posted on April 13, 2002 05:35:06 AM new
I rely on online services such as Paypal and Billpoint to accept payments from Buyers on Ebay and on my website. I've never had any problems with Billpoint, but Paypal is truly a nightmare that has never ended.
I am in the hole right now, with bills to pay, and tuition payments to make, and I have nothing, no money, broke. Some customer complaints from people that received their products a few days late put my account under investigation. I have been in contact with Charles Spencer and Bryan Lopez, but they are obviously very busy people, considering all the sellers that have problems with Paypal, their phones probably ring off the hook.
I call them every day about 10 times a day, and leave a few messages asking for a call back. I've been doing this for almost one month. No Success. Does anyone know if they are on vacation or in training or something? I was told I was going to have a "Rolling Reserve" placed on my account, which is fine, I just need my money back, and my account back up so I can continue doing business normally. If anyone has any info for me, I would appreciate it. I'm really nervous that Paypal might take my money and run!
I thought that i should probably stop accepting Paypal, but I would probably lose a lot of my customer base to my competition. I need Paypal, Billpoint, etc., I just wish it could run a lot smoother. Freezing over 14,000 dollars is not a joke, especially without having any valid reason...
One IMPORTANT question I hope someone can answer. I am willing to fly to Paypal headquarters and meet with someone in person. I want to do that as soon as possible. Does anyone know how I can do this? Any info on this would be greatly appreciated!!!!! THANKS
posted on April 13, 2002 01:22:54 PM new
i am sorry to hear you have so much problem with paypal,it will be renamed PAINPAL soon,by popular demand.
i checked your ebay id and activities,for your business id,you are no longer registered with ebay.
some of the negs were complaints of goods and services,one complained you left good feedback to yourself.
very interesting.
now,that 14,000 dollars in your PAINPAL account,is that customer payments for goods delivered,soon to deliver and not able to deliver??
dont mean to be nosy,since this is an open forum,anyone can ask this question-
after paying tuition and bills and what not,is there enough to satisfy your vendors??
if not,vendors are a bunch of you know what,their heart is hard as steel and no tickee,no washee,and if they dont ship,you will get more complaints and eat more chargebacks.
that goes for your good pal-PAINPAL.COM as well.
flying out to PAINPAL headquarter would be a waste of time,they will all be on the phone or pulling their hair out or both.
good luck to you,i think your school should understand and wait for their money.
posted on April 13, 2002 03:10:52 PM new
No, the 14,000 is split up between my personal and my business accounts. It was sent to me by my cousin, (who's paypal account is active), for the purchase of a my 94 Lexus, (That I cannot afford anymore). I thought Paypal was a safe way to make this transaction, but apparently, I was wrong. They froze MY account, ruined my business, and pretty much my life.
The money is not from any pending transactions. I currently am on Ebay, and I only accept billpoint.
I can't even accept any payments right now through paypal (thank god), or else I'd really be in the hole. I am losing a lot of customer base though and it seems like Paypal is running some kind of "boiler room" where they hold your money so that they can collect the interest on it without any justification. It's a smart move, I have to admit, but the fear of them going under and running away with my money is always in my head.
I really just want to fly down there. I've been waiting too long and calling every single day for the past month. Again, if anyone has any help for a starving college student, please let me know! Thanks
posted on April 14, 2002 04:25:17 PM new
Check out:
www.paypalwarning.com
You often have to play hardball to get things resolved. Be coherent and realize that they aren't being fair to you, so don't be fair to them. Complain to every government agency that you can, including your local governement representatives.
posted on April 14, 2002 04:33:11 PM new
Thanks for the TIP, but I am kind of scared. The FRAUD representative that is handling my account threatened to close my account and hold my money for 180 days. He then said he would do me the favor and put the "rolling reserve" on my account, and give me back my money. (He needed proof that My cousin was actually purchasing a car off of me, which I would provide him) After telling me this, he told me he would get back to me later, about my whole situation, and reinstate my account. I didnt know "later" meant "never", so here I am, waiting for my 14 grand, and my paypal account to be reinstated.
I'm scared that If I complain to government agencies and maybe get a lwyer involved, I might be pissing them off even more. I still have faith that someone will answer my phone call and tell me whats going on. I just want my account back up. I've learned a lot from all of this, and I feel I can continue accepting paypal now that "I know, what I know"
Tomorrow is Monday, which means, Paypal is open, which also means, I will be calling every single number I have over and over again untill I get a response.
My rent is two weeks late, my tuition is a month late, and my credit card bills are due too! It's hard to concentrate and be happy, though it's pretty releiving when I post on this board. Thanks for Listening.
posted on April 14, 2002 05:29:34 PM new
"Thanks for the TIP, but I am kind of scared. The FRAUD representative that is handling my account threatened to close my account and hold my money for 180 days."
Its understandable that you are scared, that is what most companies that hold people's money count on. Plus with online services you have the added perceived treat of money being disappeared into the digital wasteland. Paypal won't do that though, they resolved my account problem in less than 30 days after I filed dozens of complaints and eventualy got the Securities Exchange Commission involved. I have little doubt that if I had delayed I would have been receiving calls from credit collection agencies trying to collect for Paypal. If it were me I would never wait 180 days unless they provided me legally binding detailed information about the reason they were holding MY money.
