posted on April 15, 2002 11:43:14 AM new
On April 5th PayPal restricted my account to receiving payments only. I found out today its because they said someone tried to access my account from Antigua. Who gives a #*!@? freze the account, payme out via my checking account and open me another account. But no they give me the run around for two weeks then say they need a utility bill. This after I faxed them a credit card statement, bank statement, drivers license, and cell phone bill. How dare they keep 2000 US dollars of mine. Damon, will you look into this asap before I get a lawyer on this. I will do everything I can to expose this rip off unless my account is freed up asap. I am going to the newspaper next.
posted on April 16, 2002 09:51:13 AM new
Stupid is as stupid does. It really sounds like the CSRs are either really stupid or have been instructed to be REALLY stupid. Its exactly the run around that you describe that is hurting Paypal more than ever. Even after any reasonable BANK or Credit card would've taken half of what Paypal requests as verification Paypal still finds reasons to stonewall and ask for even more information. I'm surprised they have started demanding birth certificates and a copy of last years filed tax return! I fully understand the need for them to confirm an identity but I also think that somewhere one has to start being reasonable. What it ends up looking like Paypal is purposely trying to delay dealing with account problems whether or not they really are or not. They could save themselves a lot of trouble if they would invest in an automated phone verification system where people would have to call in and enter a PIN number that could not be changed online in order to clear transactions. This way that even if someone were to get someone's password they would not be able to send money, add bank accounts or credit cards without the PIN. It might cost some money upfront but it would probably cut their incidence of fraud in half. Just an idea. Don't like to offer criticism without offering a potential solution.
posted on April 17, 2002 12:46:46 PM new
Yeah, maybe there could also be a PIN for every transaction via the web. That way, if there was a scam site that looked like PayPal to get your password, it would be next to impossible to use it because not only would they have to copy PayPal's site for asking for the username and password, they would have to copy their entire site so thier scammer website could ask for the PIN.
