Paypal locked my account with $$ in it and asking for more info

[kin0kin]

here's 3 different transactions, I can't refund either of them.

 

[kin0kin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spraggih /img/forum/go_quote.gif I know your privacy is really key to you (as it is your private information) and this is about principle... but (again I am in problem solving mode with consideration for your interests)... You could add a credit card account Get your money Then remove the credit card account You could rationalize within yourself that paypal no longer has your information (you removed it) and that credit card information really is not your / my information, i.e., private - it is the bank's information who is loaning us the money. Probably won't help but I am trying to help.

If adding the credit card would release the funds, I'd be more than happy to add it.

Here's one more thing I should say, it is similar to uzziah's case

I sold a camera to a guy in italy
I shipped it out by airmail and the buyer opened a dispute 10 days later saying that he hasnt received it. To cut it short, paypal refunded him the $$. That was my main premium account, with my credit card and bank information in it. The only difference between that situation and this situation is that I had the money removed from that account before paypal could take my money away. I called the bank and cancelled my account, I also called my CC company and talked to the security department, the rep I was talking to also encountered this before. I was then given a new card number...and this is also one of the reasons why I'm not giving them my new number.

Now, I made a sale 2 days ago for my K701, and I was going to send the funds away but I didnt want to transfer to my bank account because it takes a few days to clear. I wanted to transfer to my friend's paypal but he was busy and didnt come online. And then, this hits me....my 250USD is locked in my paypal..gone...my K701...gone...my camera....gone...my credit rating..gone down as well...

Now the 250usd was paypal funds, I can't get the buyer to do a charge back even if I want to. There was absolutely no option for me to refund otherwise I would have definitely done so. I'm so screwed, and I'm honestly very depressed now. About paypal privacy information, they keep it for 5-10 years AFAIK.

 

[braillediver]

Plus if the other party has filed a dispute then the funds will be locked until this is resolved.

Why did you have them file a dispute on top of the issue with PayPal? Seems counter productive?


Mitch

 

[kin0kin]

First of all, with the funds locked, I cannot remove the funds.

I was under the impression that even if they locked your funds, and if someone file a dispute, you can choose to do the refund. This is what I was trying to do...use the dispute resolution "refund" option to get the funds out of my account and have the buyer pay me by other means. This is also one of the recommendations for people in my case, but i think paypal may have gotten smart.

What heppened with that dispute was....paypal: "oh...we only deal with transit issue...quality is not our concern"...so they deferred and closed the dispute...now there are no otehr means I can get the $$ out. I'm hoping BBB will get something done, I'm not sure who to contact next...

 

[spraggih]

Wow. You seem like a resourceful guy and you seemed to try all you know. I did a couple of inet searches on the subject but the anti-phishing links took precedent.

Again - wish you the very best.

 

[Mr_Penut]

when I provided the wrong phone number when verifying the account, paypal snail mailed me something, and I followed the instructions inside. See if you can do something similar.

 

[plainsong]

Hmm, I think Paypal probably had your name in a big huge db and it was flagged because of the other dispute which, as far as they're concerned, is where you cut and run. So yes, now they have you pegged as a scammer so of course they want to investigate. Now I'm not calling you any of those things of course, you did what you had to do, I'm just explaining why Paypal is now doing what it has to do. They don't care or see (because their complaint system is soo bad) that you were innocent the first time, they just see a scammer who came back.

If their complaint system was better, your side of the original dispute would be in the db as well, but it's probably not. And if they had heard out both sides, you most likely would not have had to cancel your account the first time.

I don't think email is going to do here, but instead you're going to have to call. Having the other buyer start a dispute did kinda shoot your case in the foot though. I understand that everyone's innocent, but they'll see it as proof that you are what they think you are.

 

[kin0kin]

You are right. In fact, paypal do view every single person as a potential criminal, and any "funny" actions would cause them to lock your account, and they like to do that because it gives them discretion to lock a number of accounts at any point in time and give you any sort of reasons to meet their income target (they get interests for $$ sitting in the account). As part of the "investigation", they will ask for all sorts of info, as much as they could get, sometimes more than what the government would seach up on a fugutive. It helps them to stall time.

What I have done so far is explained the situation honestly to BBB and IC3 (internet crime c.. c... *the 3 Cs*) And I did say that me and the buyer had negotiated to a refund using the dispute resolution center, and that they removed the refund option in their system. BBB has forwarded the issue to paypal and demanded them to make a sensible reply (not automated email) within 20 business days, IC3 is still working on it.

