PayPal Problems

Planet Walley ^ | 11/28/00 | Wally Glen

[Fred Hayek]

There have been a number of complaints about Pay-Pal, and the complaints appear to be accelerating.

If the author is not telling the whole story to shorten things, it may have been a continuing non-resolution that caused things to escalate. I have run into similar situations with businesses (not Pay Pal) where I keep running into a brain dead mentality, but the "business termination notice" that I send does not use such language. It's best to just keep hammering fact, fact, fact (along with document, document, document), each time pointing out failure to resolve the issue. After that point I state strong dissatifaction (without the strong language, but "congratualating" them with "making their workplace a work ethic free zone", maybe some Randian references thrown in - I get real sarcastic at times). In a few cases I find out that some people wound up getting fired.

[lawdude]

Lessee, let me get this straight...sounds like YOU screwed up and got pissy when they didn't fix YOUR mess immediately.

From the language you used, I do see why your particular incident would, somehow, fall to the bottom of the pile.

IMHO, I have dealt with them a few times and have never found them to perform below expectations or needs.

YMMV.

[tubebender]

I am pretty sure that eBay purchased PayPal about a year ago. I know there was a lot of talk on the finincial pages. I tryed to signup one time and couldn't even accomplish that.

Just today I was bidding on Vol 1 #1 HOT ROD Magizine and if I won I was going to try again. My $1,555.55 missed a mile as it went for $2,600.00. The aggregate bids for the 12 issues of 1948 sold for about $15,000.00.

[Brian Allen]

<< I used it once but got the double payment thing as well. It was cleared up, but it was such a hassle, I'll never use it again.

Try emailing this thread to every addy in their system, maybe they'll enjoy it. >>

I did one better than that. In addition to emailing this thread and ten or a dozen like it I just dug up to PayPal, I also included its URL and the others in a complaint I just lodged with the IFCCFBI. And I intend to spend my evey spare hour for the next few days eMailing all of America's Clarke Howard type sites with our complaints.

These are a bunch of thieves running what patently is a systemically-corrupt organization and they and it need to be stopped dead in their tracks!

[struwwelpeter]

I only POSTED this. I am not Wally Green, and I don't write insulting letters or emails.

I handled my problems with them through the MN and CA attorney generals, and the FBI internet fraud unit.

PayPal users fall into two categories: burned and not-yet burned. Good luck on staying not-yet burned as long as possible.

[Bonaparte]

"They advertise that there is no risk to the consumer, but that only applies to small purchases."

They are lying.

[Bonaparte]

"I am pretty sure that eBay purchased PayPal about a year ago."

You're right. The deal closed a month or two ago. New crooks are now in charge of it. I used to attend Butterfield auctions in SF. Then EBay bought it. I stopped going.

[Bonaparte]

"Good luck on staying not-yet burned as long as possible."

For some, a "word to the wise" is insufficient -- no matter how many people tell him.

[A CA Guy]

I don't trust it and never have. I have one credit card with a lower line of credit that I use on the Net.
It's just too easy to steal numbers and information when it is floating all over the net.

[lawdude]

"I only POSTED this. I am not Wally Green, and I don't write insulting letters or emails."

Yes, I knew that and posted to the wrong credit. I do apologise. My bad, d'oh...etc.

[Adder]

"Regarding the specifics of Wally Glen's problem, I think his admittedly-vile attack on PayPal was what precipitated the closing of his account. So I have only limited sympathy for him even if his description of events is entirely accurate."
____________________________________________________________
Apparently they simply took HIS money. However vile, his language might have been, it only occurred after repeated attempts to resolve the problems on their terms.
Looks a fine way to make money they did not earn.

[Revelation 911]

The service reps would not necessarily know whether my email had gotten through to some or all of the execs, by they knew that it had been sent to all those execs. And they preferred to fix the problem fast themselves, rather than to take the risk of heat coming down from on high.

I'd also suggest when complaints are filed, your attorney is cc'd as well. I do this occasionally when dealing with Town govt or disagreeable vendors and it really gets thier attention - Our Town was overdue for an assessment and they were dragging thier heels until I turned on the heat and copied him on all correspondence.

[Bonaparte]

"...I am giving this as much energy as is required to succeed."

Good for you, BA! In that case I suggest you leave no stone unturned. The squeakiest wheel and all that. I've already given the link to IFCC (FBI). Here are some more links, which include the FTC link for internet fraud and, surprisingly, the US Secret Service -- they also investigate internet fraud. In addition to these, don't neglect your state AG's office (eg. in California, the Department of Consumer Affairs) and your local FBI office.

Submit your complaint to the offending business's state and local business license/permit agencies also, and consider filing a small claims court action if the jurisdiction is not too inconvenient. Keep a log of all communications and fees/expenses incidental to your pursuit of this matter (time, date, name, agency, what said, etc.). Send critical letters by registered or certified mail, cc-ing your attorney and noting that at the foot of each letter. Wherever practical, submit a written request for a formal hearing,

Find all the consumer-related fraud forums on the net and on usenet and flood them with posts about this. The idea is to put maximum heat on these grifters, while costing them lost business. If you come across any others who have been defrauded by PayPal, provide them with the links to all these investigative/regulatory agencies and encourage them to do what you're doing.

Fear = Respect

[Oberon]

Paypal is an interesting concept/business, but it REALLY wierds me out that they want access to my BANKING accounts in order to complete CREDIT CARD transactions that add up over time to $1,000 or more.

I have resisted what PayPal calls "Verification" of my PayPal account at every possible turn. They have a business model predicated on getting their hands on my bank account. That's simply not going to happen.

I am currently involved in a dispute with PayPal over a $25 account transaction that PayPal claims was conducted through my account, and which I know neither I nor anyone in my household conducted... so either my account was hacked, or PayPal is scamming me. Either way, I'll get the $25 back. Fortunately I don't keep a balance in the account, nor have I verified my account, which circumstances forced the purchase to go on my VISA card... and my VISA legal protections and customer service are quite good.

[Bonaparte]

"...one credit card with a lower line of credit that I use on the Net."

You're a smart man, ACG. I also use a "dedicated" card for net transactions, with a fixed limit of $300. And every few days, I check transactions on all 3 of my cards. The following motto is posted at the top of my monitor where I can see it all the time --

Expect Treachery.

[paltz]

paypal is awful. I never use websites that have it.

[Just another Joe]

I have resisted what PayPal calls "Verification" of my PayPal account at every possible turn.

Same here.
I have, and will, use them for small insignificant (under $100) transactions but they WILL NOT get their mits on my bank account legally.

[paltz]

you just reminded me...I wanted to close my account with them for awhile...done.

[agrace]

I have an open personal account used twice to make small pmts - how do I close it? I don't see an option to do so after log in.

[paltz]

After logging in go to the oage where you add and delete all of your checking/credit card accts. Delete all your information numbers first. After that, on the blue tabs navigation on the top of that page there should be an option to Close account. Click on that and you'll get to the close account page.