Who does Paypal think they are????

[antoniosolo]

They freeze an account for no reason. When I call they speak to me like a lowlife. All this AFTER they have their fee. They question me about what I sold, what business I am in and what the tracking number is???? You DON'T approach ME like that....I told them to try and keep my 100 bucks, I filed a complaint with the FTC. All my accounts are in my name, phone, address, business office etc. I don't know what kind of training these guys get but you don't treat consumers like this. We have gone through enough losing pensions and banks throwing multi-million dollar parties while America loses homes to think some big corporation is gonna screw with us like this. How many millions have they tied up to lend overnight on the market????? I am sure someone is being kicked-back for these criminal acts of high-jacking bank deposits! Don't F*** with me, someone else did, and is looking at incarceration for messing with me. Sorry ,probably should be in the moan zone....

[Silver Sonya]

I agree with every last thing you say here.

It's an outrageously arrogant place they're going to now.

It'd be like if your bank suddenly decided you couldn't have your funds until you explained how you got them.

Paypal needs a serious competitor!!!

- c

p.s. This stuff happened to me and I have a 100% eBay feedback rating!

[Guitar Zero]

They are out of control only because they can be. There is no competition. They limit the amount I can remove from my account to $500 per month, so if I sell a $2000 dollar item, it takes me 4 months to get my money back. That's just plain wrong and should be illegal. They also freeze my money for 21 days when I sell an electronics item. WTF! They are obviously just dreaming up ways and phony reasons to earn on the float while we (the consumer) get hosed waiting on our money. And the sad part is, I keep using them, because there's no one else. SAD

[zmoorhs]

I sincerely sympathize because I know what these scoundrels are getting up to from my own experiences, but the fact of the matter, is that nobody is going to tell them what they can & can't do when they're making such vast quantities of money & paying taxes on it. The banking system have been ripping us all off for a long long time & who's stepped in to put an end to their business practices? On the contrary, according to our government's, apparently we are obligated to help them shaft us at any chance they see fit. Something has to change in this world & the power of the banking industry coupled with our dependence on it to the extent of helping them to rob us blind should be top of the list.

[hello people]

Does paypal charge a monthly fee or anything for garden variety users?

I just opened opened a paypal thing.

I don't want to touch it with a 10 foot pole if it's scammy or if it charges anything. I'd be hunting them if they started taking money out of my real accounts every month.

[KingDaddyO]

They're who they've always been - just an updated version. People have been being mistreated, and complaining about payprick ... since back when they were known as x.com .

Until a large and coordinated grass roots movement, focuses on driving sellers away in droves, I doubt that they will ever see the need to change a thing. Personally I will use them only to pay for an item purchase (and always with a credit card).

I don't use them if the money is being sent to me.

[hello people]

How does paypal make money? Do they charge on money paid to you via paypal?

[Entrainer]

I sold a perfectly working item, shipped properly. The buyer left positive feedback specifically for the cause of releasing funds. This was stated in the email.

Then the buyer damaged the item electrically. I had his entire description of what occurred. I actually faxed and posted comments from the creator of the unit that the damage occurred in the possession of the buyer due to the description. The buyer even posted online that he opened the unit up 3 times.

I literally spent 2 months going line by line thru the user agreement for "significantly not as described" returns. There is nothing in that agreement that would allow a buyer to return an after-sale damaged item. This is what a warranty is.

Luckily, through all the appeals I did, I won once, and the money hit my account. I withdrew the entire sum immediately. I eventually lost, regardless of their user agreement. They have a clause in there that states they can decide whatever they want for any reason, ultimately trumping the user agreement.

I kept the money. Now I'll fight the collections agency. **** them.

BTW- I had a 9 year history of using paypal with a perfect transaction record for many high-end items sold. I'm a man of honor who would only sell a perfectly working unit.

DO NOT SELL THRU PAYPAL.

[zmoorhs]

My own personal gripe is that they're taking a relatively hefty percentage of incoming money immediately, no matter whether you keep it in the Paypal account or move it on elsewhere. I could live with the deal if it was charged upon transferring the funds out of the Paypal system to a bank account or whatever, but to be charging such a percentage on incoming funds that you then transfer to another Paypal account to buy something else, then charging the reciever of that transfer the same percentage & so on & so on is tantamount to fraud & daylight robbery. There's a reason these companies are making huge amounts of money & it isn't because of their fantastic business practice or wonderful fraud protection schemes.

