(VANITY) To close your PAYPAL ACCOUNT

Paypal people ^ | August 11,2005 | ME

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

I think you've been phished. Bet you a dollar that letter was never from Paypal at all.

[MarkL]

This is very important...

First off, DO NOT GIVE ANYONE THE INFORMATION THEY'RE ASKING FOR!!!!!

Next, be sure that you're using the correct telephone number to call Paypal. It's possible that your computer and browser have been hijacked, and it's possible (though unlikely) that you're actually being redirected to a "spoofed" (i.e. counterfeit) web site. When I go to the Pay Pal site, the telephone number that I get for customer service is 402-935-2050. On their web site, they have the following information:

We may only discuss an account with the account-holder. Please have the following information available when you call:

* Your telephone number
* Your email address
* The last 4 digits of your credit card or bank account registered with PayPal

For security reasons, we must verify the above details before discussing any account-specific information.

The information that you say they're asking for is raising a huge red flag to me.

On the other hand, two things that I learned a long time ago are:

1) Never use a debit card or give out a checking account number for any automated deduction service. Once they have the authorization, they do NOT have to honor any requests to cancel!

2) Be prepared to close credit card accounts, or have the account number changed, in order to stop paying for services. For some reason, on-line services have one of the worst reputations for this.

I had to have AMEX change my account number on more than one occasion, and a friend who gave her debit card number to MSN is having to close her account and reopen it with a new account number. A major pain in the ass, since she's got a few loans with the credit union, and we're not sure if they can just transfer the loans to the new account, or if she's going to have to "refinance" the loans!

Mark

[Hardastarboard]

my mother had funds in her her bank account frozen by PayPal and it took her 3 months to get it cleared. The catch here is that she had never used PayPal and didn't even know what they were.

I have heard stories like this on paypalsucks.com. They have an arrangement where you can get some kind of super account or account verification or somesuch nonsense by giving them your bank account number. I didn't sign up for it specifically because of these kinds of stories.

This kind of stuff is absolutely unacceptable. It's bad enough that the IRS can do this, but it should be a felony for a private company to be able to freeze a bank account.

[kalee]

I'd cancel the credit card,
but I did a quick search at Paypal for how to close an account and this is what I found.

Search: Have a question? Find your answer fast.
How do I close my PayPal account?

You can close your PayPal account from your Profile. If you close your account, all of your outstanding transactions will be cancelled immediately, and your remaining account balance, if any, will be mailed to you.

Here's How:

1. Click the My Account tab.
2. Click the Profile subtab.
3. Click the Close Account link in the Account Information column.
4. Click Continue.
5. If you wish to continue, click Close Account.

[upchuck]

This sounds exactly like a phishing scheme. Do NOT send them anything!

Do you have a link for this?

Can you post the email address here?

[LibWhacker]

Hmmm... Closed my account with them about a year ago when they first got hacked. Found a link on their site that took me to a webpage for those wanting to close their account. It was very easy to do. No problems whatsoever.

[Fawn]

Thank you...but I can't sign onto my account because it's been locked. I can't see a thing in there....they told me it was hacked so it was temporarily locked. Since I didn't use it or send them my DNA within 90 days...it's 'permanently locked' with my private information that I can't even access! I canceled the credit card over a year ago. I just don't like the fact that they are keeping a bogus account open with my name on it...and unless I submit blood and a skin graft, I can't do a thing about it. Just warning everyone....

[Fawn]

I wish I would of done that Immediately. But they put my account on a temporary hold when they told me it was hacked.....and since I didn't do anything with it for over 90 days..it's permanently locked and I can't get it to cancel it anymore until I send them my DNA.

[Southack]

"but I did a quick search at Paypal for how to close an account and this is what I found."

That only works for accounts that have been verified by Paypal (address, credit card, and bank account number).

If you sign up for PayPal but don't give them your bank account number, then you can't cancel your own PayPal account.

If you *do* give them your bank account number and anyone files a dispute, PayPal will attempt to pull funds, without your authorization, from your bank account. PayPal will also request that your bank freeze your bank account.

