PayPal giving you a headache? --- I think they're stupid :-/

[momo]

I recently purchased an item from NewEgg.com and stupidly decided to try going through my PayPal account, instead of just putting in the card directly.

well, that was the biggest mistake I made, and it almost cost me getting the discount price, AND my promo code coupon sent to my email from newegg.

I have my PayPal default to making an eCheck, and the funds come directly from my checking account.

the stupid people at paypal decided to charge a non-active charge card, that was used several years ago to validate my PayPal account, but,
I didn't find this last little piece of info out until the idiots at PayPal Customer Service put me to a supervisor, not before telling me one FALSE reason after another.

First they said the checking account was overdrawn and the bank denied it (there was over 8,000 in the account at the time, plenty of funds)
after I told them NO WAY, ... they said to call the bank and see for sure, because the bank may put a limit on the Instant Transfer (eCheck) amount.
So I did, and the bank said they have NO such limit, ... it's my money and i could empty the account on an Instant transfer, they don't care.

I call back PayPal, and tell them this, .. and now they say, that NewEgg blocked the transfer, something on their side, to call them to verify it.
SO.. I did, and NewEgg said the denial of funds was originating from PayPal, not from them...
SOOOOOoooo... I call back PayPal .. now they said.. it was too much strange activity on the account and the PayPal system denied for security reasons.

This time I asked to speak to a supervisor ... and after 10 minutes more on hold, finally maybe someone to help ... NNNnnnooooooo such way, HE TOO
started to read from the scripted replies, telling me the account was denied from the bank ... yada .. yada... yada... so after telling him PayPal is one
phone call away from a Federal Investigation for FRAUD, if he doesn't stop reading the stupid script reply, and start listing to what I'm telling him.

He says, please hold while he checks something out on the account, ... 2 or 3 minutes later ... he says PayPal charged the in-active card because I pressed to use the card as payment instead of the Instant Payment (eCheck) method ...

I told him the eCheck is the default chosen from my PayPal account, and if it changed, it wasn't ME doing it... I also said, I saw the checkout from eBay and PayPal and it said Instant Transfer from my checking account will be used ... so ... how to protect yourself from PayPal doing this to you? ...

Make a print-out of the page showing your paypal receipt for payment, and scan it for attachment to an email as proof, or
get one of those programs that creates a PDF of your page to print from the web... like adobe acrobat, or others, as an electronic attachment PDF, it's easier than printing then scanning the page as a JPG.

What's your experience with PayPal? (you already know how I feel, so I won't be adding ME to the vote)
Please take the time to share, with us all, I'm sure interested.
I'm thinking of NEVER using them again, or for just small eBay Items, If I still ever use eBay either.

[gooney]

I created a virtual secure card with paypal just for my newegg account...i always purchase from newegg and has been satisfied... no problems here. Sorry about your troubles.

Edit: Also created a secure card with paypal for single use to purchase my magicjack license with no problems... i have free home phone till feb, 2013

[momo]

I created a virtual secure card with paypal just for my newegg account...i always purchase from newegg and has been satisfied... no problems here. Sorry about your troubles.

Edit: Also created a secure card with paypal for single use to purchase my magicjack license with no problems... i have free home phone till feb, 2013

that sounds like a really great idea, thanks.

[johnatnro]

My PayPal experience has been poor, but after they screwed up a purchase causing my bank to charge me twice for being overdrawn, I had it. The PayPal account has been canceled, but only after considerable hassle. PayPal support was clueless and gave me the scripted responses.

I tried to cancel my account online, but it kept taking me in circles, back to logging in. I called support and the rep took my information and said he would be right back. Thirty minutes later he returned (maybe it was lunch time?) and it was finally done.

A little search online will turn up plenty of PayPal horror stories for your viewing pleasure.