[hello people]

How do they make money?

If I pay a chap via paypal for a drum cymbal...do paypal take money from me for that?

[sworkshop]

I'm having just the opposite problem. I got stiffed by a seller on eBay (they never delivered the merchandise) and I've been dealing with Paypal for 4 months trying to get my money back. I thought they had buyer protection? I get an email every week that says 'We are working on your claim. If you have resolved it yourself let us know'. Sounds like they want to do nothing.

[antoniosolo]

If a contract contains provisions that relinquish any of our inalienable rights, a Judge can rule that it is unjust. Their contract is so vague as to not direct us to follow specific duties in competing the transaction or remedies in a timely manner that I feel I can beat them. The best way is to picket in front of there home office with huge signs suggesting corporate fraud and bring attention. Who's buying the coffee and cardboard?????? Anyone with busty sisters with free time is welcome and encouraged to support the cause! Show us your sales slips!

[Entrainer]

Originally Posted by hello people

How do they make money?

If I pay a chap via paypal for a drum cymbal...do paypal take money from me for that?

No. They take money from him. Hit him twice if they use Ebay... once for listing, once for the Paypal transaction. Same company.

That's fine, but they tend to have different policies.

And now, you can't leave a buyer negative feedback... period. (Ebay)

[Entrainer]

Originally Posted by sworkshop

I'm having just the opposite problem. I got stiffed by a seller on eBay (they never delivered the merchandise) and I've been dealing with Paypal for 4 months trying to get my money back. I thought they had buyer protection? I get an email every week that says 'We are working on your claim. If you have resolved it yourself let us know'. Sounds like they want to do nothing.

That sucks. If I ever buy anything, I request a tracking number and signature confirmation. I actually open the unit in front of the postal worker to insure it's the item and not something else, like rocks : )

Then I try it out, test it. If everything works, then I leave positive feedback allowing the funds to be released.

In your case, I'd really get into the meat of the user agreement. It's strongly, strongly, in favor of the buyer. Start hitting them with exact qoutes from it. I posted jpegs of legal documents as further evidence in any claim.

[sleepwalker]

Am I the only one who's never had a problem with paypal? I sell stuff, get the money, then transfer it to my bank account. I've never had a limit. If I sell a $2k thing, I transfer $1940 to my checking. It would be nice if it was free, but I guess $60 is fair to be able to take credit cards over the internet.

I've had several hundred successful transactions, but I'm definitely worried I'll end up as upset as some of you guys. I used to just leave a bunch in the account so I could use it for purchases later, but after hearing they can freeze the account, I stopped that practice.

Are they different if I don't use ebay? I usually try and avoid selling on ebay.

[Entrainer]

Originally Posted by sleepwalker

Are they different if I don't use ebay? I usually try and avoid selling on ebay.

Yes. There's a difference. Good to know that's going well for you. Perhaps that's the answer for now, until the policy shifts again.

[GZsound]

I had a problem with Paypal one time.

I now refuse to use them. That's the best way I know of to get the point across.

[KingDaddyO]

Originally Posted by sleepwalker

Am I the only one who's never had a problem with paypal?

Just looked it up on the internets and yup: you are the only one.

[Franco]

Originally Posted by Guitar Zero

They limit the amount I can remove from my account to $500 per month

Interesting because this month alone, I've transferred almost $2,000 from my paypal account into my bank account.

Do you guys have merchant accounts or personal accounts? Just wondering because I've got a merchant account with them and have had absolutely no problems with them in the last 5 years. I even get international clients paying with their credit cards without any issues.

[drmmrboy]

Originally Posted by Franco

Interesting because this month alone, I've transferred almost $2,000 from my paypal account into my bank account.

Do you guys have merchant accounts or personal accounts? Just wondering because I've got a merchant account with them and have had absolutely no problems with them in the last 5 years. I even get international clients paying with their credit cards without any issues.

Right..

And these freezes.. Just from ebay transactions, or private transactions using paypal..??

[Entrainer]

That's true. It's the combination of Ebay and Paypal.

The policy is Paypal's and stems from the buyer protection. The freezes occur so a buyer can return an item 21 days after purchase. Paypal wants to ensure the money is available.

That's means someone can buy something, use it for a couple of weeks, break it, and return it.

So, I'll change my statement.

DON'T SELL ON EBAY THRU PAYPAL!