Giving them more info and calling them is not going to be a viable options...here's what I'd imagine they'd do given my experience with front-line workers:

me: (explains the whole situation)
rep: sorry sir, you need to provide the credit card info or we can't do anything (because that's the autonomous procedure)
me: I don't have a card
rep: well, I'd see what I can do....sir...you need to fax in a copy of your license, passport..........
me: ok

next,

email: sorry but your account is still under review and we require you to send in more information.

Complying with paypal is not going to bring me anywhere, which is why I've contacted BBB and IC3. These guys need to be threaten or they will just keep on stepping on us...I'd like to know what other possible business regulatory centers I could contact...I'd also be likely to send in my case to some of the attourney handling paypal case action law suit to be reviewed.

 

[kin0kin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Penut /img/forum/go_quote.gif when I provided the wrong phone number when verifying the account, paypal snail mailed me something, and I followed the instructions inside. See if you can do something similar.

They are absolutely BS. I provided wrong info when activating my new credit card...and the only thing the company did was to ask me to call back or redirect me to a rep, and my card had at least 3-5k credit limit. But paypal lock accounts because of any miniscule mistakes, even when the account contains only a few bucks. What's worse...they even lock reputable merchants' account with over 10k+ transactions and the reason was? "your business is of high risks" that's it! while the $$ locked in my account may seem relatively small compared to some other people, I am still not going to let them get away with my $$.

I hope people know why many ebay merchants redirect their payments to their own merchant account system instead of going with paypal now. I appreciate all the suggestions everybody made, but I think they are all too submisive in handling this kind of situation. I know it's best to work it out in a win-win situation, but when dealing with this kind of people, yelling is the only option.

 

[StevieDvd]

If I read this correctly you sold a camera, the buyer claimed & got a refund and the camera then arrived. Paypal are out of pocket for that as you removed the funds and closed out your card & account.

Now they have locked the funds that they can get hold of on your new account.

Seems fair to me.

What steps did you take to resolve the camera issue? Do Paypal know the camera was delivered or did the buyer keep the camera and the refund?

My benchmark of reasonable is being able to explain the situation to a judge in court and having him concur with my actions - hypothetcically of course!

What do you think the judge would think of your first actions relating to the camera funds? And then you add the second matter...

.

If it were the other way around and you were out of pocket due to Paypal actions and then held back money you had for them I think both the judge and I would be on your side.

Sorry.

 

[plainsong]

Wow, this is the first time I've seen the internet BBB work! Good going! I remember when we opened my husband's paypal store, using their instructions and adhering to their rules.

What happened? After a month our account was suspended for suspicious activity. According to them, receiving small payments was consistent with money laundering.

We used the freaking software reseller tools they advertize!

Luckily we were at least given the chance to provide more info, and the suspension only lasted a few days, but yeah, it's messed up over there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kin0kin /img/forum/go_quote.gif You are right. In fact, paypal do view every single person as a potential criminal, and any "funny" actions would cause them to lock your account, and they like to do that because it gives them discretion to lock a number of accounts at any point in time and give you any sort of reasons to meet their income target (they get interests for $$ sitting in the account). As part of the "investigation", they will ask for all sorts of info, as much as they could get, sometimes more than what the government would seach up on a fugutive. It helps them to stall time. What I have done so far is explained the situation honestly to BBB and IC3 (internet crime c.. c... *the 3 Cs*) And I did say that me and the buyer had negotiated to a refund using the dispute resolution center, and that they removed the refund option in their system. BBB has forwarded the issue to paypal and demanded them to make a sensible reply (not automated email) within 20 business days, IC3 is still working on it. Giving them more info and calling them is not going to be a viable options...here's what I'd imagine they'd do given my experience with front-line workers: me: (explains the whole situation) rep: sorry sir, you need to provide the credit card info or we can't do anything (because that's the autonomous procedure) me: I don't have a card rep: well, I'd see what I can do....sir...you need to fax in a copy of your license, passport.......... me: ok next, email: sorry but your account is still under review and we require you to send in more information. Complying with paypal is not going to bring me anywhere, which is why I've contacted BBB and IC3. These guys need to be threaten or they will just keep on stepping on us...I'd like to know what other possible business regulatory centers I could contact...I'd also be likely to send in my case to some of the attourney handling paypal case action law suit to be reviewed.