Complaint Review: PayPal - Nationwide

Where to start?

First, Im a small seller on ebay, and also buyer since Oct 2005.

I recently sold a ps3 on my account and was in the process of transfering the money. Checked a day later and it had been reversed, and my account limited.

With auctions still up I had buyers asking "why cant I pay for the item" Clue less to the fact my account had been frozen. I replied just hit the commit to buy button.

I check my email, and a message from paypal says my account has been limited due to a link to another account. I keep thinking and have no Idea who's account.

So I p.roceed to call paypal and fix the problem over the phone. The first person I talk to starts telling me, they've been puting holds accounts due to PS3's selling on ebay. They told me we just want to verify who you are for security reasons, making sure this wasnt a fraudulent sale. Which I totally understand, becuase I think ebay needs to be a safe buying/selling enviroment not only as a seller but as a buyer also. At this point nothing was mentioned about the email I recieved. Honestly I may have checked it after this call, but Im not sure.

So, we proceed into what information they need faxed into them, run through it all and made a list for myself. I rumage through old bills and bankstatments and faxed everything in.

I call again and speak with another customer service agent. He tells me, they've received the information and everything seems to be cleared up expect this person linked to my account. Untill this point I thought it was a fake email or scam to get my information. So at this point I find out its my step brothers account who lives in the next apartment in the duplex we live in. So he tells me, the account needs to be clear before they release my funds.

His bills are not my problem! I tell the guy that and he agrees, but thats there policy or some crap. Im told if I have him hand write a document saying in no way his account is linked to me, and its my account and my account only. So we hang up and I agree to do more inconveinent tasks of sending more information in to them. He told me just to scan it and send it in a email. Which I did no problem.

Now up to call number 3 or 4 so many I lost count!

I call asuming to get the funds cleared and finally pay my bills that late charges are being added to. First I speak with the agent and she tells me they cant receive attachments on emails, and that the guy I spoke to was wrong. Im PISSED by now! She starts telling me that my step brothers account needs to be cleared up first. Im very PISSED now! They tell me its the same address , which it is just not noted as aparment A or B because it doesnt matter who the packages come to because we always sign for each other on packages or mail. We see each other all the time and always get it from one another.

Well she tells me basicly he has to pay the bill between them and they'll un-hold my funds.

I asked how do they account me for a bill he has? Once again it goes back to, "well you have the same address" I explain how we live in a duplex and its either apt A or B. But it doesnt matter. Im pretty heated by now, sitting on hold for about 20 mins, and not getting any help from this lady. I ask to speak to her supervisor and she says "they will tell you the same thing"

So Back on hold for another 10 mins till her supervisor comes on the line. I once again explain the situation and I get basicly the same answer. I told them I'd send a picture of our building to prove its 2 differnt residents, but OH YEAH CANT GET ATTACHMENTS!

So I told him, If i have to I will go to small claims court to get the money if I have too. I shouldnt have to, paypal is a service for me, therefore Im there customer! I feel that there breaking some extent of the law by holding my money with no legit reason. I asked if my stepbrother owed money to a credit card they would put a hold on my card or account. Still he tells me he cant help me and I insist on talking to his supervisor.

BACK ON HOLD who would of guessed?

So I speak to a guy named Adam at paypal which he implies that he's at the top of the deparment which handles these cases or has the power to change the account status. Tells me the whole same thing about my stepbrothers account. He tells me, since were a internet business and not a face to face business we cant verify you live separetly and this and that. I refer to credit cards once again, and how they wouldnt hold my account for my step brothers negitive balance. When I think of it, CREDIT CARD COMPAINES ARENT EITHER!

I keep insisting on seeking legal advise or a class action lawsuit but he thinks nothing of it. He looks at my account and tells me he'll release the ps3 payment on proof of the item being received, which still hasnt shipped yet cause I didnt know why the money was held. He also informs me that since it was more then 7 days after payment, that it wont be covered by their protection policy. GREAT!

I agree to ship it that day with overnight shipping, and provide the tracking # later that day so they can verify it when it gets there. But still only the money for the ps3 which i dont even know if its true, whether I will get my money or not. Who knows at this point I've been told a few differnt stories and lies by now from people at paypal I dont know what to believe! Not to mention the other money in the account from differnt items that were sold. He Never mentioned anything about this now that I think about it. So I guess I have to keep hounding my step brother to pay his account, but I cant force him. What if he never pays it?

I never get my money?

Or six months later?

After this whole ordeal, my bills are still racking up, and paypal still refuses to unlimit my account.

Theres so much to this story and it hasnt even been resolved yet, so I hope I included everything, in this long story. And sorry for any typo's or error.

If any class action lawsuit is started I'll be sure to put my name at the top of the list. This So called "service" from paypal has got me behind on bills and I cant thank them enough, so as the main sorce of payments through ebay, I will continue to let them rape me with high fees (42cents on 3.99 crazy huh?) because if you dont accept paypal you might as well not list your item.

We need to do something about this monopoly over paypal buyers and sellers. After the fees went up again, Im sure the president of ebay is enjoying a drink on me!

I cant even go on about this company.

Hope this info helps you in some way.

Robert

Michigan city, Indiana
U.S.A.

Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on PayPal