" He then said he would do me the favor and put the "rolling reserve" on my account, and give me back my money. (He needed proof that My cousin was actually purchasing a car off of me, which I would provide him) After telling me this, he told me he would get back to me later, about my whole situation, and reinstate my account. I didnt know "later" meant "never", so here I am, waiting for my 14 grand, and my paypal account to be reinstated."
Did you provide all the information requested? Is your cousin's account restricted? How is he doing you a favor by offering a solution that is largely benefical to Paypal and has little benefit and much added hassle for you? I thought Paypal was supposed to be easy to use and offer you "100% control of your money".
"I'm scared that If I complain to government agencies and maybe get a lwyer involved, I might be pissing them off even more. I still have faith that someone will answer my phone call and tell me whats going on. I just want my account back up. I've learned a lot from all of this, and I feel I can continue accepting paypal now that "I know, what I know""
Why should you be scared? What are they going to do to you? Sue you? Ruin your life? Sure would look good on TV for the #1 online payment system to be doing that? Just state the facts and offer coherent complaints and defend your interests. Don't make it personal, its about money pure and simple your money and your interests. Rent "Fight Club" it will offer some inspiration. That aside the law is on your side. They have your money, why should you deal with them on their terms? Use the government and the "lefty" press to your advantage. You are the small guy trying to pay for college and they are the corporate interest that want to screw you because they think you won't do anything about it. Don't make it personal with the service reps ,make it about getting treated like the good customer you are.
"Tomorrow is Monday, which means, Paypal is open, which also means, I will be calling every single number I have over and over again untill I get a response."
Go ahead, but you had better be prepared to get angry because they will tell you anything and can tell you anything on the phone. Until you get a third party that has the power to cost them money involved you will fail to get your problem resolved in anything like a timely matter.
"My rent is two weeks late, my tuition is a month late, and my credit card bills are due too! It's hard to concentrate and be happy, though it's pretty releiving when I post on this board. Thanks for Listening."
Sounds like your time-line is slipping. I know how you feel, I felt the same way during my month long ordeal, but I found that I became much happier the more I worked to reflect the hell I was going through back to Paypal.
posted on April 14, 2002 05:54:51 PM new
How did your cousin send you the money (what payment medium)? If it was a credit card, as a last resort, you can charge the amount back if it has been less than 60 days since you received the money. If it was a bank account, see if you can go to the bank and get it reversed with an affadavit (the original transaction from your cousin to you).
Again, only do this as a last resort. Damon will probably respond tomorrow and I would wait around a week and see if he can help you before you take further action.
posted on April 14, 2002 06:27:12 PM new
how can he reversed 7000 back to his cousin when his account has become restricted??
that money if i read it right is part of that 14,000 dollars in his paypal account.
can you call your parents and let them bail you out,thats what parents are for.
posted on April 14, 2002 06:46:14 PM new
I'm saying if the cousin used his/her credit card to send the user the money in the first place, the cousin can call his/her credit card company and charge back the transactions that added up to 14,000. Then the cousin can pay the user in a different way.
posted on April 14, 2002 08:06:33 PM new
andrew ,i see what you are saying.
if so ,then this guy will be 10 dollars poorer as chargeback fee is 10.00.may be there is just one guy ??/
posted on April 15, 2002 05:40:29 AM new
once again i really cannot understand why someone would keep so much money in an account that is not even REGULATED nor FDIC insured.
Good luck in getting this matter resolved but Paypal will stall you will take at least 60 days to get your cash back.
posted on April 15, 2002 06:59:10 AM new
No, the 14 Grand that my cousin sent me was from his paypal balance, which were from his sales, not from his credit card. The funny thing is, his account is up and running, but his 14 thousand are floating through cyberspace......somewhere.......
Paypal told me I would get the money, and my account would be up again, but with a "rolling reserve", but that never happened.
posted on April 15, 2002 07:55:05 AM new
i thought you said your cousin sent you 7000 (not 14,000) for your 94 lexus.
somewhere there is an earlier thread from someone upset that his account was restricted and he needs the money to buy a car,it was also 7000 dollars,is that your cousin??
if your cousin sells on ebay ,does he have chargeback coming??
see if his buyers file chargeback,it could be within 60 days after purchase,and if he has sent money to you,PAINPAL will be anxious to track down his money so they dont have to say-we found the seller at fault but sorry,he does not have any money in his paypal account.
a daily rolling reserve could lock up your money for months,you may as well dial 1-800-MOM -DAD for help
posted on April 15, 2002 08:03:35 AM new
yip now paypal for the cash they can do whatever they want ie put on a LARGE rolling reserve in otherwards tie up nearly all your cash for 90 days and NOT A DAMN THING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.
posted on April 15, 2002 02:53:44 PM new
OK, well my account, my business one at least, is up and running. I got half of my money back. No rolling reserve either.
I find it pretty funny, that once I posted a complaint on this board, things started to get resolved. Is that the case for all of you? Or was this just a coincidence?
As of now, I still have my personal account restricted, with another 7 grand floating somewhere through Cyberspace.............
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