Paypal: are they nuts?

[Hans Van Meenen]

I wanted to order some stuff for my 20d on ebay. I am from Belgium and I don't have a Paypal account so I opened oa Premier account. On the site is written:

I got a message:
...

PayPal has charged a $1,95 USD Expanded Use Fee to your credit card. You can obtain and enter your Expanded Use Number by following the steps below:

1. In the item description section of your next credit card statement, your 4-digit Expanded Number will be printed next to the $1,95 USD PayPal Expanded Use Fee (example, PayPal 1234*(EXPUSE)). Check your next statement to find your unique Expanded Use Number.
2. Click the link below and type in your unique Expanded Use Number:
....

I took me 5 days to get this number from VISA. I go to the site to give in my unique Expanded Use Number. I log in and get the followin message:

This account has been permanently locked with a $0,00 USD balance. All information associated with this account has been blocked from the PayPal system and cannot be registered with another account.

So I'm completely bocked. I call to Paypal from abroad, but after 40min. listening to a voice recommending all their GREAT things I still don't get an operator. So frustrated I write an email message that I did all the steps they required and now my account is blocked.

Next day I get a standard message:
....
1. Go to https://www.paypal.com/ by typing in the URL into your web
browser's address bar.
2. Click the Resolution Center subtab located on the Account
Overview page.
3. The details of the limitation will be displayed in the 'Steps to
Remove Limitations' table.
...

Now I might be blind, but how can I go to the account overview page if I my account is locked??

THis makes me really crazy. Do other people have such experience? I really don't know what I can do, I never got such a bad service.

Best Regards,
Hans

 

[DD2.1]

Isn't there a "paypal sucks" site that you can post this drivel on? What does this have to do with photography?

 

[Spectator_99]

Agreed, keep this forum for photography and associated bits and pieces. There is enough 'off-topic' stuff on it already.

This is going to be quite difficult for some, though!

Isn't there a "paypal sucks" site that you can post this drivel on?
What does this have to do with photography?

--
Two riders were approaching. The wind began to howl.....

 

[Zuman]

This is certainly a photography forum, but it's also a community of people with common interests. Many of us buy equipment on eBay, and could be faced with the same situation, so I don't think that it's unreasonable to discuss it.
Even if you disagree, would you be this rude to the original poster's face?
What a sad future we're facing!

Isn't there a "paypal sucks" site that you can post this drivel on?
What does this have to do with photography?

 

[Jim Radcliffe]

Isn't there a "paypal sucks" site that you can post this drivel on?
What does this have to do with photography?

Why refer to the guy's post as drivel? It's not. It's a common problem people who buy photo gear using PayPal run into.

He posted here because other photographers may have run into the same isse. He's looking for help from the "community" he knows and trusts.

He posted here expecting to get help rather than your forum police comments.

He posted here expecting a little courtesy. You showed none.

What does this have to do with photography? Not much, but it has everything to do with the "attitude" of this forum.

Excuse me but if you run a business and someone walks into your store and asks a question not related to your business would you treat them this way? I think not, so why hide behind a keyboard and treat people this way?

Jim Radcliffe
http://www.image36.com
http://www.oceona.com
The ability to 'see' the shot is more important than the gear.

 

[photopro]

WHy be nasty!! He's frustrated and I dont blame him. Just think if you were trying to get a piece of equipment you won a bid on and you cant pay for it due to a problem with Paypal, and it gets relisted!!! The phone call to PP might be long and costly but may be the only way of solving the problem...any help or suggestions anyone?

Isn't there a "paypal sucks" site that you can post this drivel on?
What does this have to do with photography?

Why refer to the guy's post as drivel? It's not. It's a common
problem people who buy photo gear using PayPal run into.

He posted here because other photographers may have run into the
same isse. He's looking for help from the "community" he knows and
trusts.

He posted here expecting to get help rather than your forum police
comments.

He posted here expecting a little courtesy. You showed none.

What does this have to do with photography? Not much, but it has
everything to do with the "attitude" of this forum.

Excuse me but if you run a business and someone walks into your
store and asks a question not related to your business would you
treat them this way? I think not, so why hide behind a keyboard
and treat people this way?

Jim Radcliffe
http://www.image36.com
http://www.oceona.com
The ability to 'see' the shot is more important than the gear.

--
Ron W.

 

[Jim Rickards]

I wanted to order some stuff for my 20d on ebay. I am from Belgium
and I don't have a Paypal account so I opened oa Premier account.
On the site is written:

I got a message:
...
PayPal has charged a $1,95 USD Expanded Use Fee to your credit
card. You can obtain and enter your Expanded Use Number by
following the steps below:

1. In the item description section of your next credit card
statement, your 4-digit Expanded Number will be printed next to the
$1,95 USD PayPal Expanded Use Fee (example, PayPal 1234*(EXPUSE)).
Check your next statement to find your unique Expanded Use Number.
2. Click the link below and type in your unique Expanded Use Number:
....