[momo]

I'm curious, those who like PayPal, shown so far being ahead,
do you use it mostly for small purchases only, or large sales too?
do you only use it for eBay auction payments, or with online sales everywhere?

and you've NEVER had a probem? (either large OR small)


side note:
there's always at least ONE who votes "I don't care about all this..."
(thanks to the first one who did here, for prooving my theory )

[gooney]

I'm curious, those who like PayPal, shown so far being ahead,
do you use it mostly for small purchases only, or large sales too?
do you only use it for eBay auction payments, or with online sales everywhere?

and you've NEVER had a probem? (either large OR small)


side note:
there's always at least ONE who votes "I don't care about all this..."
(thanks to the first one who did here, for prooving my theory )

I use it everywhere online, big and small purchases... biggest purchase i made was around $7,000... you have to have a business account with them to purchase over $2,000 if i can remember but i could be wrong.

[momo]

i just noticed something about the results from this poll (percentages)

and the percentages for the people who like or dislike the magicjack

they seem to be about the same...

if you look at the results of how many people like, have issues with, or totally dislike PayPal, it seems similar to the posts here about those who like, have some issues with, or dislike the Magicjack.

does anyone else see it too?

I just think everything has this percentage when it's dealing with enough people, some will totally like it, .. some will have issues with it, .. and some will totally dislike it... whatever IT is.

I think if the MagicJack company cleans up its customer service wazzoo.
the magicjack won't have as many who dislike it because of poor customer service.

it may not be as much the hardware not working, as it is not having someone to give the help the hardware setup sometimes needs.

interesting though, HUH?

by the way
does someone really have a law suit pending against PayPal?
P L E A S E
do tell us

[momo]

My PayPal experience has been poor, but after they screwed up a purchase causing my bank to charge me twice for being overdrawn, I had it. The PayPal account has been canceled, but only after considerable hassle. PayPal support was clueless and gave me the scripted responses.

I tried to cancel my account online, but it kept taking me in circles, back to logging in. I called support and the rep took my information and said he would be right back. Thirty minutes later he returned (maybe it was lunch time?) and it was finally done.

A little search online will turn up plenty of PayPal horror stories for your viewing pleasure.

I've heard this happening from other people wanting to cancel too...
... the same stuff AOL does when you try to cancel their service, as well.

[davrow]

Not enough choices (or too many?).

I hate PayPal, but use it because there is a distinct lack of alternatives.

I've used it for many years, a lot in the beginning, hardly ever now. Never any problems. Mostly small purchases, up to a couple hundred max.

[az2008]

I've heard this happening from other people wanting to cancel too...

What's the incentive to cancel? It doesn't cost anything to use PayPal. What would be the difference between officially canceling your account versus deleting the credit card and bank info in your account, and scrambling your password so neither you or anyone else could ever guess it?

Mark

[davrow]

The difference is that cancelling sends the message that you do not approve of the company, for any reason.

Merely stopping using it does not convery any displeasure, and allows them to report you as an active account in their advertising. Misleading, if you are not actually using them.

[momo]

I hate PayPal, but use it because there is a distinct lack of alternatives.

I've used it for many years, a lot in the beginning, hardly ever now. Never any problems. Mostly small purchases, up to a couple hundred max.

yes , this is exactly how I feel too.

there's no one else to buy thru, or to go elsewhere. and it seems the only game in town.

I wish my bank did what paypal does now, with Single Use Charge Card Secure Numbers, or multi-use with a set amount for total purchases.

not having to use my real charge card number on the small purchase price items from little venders you don't fully trust.
... why doesn't my checking bank do this for my card.
... and why is paypal only doing this for MasterCard?

ya have to admit, paypal has a way of getting you to use their service, one way or the other, then screwing up somehow, sometimes.

This wouldn't be so bad if customer service didn't read from a set script and would actually listen to each customers separate problem,
before giving some lame excuse why something happened.

[jaqie]

They still say I owe them several hundred dollars when in fact they owe me several hundred dollars. Check out any number of terms such as paypal fraud with a google you will see so many horror stories you will never touch them again if you are sane.

[momo]

They still say I owe them several hundred dollars when in fact they owe me several hundred dollars. Check out any number of terms such as paypal fraud with a google you will see so many horror stories you will never touch them again if you are sane.

If you have any paperwork to show they owe, get intouch with the proper authorities and show it to them.

they shouldn't be allowed to get over on keeping money that doesn't belong to them.

this is also why I don't keep a balance on their site, in my account.

