Paypal vent - please be careful using them!

[HaleyB]

I had an account frozen not that long ago. It happened because I forgot my password and tried three times. They locked it and will not work with me at all. The bank account I opened it with is now closed. They insist I need to send in all the original account info. I talked to them asking if I just listed all the email addresses I used at that time (3) could that be ok and was told no. For claritys sake, I had changed my email address on the account when I got a new one. I know that email address. That is not what they want. At that point I just gave up. The account only had about $70 in it.

But yes, Pay Pal will lock an account just for trying to guess your password. I never got a warning message or anything before it was locked. I didn't know I only got 3 tries.

 

[DMRick]

They frooze if for forgetting your password three times? And wouldn't let you go back in and try again? That is really wierd. I travel a lot and often forget my password (I change it often), and that's never happened to me. Usually, I just wait until I get home and put it in correctly (I keep it at home..I never travel with my passwords), and then it works. How long ago was this? I know you have to have the account number (the one you use with the Paypal) or the last four digits of the credit card connected with the account, if they suspect someone trying to hack. Did you have those, and they still wouldn't unlock it? And you knew your correct password? They would be so out of luck if they needed the original email addy I had when I opened the account. I've been with Paypal since they first started, and I've had lots of email adresses since...have no idea what I used when I stated.

As far as getting a partial refund..is that because the person you bought from didn't have money in their Paypal account? What was the reason they wouldn't let you do a chargeback?

But yes, Pay Pal will lock an account just for trying to guess your password. I never got a warning message or anything before it was locked. I didn't know I only got 3 tries.

 

[Lyn5]

As far as getting a partial refund..is that because the person you bought from didn't have money in their Paypal account? What was the reason they wouldn't let you do a chargeback?

For my partial refund, I didn't get a reason....just a statement that my claim had been resolved. I did not pursue the remaining 1/3 that wasn't returned since by that time I was so frustated with them. Also, by then I had read some of the horror stories on-line and was thankful that the $50 I lost was a cheap lesson learned compared to the hardship others had suffered. Now, I stick to store websites I have had positive experiences with and skip ebay and paypal.

 

[HaleyB]

The account that was frozen was an original account from for ever and a year ago. They did not require a cc back then, just a bank account.

Yes I tried 3 times and that was it. DH says it was longer ago than I think, before last Christmas sometime.

Knowing the linked bank account number, giving my ss#, and telling them the correct password did not work. I know one of the three email addresses I gave them must have been the right one... They sent me a letter asking for several things including noterized(sp?) items.

 

[robinb]

You know, PayPal is case sensitive, so if she input the pets name with a capital, but was now typing it without, it will not recognize it.

She may have typed all caps, or none at all. She needs to write down every option and try it again. Believe me I know. I have 2 capitals in my password on purpose!

I was going to say the same thing. "fluffy", "FluffY" and "FLUFFY" are all different according to PayPal.

 

[disneysteve]

This is EXACTLY why I hate paypal....

It sits there forever and they make money off it.

Actually, PayPal's money market is currently paying 4.12%, one of the highest rates in the country so the money in your account doesn't just sit there.

 

[TheButlerDiditt]

I say just scan in a current bill, and photoshop the name and address to reflect whatever information you need it to be and fax it in. Problem solved.

 

[nbodyhome]

There is an interesting website called www.paypalsucks.com

I had an issue with them when trying to pay off one person a few days ago - I tried to change my last name and address, and it wouldn't let me. I am cancelling that account, I opened a new one (as my husband asked, I will not fund it from my bank account ever - I may even cancel it completely). That way, I could use my name and address that I currently use - and I used my credit card. I am not a fan of Paypal. I wrote to them to get the thing figured out so I could pay the vendor, they never wrote me back.

Denise

 

[can'twait]

Actually, PayPal's money market is currently paying 4.12%, one of the highest rates in the country so the money in your account doesn't just sit there.

Well, it does just sit there if you can't get to it!

 

[peachgirl]

Well, it does just sit there if you can't get to it!

Exactly! Besides, I would imagine I'm not the only one who doesn't care to give Paypal my SS # and leave my money sitting there just to earn interest that I can easily earn elsewhere.

I pull my cash out of Paypal as soon as I receive it and send it to a checking account that I use for no other purpose. If I want to pay from Paypal, I use my credit card. Paypal is a neccessary evil as far as I'm concerned. Good luck with your problem.

Edited to add..

I understand the need for tight security, but Paypal carries it too far. It takes more to regain access to Paypal than it does a credit card or even a bank account for that matter. I've been locked out of my cc, my bank account and my dell account more than once (I'm not good with password recall) and all it took was a phone call to give them certain information and all was fixed. Paypal makes it much more difficult than it needs to be...there's a reason for that and it's not to protect the customer.

 

[DMRick]

Well, it does just sit there if you can't get to it!

Today my son told me they took in too much money and they got froze (they stated possible illegal activity..he's in Ireland). He only told me because he needed to paypal me some money. He says it's no biggy..it happens when he has an outstanding month (he may have said week, but I wasn't listening close enough..I just thought it was interesting after this thread). He didn't think it was a biggy. He said it will happen on his "real" store charge account as well. He said within two days after he sends in his info, it will reopen.
As far as money just sitting there, because you can't get to it..that seems to be more of a problem for people who don't remember passwords, or moved and didn't update, etc. I'm rather fond of them myself, and love the interest rate..better than having to stick it in CD with no access.