I took me 5 days to get this number from VISA. I go to the site to
give in my unique Expanded Use Number. I log in and get the
followin message:

This account has been permanently locked with a $0,00 USD balance.
All information associated with this account has been blocked from
the PayPal system and cannot be registered with another account.

So I'm completely bocked. I call to Paypal from abroad, but after
40min. listening to a voice recommending all their GREAT things I
still don't get an operator. So frustrated I write an email message
that I did all the steps they required and now my account is
blocked.

Next day I get a standard message:
....
1. Go to https://www.paypal.com/ by typing in the URL into your web
browser's address bar.
2. Click the Resolution Center subtab located on the Account
Overview page.
3. The details of the limitation will be displayed in the 'Steps to
Remove Limitations' table.
...
Now I might be blind, but how can I go to the account overview page
if I my account is locked??

THis makes me really crazy. Do other people have such experience? I
really don't know what I can do, I never got such a bad service.

Best Regards,
Hans

--This sort of warning to other photographers is indeed useful.

Only yesterday, I shopped and bought a few photography related products.

I DECLINED to buy at two sites that use Paypal. From the little I knew of Paypal, I didn't want to be involved. Your post confirmed my suspicions.

Thanks again.
Jim Rickards



Photo critiques are always welcome.

 

[Don Schultz43010]

I wanted to order some stuff for my 20d on ebay. I am from Belgium
and I don't have a Paypal account so I opened oa Premier account.
On the site is written:

I got a message:
...
PayPal has charged a $1,95 USD Expanded Use Fee to your credit
card. You can obtain and enter your Expanded Use Number by
following the steps below:

1. In the item description section of your next credit card
statement, your 4-digit Expanded Number will be printed next to the
$1,95 USD PayPal Expanded Use Fee (example, PayPal 1234*(EXPUSE)).
Check your next statement to find your unique Expanded Use Number.
2. Click the link below and type in your unique Expanded Use Number:
....

I took me 5 days to get this number from VISA. I go to the site to
give in my unique Expanded Use Number. I log in and get the
followin message:

This account has been permanently locked with a $0,00 USD balance.
All information associated with this account has been blocked from
the PayPal system and cannot be registered with another account.

So I'm completely bocked. I call to Paypal from abroad, but after
40min. listening to a voice recommending all their GREAT things I
still don't get an operator. So frustrated I write an email message
that I did all the steps they required and now my account is
blocked.

Next day I get a standard message:
....
1. Go to https://www.paypal.com/ by typing in the URL into your web
browser's address bar.
2. Click the Resolution Center subtab located on the Account
Overview page.
3. The details of the limitation will be displayed in the 'Steps to
Remove Limitations' table.
...
Now I might be blind, but how can I go to the account overview page
if I my account is locked??

THis makes me really crazy. Do other people have such experience? I
really don't know what I can do, I never got such a bad service.

Best Regards,
Hans

--This sort of warning to other photographers is indeed useful.

Only yesterday, I shopped and bought a few photography related
products.

I DECLINED to buy at two sites that use Paypal. From the little I
knew of Paypal, I didn't want to be involved. Your post confirmed
my suspicions.

Thanks again.
Jim Rickards



Photo critiques are always welcome.

 

[Loren Minnick]

This guy clearly labelled his post, so it's pretty easy not to open it if you've no interest in Paypal. Since I've sold equipment (Canon) on ebay to people using Paypal, I was interested. It's just bits and bytes.

 

[EOSPhotoGuy]

It's insane that people actually believe they are the forum police.

some people are just way too anal these days.

Sad future indeed.

Relax people. Positive, not negative! :/

Isn't there a "paypal sucks" site that you can post this drivel on?
What does this have to do with photography?

Why refer to the guy's post as drivel? It's not. It's a common
problem people who buy photo gear using PayPal run into.

He posted here because other photographers may have run into the
same isse. He's looking for help from the "community" he knows and
trusts.

He posted here expecting to get help rather than your forum police
comments.

He posted here expecting a little courtesy. You showed none.

What does this have to do with photography? Not much, but it has
everything to do with the "attitude" of this forum.

Excuse me but if you run a business and someone walks into your
store and asks a question not related to your business would you
treat them this way? I think not, so why hide behind a keyboard
and treat people this way?

Jim Radcliffe
http://www.image36.com
http://www.oceona.com
The ability to 'see' the shot is more important than the gear.

 

[dboreham]

Visa gave you the wrong number, you typed it in, and
Paypal's software locked your account (which makes sense, no ?).

They should respond to an e-mail request though.

I don't think Paypal is expecting that the account security
(extended use) enabling process will be quick (hence the
request to read the number off your next visa statement).

The US$ bank security process takes a while too.

 

[Socrates_]

Yes, they ARE nuts. Remember, PayPal is NOT a bank, therefore they are not subject to the same regulations. What this means is, basically, they can do whatever they want.

