you permitted to re-sell the tickets? The question isn't how long before the game you shipped the tickets. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE AFTER THE AUCTION FOR YOU TO SHIP the tickets? It's not the buyers fault you decided to aution off your tickets before you received them. Aren't you required to ship within 30 days?

Did you auction your tickets when your payment was due?

I had my account frozen and they say it is because I had user complaints filed against me. These were people who I gave full refunds to, who received their products. They were for Washington Nationals tickets for games from April-October. Most of them got their tickets at least 3 months before the game. They complained because they didn't get them immediately after purchasing them, that is only because I did not get my tickets until a week before the season started.

I explained this to PayPal and they said I would have to refund these people to be reinstated. Well I refunded them all, so they got their tickets for free... PayPal then decided to permanently close my account b/c of this.

They reversed a withdrawal of $2,700 to my checking account... I can't access this money until November. I can't afford to attend summer school this summer b/c of this and I may not graduate on time.

BEWARE OF PAYPAL!

 

[Lewisc]

I know, it sounds mean, but I cannot afford to ship that item without the payment. She will get her money from paypal after the complaint is settled. As for the check payments, I haven't had a problem with them yet and have accepted hundreds of them (I'll keep my fingers crossed).

Actually it doesn't sound mean it sounds criminal. She paid for the items and you're refusing to ship. It's really not her fault you're having a dispute with pay pal.

Suppose she paid you by check but a creditor had a lien on your checking account. You'd be in the same position. Would you still refuse to ship since you'd be unable to get the cash?

Pay pal could ban you. The buyer paid and you're refusing to ship. Sorry but you'll be earning the negative feedback.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Hey, get off your high horse. She is not doing anything criminal. She explained to the buyer what is going on. Can you afford to lose 350.00???? The buyer will get their money back from paypal. She can still buy the item from another source if need be. Why should Kat be out the money and the item becuase Paypal is being unreasonable.

I think she is doing the wise thing. Yes the buyer paid, but if she can't access the money then what is she to do. Just say hey, what's 350.00??? The person will get their money back from Paypal. She is doing nothing wrong, Paypal is. Paypal should make their system FRUAD proof. It's possible, if they want to invest some money into it. If someone used her Paypal account then paypal should have the expertise to track that money down, and it isn't in Kat's account. The account holder doesn't have the access or the resources to track down these people, that is Paypal's job. If Paypal can't or won't do it, then they shouldn't be in the business they are in.

Just my .02!!