Just some of the countless reasons why PayPal sucks and Google's new epay service is going to b!tchslap them.

[Fawn]

Thanks...I will 'again' call the non-toll free number to try to close my account with the information you wrote. But the last time I called them....they told me 'NO--they can't close it until I send them copies of my bills, license, etc'....because my account has been hacked and locked and not used by me within 90 days of the locking.

[Sloth]

I don't know why everyone keeps insisting that you're dealing with a phishing scam when that's obviously not the case. *shrug*

[coldoc]

I think this is entirely too much. As others have mentioned, you might be a victim of a scam. Alternatively, PayPay just could be making it hard on you in the hope you will give it up. When I have come up against similar obstructionist attitudes in the past, I have used a simple answer... YOU take charge of the process and TELL THEM how things will be! Closing an account should be a simple process, and what was asked from you is nonsense.

I write a letter to the company (PayPal) giving sufficient info to identify me, state my request and my expectations. I also set a time limit for action, and point out that my next step in case of in-action will be a formal complaint to the State Attorney General in both my state and the state where their business office is located. You should be prepared to follow up on the threat. I have found that many states have AG web-sites that give instructions on how to file a complaint including samples of forms to be filed! Most legit companies or even scammers just HATE to have an AG investigating them! Think Eliot Spitzer of New York...

Good Luck!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I waited on hold for about 20 minutes and then when they answered they asked how I got their number.

Kind of an odd response from someone at Paypal. Especially considering that I found the following information on their website after searching for about 15 seconds.

Customer Service Center

PayPal Customer Service Agents are available to help you during the following times:

4:00 AM PDT to 10:00 PM PDT Monday through Friday
6:00 AM PDT to 8:00 PM PDT on Saturday and Sunday

Call us at: 402-935-2050 (a U.S. telephone number)

[LibWhacker]

I know what you mean. My checking account, to which my PayPal account was tied, is still open. So that makes me slightly nervous. But since there are only ten bucks in that account, I'm not too worried about it. I suppose I should close it down completely, though.

I think since you've closed that credit credit card account, and since the PayPal account is "locked," I think you're pretty safe. Just keep all the written and email correspondence you had with them -- just in case.

There's no money in the account is there?... Money PayPal will not let you withdraw? If not, you should feel real lucky; I've heard of that happening. Cheers!

[steve86]

Bet you a dollar that letter was never from Paypal at all.

Send the dollar to my Paypal account (bearwash@paypal.com).

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I haven't logged into my Paypal account in ages.

A good way to keep it current is to use your PayPal account once every quarter to donate to FreeRepublic during the Freepathons!

[Owl558]

"Just like AOL..."

You are so right. AOL is the worst. I ended up screaming at some manager and cancelling my credit card. How such businesses think hard-ball behavior will inspire customer loyalty is beyond me.

[WillMalven]

I have been using PayPal for years with no problems whatsoever.

A couple of rules, NEVER respond to an e-mail directly. Always use your own link to PayPal (like from your "favorites" list).

It is apparent that "spoofers" have some way to monitor your transactions because within a day of recent transactions, I have received multiple emails warning me that my account was in jeopardy and that I needed to follow "this link" and confirm my information. Always be hesitant to believe these e-mails.

I'm sure that some have had problems with PayPal, as a large company it is inevitable. But for me it has been very useful and satisfactory.

Just my $.02

[Free2BeMe]

Here's a toll free number found on Paypal...

Customer Service Center



PayPal Customer Service Agents are available to help you during the following times:

4:00 AM PDT to 10:00 PM PDT Monday through Friday
6:00 AM PDT to 8:00 PM PDT on Saturday and Sunday

Call us toll-free at: 1-888-221-1161

We may only discuss an account with the account-holder. Please have the following information available when you call:
Your telephone number
Your email address
The last 4 digits of your credit card or bank account registered with PayPal

[wtc911]

Does sound phishy, doesn't it.