If one has a PayPal account that is connected with a checking account/debit card, you have to give them complete access to ANY other account connected to it. If you have overdraft protection for your checking account through your (real) credit card, and PayPal considers something fradulent regarding your account with them, they can withdraw ANY amount of money - up to the available limits of your checking,savings and credit card combined. They don't need to give you a reason, and they don't need to give you a resolution deadline.

Please visit http://www.paypalsucks.com for more information.

I NEVER use PayPal, by the way. Never.

I wanted to order some stuff for my 20d on ebay. I am from Belgium
and I don't have a Paypal account so I opened oa Premier account.
On the site is written:

I got a message:
...
PayPal has charged a $1,95 USD Expanded Use Fee to your credit
card. You can obtain and enter your Expanded Use Number by
following the steps below:

1. In the item description section of your next credit card
statement, your 4-digit Expanded Number will be printed next to the
$1,95 USD PayPal Expanded Use Fee (example, PayPal 1234*(EXPUSE)).
Check your next statement to find your unique Expanded Use Number.
2. Click the link below and type in your unique Expanded Use Number:
....

I took me 5 days to get this number from VISA. I go to the site to
give in my unique Expanded Use Number. I log in and get the
followin message:

This account has been permanently locked with a $0,00 USD balance.
All information associated with this account has been blocked from
the PayPal system and cannot be registered with another account.

So I'm completely bocked. I call to Paypal from abroad, but after
40min. listening to a voice recommending all their GREAT things I
still don't get an operator. So frustrated I write an email message
that I did all the steps they required and now my account is
blocked.

Next day I get a standard message:
....
1. Go to https://www.paypal.com/ by typing in the URL into your web
browser's address bar.
2. Click the Resolution Center subtab located on the Account
Overview page.
3. The details of the limitation will be displayed in the 'Steps to
Remove Limitations' table.
...
Now I might be blind, but how can I go to the account overview page
if I my account is locked??

THis makes me really crazy. Do other people have such experience? I
really don't know what I can do, I never got such a bad service.

Best Regards,
Hans

 

[20Dbuyer]

It's illegal for them to give you the number you requested over the phone. You must wait for the hard copy.

 

[Hans Van Meenen]

Well it seems some people are easily "hurt" by my thread. I just thought this site is about buying/using equipment, and I have a problem buying equipment on eBay. Clear?
Thanks for those who understand my problem and those who can learn from it

Now 2 days further:

about 6 times mailed with PayPal customer service. They finally noticed that I cannot see details on my account because they had blocked my login, so now I can login. I gave in the requested number and they wrote me that they need more information faxed to them
I faxed this, including a copy of my passport.

Now they say they want more documents: utility bills with my name and adress etc. I cannot just fax it, I must use the template on their site. OK, but after sending the first fax, the template is not available anymore online. So I mailed them again yesterday what to do now. Until now no answer.

This is going on now for 9-10 days, I want to give them anything they want, but no success until now.

BTW: yesterday evening called B&H to order some stuff to Belgium. Less than 15min. on the phone to order 11 items and pass the verification department. I expect everything tomorrow at my home. What a world of difference!

Hans

 

[Karl Gnter Wnsch]

Some time back I wanted to do the same as you did, simply register a credit card for use with paypal. They deducted the $1.95 from my credit card accompanied by their verification number, just it was too long (6 digits instead of the required 4). I tried to contact them to no avail (having no records of contact requests because they only accept web forms is really awful). To cut a long and aggravating story short: I called my credit card issuer and filed a fraud complaint against them because they never delivered the services they deducted the $1.95 for. Since then I have not and will no use paypal.

Either the dealer accepts credit card directly or they have to live without my trade, esp. since paypal is transferring and holding more money in it's account than many small banks do but they aren't supervised or controlled as even the smallest bank now is.

If they unilaterally decide that your money is theirs you haven't got a chance in hell to get it back unless you file a fraud complaint with your card issuer or if you are a dealer then there is no way to unfreeze your account if they locked it for reasons they don't even have to tell you.

--
regards
Karl Günter Wünsch

 

[rlindabury]

--This sort of warning to other photographers is indeed useful.

Only yesterday, I shopped and bought a few photography related
products.

I DECLINED to buy at two sites that use Paypal. From the little I
knew of Paypal, I didn't want to be involved. Your post confirmed
my suspicions.

Thanks again.
Jim Rickards



Photo critiques are always welcome.

Paypal has its positives and negatives just like anything else. Avoiding sites that accept Paypal payments as a form or payment may not be the best policy to have but hey, it's your choice.

I run an e-commerce site and I accept all major credit cards AND Paypal to make it easier for my customers to purchase items and pay the way they want to pay. It makes sense to make it as easy as possible for customers to complete orders.

For those who don't wish to use Paypal for eBay, you do know that Paypal is owned by eBay, right? So, if you avoid Paypal on business principles, wouldn't you avoid eBay also?
--
Bob Lindabury

 

[rlindabury]

I NEVER use PayPal, by the way. Never.

Are we supposed to be impressed or feel sad for you?
--
Bob Lindabury