[dualflip]

Always had problems with paypal, like the fact that after verifying my credit card, they told me i couldnt perform a payment, so i was like "why did i verify my card anyway?", and they just replied with something like "it may happen that to you from time to time so just deal with it".

[sniperschool]

same experiences as many on here with paypal
once had account frozen for 90 days with over $2k in it
reason given was suspicious account activity
(they said i had sold TOO many different kinds of items and it raised a red flag)
all 6 sales had been through ebay and 3 had been collected in person
so i was unable to provide tracking info to have the account suspension lifted
they present themselves as the exact opposite of how they really are
very heavy handed and no people skills whatsoever

in the UK you don't get charged a fee if you tick the box saying the money sent is a gift
doesn't work sending funds internationally
(not sure if it is the same in the US)

S/.

[Robobaby]

The problem with Paypal is that for all intents and purposes they work like a bank except they aren't bound by any regulations that determine what a bank can and cannot do with money that is in its care.

They don't pay interest. They suspend accounts without notifying account holders and without any sort of mediation or dispute resolution service. They are practically uncontactable by phone or email.

If this organisation was a bank (in a legal sense) it would be criminal in so many ways that it is should be offensive to the sensibilities of any normal person.

I try to avoid using Paypal wherever possible and you should too.

[hello people]

I want to cancel my username/ sign up

[kozsak]

I have a 100% eBay rating and have had major problems with paypal. Yes, they hold funds for up to 90 days without permission. They will side with the buyer in most cases at the sellers expense. And the fricking fees! I sold an amp and actually lost money due to paypal refunding the buyer including my shipping and handling charges. And the scam artist buyer got to keep the amp!!!!!!!!! RRRrrrrrrrrrrrr.....

They are a bank and credit card is issued by General Electric.

PAYPAL SUCKS HARD!

I got this hilarious email from them this morning:

Hello XXX,

We value your business, and we'd love to hear why you haven't used your PayPal account recently. We're committed to giving you the best products and services, and one way we do that is by hearing what our best customers have to say.

Talk to us. We're listening.

Thanks,
PayPal

[flutter thorn]

Originally Posted by Entrainer

DO NOT SELL THRU PAYPAL.

amen ! had an issue w/ guy who bought some mics from our studio. he says the units were damaged and he opens a dispute against me. We ask him if he can tell us whats wrong w/ the unit and if he can take some pitures - no response, after few weeks of course Paypal says we are wrong and they charge us with the amount this douc*ebag payed us Ok u live u learn, we ask the guy if he can at least than shipp us back the mics and we will cover the shipping, he says he got rid of them . **** him we say
BUT....i open our paypal account and what happens, we've been hit by another dispute by the same person wanting his money back AGAIN. how the fu*k is this even possible ???? They can clairly see he got his money back and hit us once again. wtf is this. now our account is limited and its useless so we all came to the same conclusion to quit the paypal system. there are better services who can do teh same and even better job than this shitty paypal...so be wise and learn from the others mistakes instead of your ones and QUIT PAYPAL ASAP !!

just my 432832908 cents

[Jim Williams]

Paypal has been a corrupt system from the get go. I have not and will never use them. If a check doesn't work, bank wire transfer is the best option as the fees are generally less and it's very secure.

Seems pay pal is like Western Union, a place for those without papers or bank accounts. It's a giant check cashing outfit for the unwashed.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[cavern]

i've had over 40 transactions with ebay/paypal so far. about half and half bought and sold. i've had no problems so far and sold items for $1500 and transfered the funds to my account emmediatly.
my only gripe is that they charge to much. between ebay and paypal fees, they charge way more than any bank.
that's why they do wathever they want..they're filthy rich and have no competition.

[matskull]

I've tried to register with paypal twice.

First time I wanted to buy a preamp from a gearslutz member, it was a 3K preamp.
I though I could just register and buy it with my credit card...paypal didn't let me do it.

They asked me to "confirm" my bank account, I didn't want to give them my bank account info, I just wanted to use my credit card!
But it was 3K so I thought maybe that was too expansive for a new member.

I think paypal had a limit under 3K but my girlfriend wa going to pay the balance, anyway it didn't work and we both lost our time in this transaction which never happened.

The other time I wanted to buy something here again, it was under 300$, I can't remember what it was but guess what, paypal asked me once again to confirm my bank account.

**** that shit, I use money order, it sucks though cause I'd like to use my credit card instead...