topic Re: PayPal gone too far ! in Selling

PayPal gone too far !

hmmar-spier — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 06:01:45 GMT

Just how much personal information does paypal think it can demand ? Yes, we had a verified account, Buyer pays for item via paypal when item description specificly states cash on pick up only (after all it weighs 200 kgs). Paypal then freezes account and demands we 'ship' the item to the buyer !!!!! We dont have access to buyers funds as paypal has frozen the entire account. Paypal has buyers money, but PP request more identification from us. Paypal has Bank details, Passsport, Drivers Licence, Medicare details and a full local government rates notice and they STATE THAT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH !!! They want social security details (which we dont have ) oh and full ATO taxation details and tax returns (which is no benefit to them as ATO will not confirm details with outside parties like Paypal due to our privacy laws) starting to think Paypal has crooks just collecting personal id) for some nefarious purpose. Interesting that we have a verified paypal account and the buyer is un-verified ! When is someone in this country going to start taking a good look into paypals practices ?

Re: PayPal gone too far !

lyndal1838 — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 07:08:48 GMT

Are you sure the email is genuine. I have never heard of paypal requesting that information.

The fact that they are asking for a social security number indicates to me that they have no idea what forms of ID are acceptable in Australia.

Try ringing paypal before you get all upset. I think this scam email is just a coincidence as paypal is now holding payments for up to 21 days or until you prove postage.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

x3n0m — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 07:11:04 GMT

.. am sure the buyer would love free shipping of a 200KG item .. this place has lost the plot completely and am nervous that ebay or paypal is going to start ripping people off as all the policies seem to be robotivc and obviously what you are going through makes no sense .. pick up only doesn't mean ship a 200KG item for free .. the buyer must be disgusted as paypal has their money too ,, what a mess .. am definitely winding down my sales presence here now ..

Re: PayPal gone too far !

collect247 — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 07:15:47 GMT

You have received a scam email,PayPal do not ask for all those details,just your address and bank/creditcard details that's it.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

lyndal1838 — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 08:47:49 GMT

@collective05 wrote:
You have received a scam email,PayPal do not ask for all those details,just your address and bank/creditcard details that's it.

Not quite right collectiv05.

After a certain amount of money has gone through yoyr paypal account you will be asked to provide proof of your identity with certain documents such as drivers licence, passport, utilities bills...much the same as 100 points of ID required to open a bank account.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

treasuress.4207 — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 21:09:59 GMT

Correct. We just had to go through this with them. It was simple though, just passport and driver's license, and yes, it was genuine - it wasn't an email it was a notification ON the actual account when we logged in. No big drama with ours tho.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

hmmar-spier — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 23:03:41 GMT

Hi, no it is genuine. This has been going on for over a month now. They now have far more id than legally required to even open a bank account in Australia. The buyer who was told cash on pick up paid by paypal and there is no way we are letting a 200 kg statue go interstate as their is no protection for sellers under paypal. We cannot refund the buyers money as we dont legally have it, Papypal do and they have frozen it for over a month now.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

hmmar-spier — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 23:11:21 GMT

I have explained that to the buyer that the item was cash on pick up only. I have explained to them that paypal have their payment frozen, the buyers does not seem to care and are demanding the statue and what I can envisage is a buyer doing a not as described, paypal of course would then refund them and we are left with a 200 kg statue in another state. It was plainly stated in the description, cash on pick-up only and that they would need to bring some muscle to pick it up about 3-4 very strong men. Paypal are without any sense or reason, oh I can log into the account but it is all frozen. i think this will be the death call for most sellers on ebay now that they are going to hold sellers money for 21 days, freeze sellers money on a whim, just think about it , if authorities in Australia need to freeze someones account they need to go to court to get an order to do it yet paypal use the flimsy excuse of terrorism and money laundering.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

hmmar-spier — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 23:12:06 GMT

I wish it was, but it is not. This is all genuine paypal stuff

Re: PayPal gone too far !

hmmar-spier — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 23:16:36 GMT

Yes that is right Lyndal. The payment was for $999.00. Paypal has our confirmed australian bank accounts, current valid passport, current valid drivers licence, full medicare details and current valid local government rates notice with full name and of course address and they say it is not enough. We don't have anymore details to give them.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

jensmanchester-australia — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 23:21:39 GMT

I think part of the problem is the way the listing has been set up as it shows it as offering free post in the general search. This is what the buyer would have seen and most likely expected.

It has always been a bit confusing on how to list an item showing local pick up only and a lot of sellers get caught out by listing the option incorrectly.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

jensmanchester-australia — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 23:25:16 GMT

If the buyer wants the item posted and that is not possible you need to contact Paypal and ask them to release the money back to the buyer.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

collect247 — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 23:50:08 GMT

Well then I have had plenty money go through and I haven't been asked to give any extra info so you might be 99% correct then

Re: PayPal gone too far !

lyndal1838 — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 08:29:42 GMT

@collective05 wrote:
Well then I have had plenty money go through and I haven't been asked to give any extra info so you might be 99% correct then

What do you mean by plenty of money?

If your ebay transactions are all you have going through your paypal account you have probably not yet reached the limit.

I had my paypal account long before it was acquired by ebay. I now use it on ebay. I have probably put in excess of $100,000 through the account in sending and receiving funds from the USA and Canada as well as my ebay usage. I had to provide extra proof of ID after about $10,000 had gone through it but that was many years ago.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

hmmar-spier — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 12:05:12 GMT

Hi, Paypal have refused to release the money back to the buyer until I provide my taxation returns and social security details ( I dont have Social Security details ). This is insanity.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

hmmar-spier — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 12:06:33 GMT

There has been no more than $1100AUD go through the account in total and $999.00AUD was one transaction

Re: PayPal gone too far !

hmmar-spier — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 12:07:25 GMT

Ebay would not remove that off the listing and it was updated in the item description before the buyer purchased.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

lyndal1838 — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 12:19:03 GMT

@hmmar-spier wrote:
Hi, Paypal have refused to release the money back to the buyer until I provide my taxation returns and social security details ( I dont have Social Security details ). This is insanity.

NOBODY has the right to demand your Tax Return. Forget trying to deal with paypal any longer......go to the Financial Services Ombudsman immediately.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

jensmanchester-australia — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 13:11:27 GMT

I am surprised that the buyer has not opened an INR case through Paypal - if someone was holding that amount of money of mine and I hadn't received what I had paid for I would be doing just that.

If the buyer opens an INR dispute then Paypal will have no choice other than to refund the buyer by either releasing the funds they are holding from your or from their own pocket....which I am sure Paypal will be reluctant use their funds to reimburse the buyer.

I agree with Lyndal - the ombudsman may be the way to go.

As a last resort I would ring Paypal tomorrow and tell them they have 24 hours to release the money back to the buyer or you will be lodging a formal complaint with the ombudsman.

Re: PayPal gone too far !

polly.the.cat — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 16:00:06 GMT

The PayPal person is reading off a card to you on the phone. We have no SOCIAL SECURITY id. number operating here in Australia, it is solely an US Based System. The person talking to you, just does not know that things are different here.

Do not EVER GIVE anyone your Tax File details, only your Solicitor or immediate family. Details should be under lock and key.

The rest of the info seems about right to give them, but l still think they are "asking" a lot from you.

We will await to see what happens, hope things work in your favour.