I don't fully trust them with my money just sitting there.

[JohnnyFreightTRAIN]

I had the hardest time trying to verify my bank account, you have no idea. They even disabled my bank account from verifying and told me I had to send them an email telling them why the bank account should be enabled again... UHM, I DON'T KNOW... BECAUSE IT'S MY BANK ACCOUNT AND I WANT TO WITHDRAW MY MONNEY!?

And this was before I got my magicjack, so good thing I knew about "dukadial" or I would have had to pay to call their LONG DISTACE PHONE NUMBER. Yeah, no toll free number. I was on the phone with this idiot woman from india or something (for about an hour, even though i told her I needed this done fast because this call was long distance. lol) and I literally got to the point where I was screaming at her at the top of my lungs, and cursing. I'm surprised she didn't hang up on me, because I sure would have. My roommates where like "what the hell is your problem"? haha.

Then finally, after two weeks, I got my bank account verified and was able to transfer my money that I got from selling on ebay to my bank account. God damnit they charge you for EVERYTHING! I was surprised I had any cash left once I got it into my bank account.

Paypal is a terrible company.

Grrr, just thinking about them makes me so angry.

P.S. - There was not option that fit my situation in the poll, so I did not vote.

[davrow]

JohnnyFreightTRAIN, do you mean PayPal account or Bank Account in your post?

PayPal is not a bank. And, PayPal cannot do anything to or with your bank account other than take out money (or much more rarely, put some in it).

It sounds like you mean they would not give you access to your money being held by them. Quite different from not allowing you to access a bank account. Clarification, please..

[johnatnro]

I had a PayPal account a few years ago and canceled it after a buyer claimed he didn't receive his purchase. PayPal took the money out of my account even though UPS confirmed delivery.

I reopened the account a few months ago. I made a purchase and PayPal tried to take the money out of my bank account, but there wasn't enough to cover it. They then did this two more times before finally taking it from my credit card. They cost me $120.00 in bank fees as a result. When I called, I got some foreigner who barely spoke English and knew absolutely nothing except how to read from a script. She couldn't transfer me to someone who could cancel my account, so I called again. Another foreigner, same old crap, and after giving him my info, they said they would be right back. 40 minutes later they returned and said the account was closed.

You like PayPal? Do an online search and read what others have to say.

[ret27m]

I've used paypal for years, NEVER a problem, I use it weekly.

[libertyville]

I had been a Paypal user since nearly the beginning and appreciated that I could use it as a frequently easier option. It worked easily and reliably. But in the last year, it has been impossible for me to transact purchases. I had 2 credit card numbers and it always forced me to use the one I did not want. Customer service sent me around in circles. There was no alternative option to correct their setup problems. Finally after many months of frustration, I was now using only retailers who gave me an alternative to Paypal, so I cancelled my Paypal account. They couldn't care less when I told them but I am no longer frustrated. Arrogance from having a near monopoly creates customer service carelessness. Paypal has crossed that threshold.

[MOA]

As you read through this thread you read where people did this and that and things are ok ...

THAT IS THE PROBLEM!!!!!

You jump though hoops just to make it work ...

A respectable business you DO NOT NEED TO JUMP!!!

Payscam is just that, a scam!!!!

Buyer beware ...

[momo]

YES!! exactly ... at the beginning, starting with them around 8 years ago, they were really good, now, it seems they're getting stupid or something is in their water making them that way it's really amazing how much they've degraded the service. I try to pay using other ways but sometimes just can't get away from still using their's ... is there another paypal type of business out there to not have to go with paypal?

I had been a Paypal user since nearly the beginning and appreciated that I could use it as a frequently easier option. It worked easily and reliably. But in the last year, it has been impossible for me to transact purchases. I had 2 credit card numbers and it always forced me to use the one I did not want. Customer service sent me around in circles. There was no alternative option to correct their setup problems. Finally after many months of frustration, I was now using only retailers who gave me an alternative to Paypal, so I cancelled my Paypal account. They couldn't care less when I told them but I am no longer frustrated. Arrogance from having a near monopoly creates customer service carelessness. Paypal has crossed that threshold.