PayPal Account Wiped Out....

[kristenrice]

Thank goodness our vacation is still 5 months away

It started when I got an email receipt for my recent purchase at Starbucks....apparently, I reloaded my Starbucks card using my PayPal debit MasterCard. There was a reload of $100 followed by another for $50...coincidentally, I had just over $150 in my PayPal account. Naturally, I immediately contacted PayPal and notified them that my account was used without authorization. For some reason, my PayPal debit card is the ONLY card I ever have had an issue with and this is the last straw. I will not be using the PayPal debit card again, simply because this keeps happening.

The next day I, decided to check my Starbucks card to see if the reload was actually there. Surprise! There is not only the $150 reloads from my MasterCard, but also another $250 ($100 x 2 and $50) from my Discover Card. That's when I realized that it was my Starbucks account that was compromised since those two cards were both stored in my account. I immediately deleted them, along with the other cards that were also stored there (I didn't realize there were ANY cards stored!) and contacted Discover. They told me that the charges were still listed as "pending" on their end and that Starbucks had reversed the transaction on their end so I would not be charged.

Yesterday, I got an email from Starbucks, congratulating me on the the earning my rewards. Whomever loaded my card turned around and used it to make two purchases.....one for $129.15 and one for $20, leaving me with $0.85 for my trouble. I called Starbucks today and told them about the fraudulent transactions, both the reloads and the purchase. They closed my account and issued me a new card.

I am confident that this will all work out. PayPal has already issued a "provisional" credit to my account of $100 while they investigate. Whomever did this made the purchases in-store...in Massachusetts! It shouldn't be too hard for Starbucks and law enforcement to pull the security camera tapes and see who made the two purchases. PayPal is sending me a new debit card, which I have no intention of activating. I'd close my PayPal account completely, but that is how I get paid from eBates/Sunshine Rewards/Swagbucks etc. From now on, when I get paid, I will immediately transfer the money into my bank account.

 

[verleniahall]

yikes! hope that it all get straightened out asap

 

[Ranger111]

There is a reason I do not use a debit card.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

There is a reason I do not use a debit card.

Me too.

Back when Target was hacked, one of my coworkers had $800 removed from her checking account just because she used her debit card at Target.
Since then I use only credit cards. At least I'm protected against fraudulent use and I can contest any charges that I didn't make. Also I don't have to pay them until the investigation is complete. With a debit card, they just reach right into your checking account and take your money. She did eventually get it back but it took a while and who needs that kind of stress?

My debit card stays in my safe and when I need cash, I take it out and go to my bank where it's 0 fees. Otherwise it's all credit cards.
And the awesome travel rewards that come with buying everything on a credit card.

 

[disneychrista]

After my PayPal account was hacked TWICE I closed my account and will never use them again.

 

[totallytigger]

There is a reason I do not use a debit card.

You also don't get the same protection as a credit card. Several years ago I purchased tickets for our flights to WDW on Direct Air--I purchased them in Aug for our trip the next March. While we were at WDW, Direct Air went out of business!! We lost our flights home and had to pay a premium for new flights. Our family members that had used a credit card for tickets had more options for recovery of money than I had--I had used my debit card which has a shorter purchase coverage time. I didn't get any reimbursement!!

 

[Fat01]

Best bet is NEVER use a Debit Card! Many reasons for this.