21 DAY HOLD FINANCIAL SERVICE OMBUDSMAN WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU

[hmmar-spier]

Having lodged a complaint against Pay Pal and Ebay in regards to illegally freezing funds and also referring the matter to the privacy commisioner.  The Financial Services Ombudsman also wants to hear about accounts where funds have been placed under the 21 day hold. Their office is anticipating an across board deluge of complaints and they wish to be advised of individual cases as believe this is a breach of law.

[ja_la]

If you give them a call they should be able to release the funds immediately. Well that is what they told me when I rang them up. Isn't it interesting that even if you buy the ebay postage label its not automatically added to paypal. 

[grantiquities]

I didn't buy the ebay postage label or print the 'packing slip' 

[ja_la]

If you tell them your Australia Post tracking number, the operator should check online. If it says delivered they "should" release your funds. They just need evidence it has arrived. 

[grantiquities]

UPDATE.

WELL !!!!!!!  That was an interesting conversation I had commencing 6.06pm completed 6.25pm last night with 2 different people at Paypal in Manila, Philippines   1800 073 263 if anyone wants to ring 🙂   The first was unable or unwilling to help me and would transfer my call to the “Specialist Dept”, the second was most helpful, though I had to ask her many times to repeat herself as I had trouble understanding her accent.  

She could see everything to do with my 2 held amounts & I mean EVERYTHING including the tracking - and confirmed to me (without my asking)  that ONE of my 2 HELD transactions had been delivered and positive feedback left by buyer yesterday so she could release that specific payment.  Interestingly, according to her, this is what Paypal bases it on >>>> tracking showing delivery AND positive feedback being left from the buyer.  Oh Dear !!  

I went on and on and on to point out to her that Paypal is operating under a misconception then as not every buyer takes the time to leave feedback (my own score is roughly 50% of my buyers have left FB) and it IS voluntary. Also with Australia Post's tracking system it is a FALLACY that parcels will be scanned as being delivered [ and I have experience of that happening several times which I told her about too 🙂  ]   She could see that the 2nd parcel was still in transit. I reminded her I have no control over that and once goods are IN the postal system ( evidenced by the tracking number which she could see & check ) then the funds should NOT be held.  

I also pointed her to their own information on the Paypal site when one clicks on the blue link I found ?somewhere? relating to the 21 day stuff  >>>>    

Funds availability for eBay.com, eBay.ca and eBay.cafr sales

Both PayPal and eBay encourage consistent customer service so that buyers have a great experience when they shop on eBay. This helps protect everyone in a transaction. When sellers list on overseas eBay websites eBay.com, eBay.ca or eBay.cafr and they are yet to meet the selling standards required by these eBay sites, as well as PayPal's own risk standards, funds received into their PayPal accounts from sales through these sites may not be available for up to 21 days.

We'll always let you know if funds from any of your eBay sales are not available. The funds may be available sooner if we reasonably believe that the transaction has completed successfully. For more information please see clause 17 of our User Agreement.

What are eBay's selling standards and PayPal's risk standards?

If you, as an eBay seller, have a standard or above standard performance rating or a top-rated seller status in the eBay "Seller Dashboard", and an established selling history with eBay, the funds you receive from selling on the relevant eBay websites should be available in your PayPal account immediately after the buyer has paid, subject to any claims or chargebacks that may be filed.

However funds from your eBay.com, eBay.ca or eBay.cafr sales may be unavailable for up to 21 days if:

·         you have a limited selling history with the relevant eBay website, meaning:

·         90 or fewer days have passed since your first sale, or

·         You've made 25 or fewer sales, or

·         You've made $250 USD or less in total sales; or

·         you have a Below Standard rating in the eBay "Seller Dashboard"; or

·         there are sudden changes to your eBay account, for instance a high incidence of eBay Buyer Protection claims.

In addition, if PayPal believes there is an increased risk associated with you, your PayPal account, or any transactions in your PayPal account, funds received into your PayPal account from sales through these eBay websites may not be available for more than 21 days.

^^^^^^^^ You will note up there which Ebay sites they are talking about that the 21 day restrictions apply to 🙂  

 eBay.com, eBay.ca and eBay.cafr sales

NOT Ebay.com.au ..... NOT AUSTRALIA !!!!!!!  

I do NOT list / sell outside Australia, I only use ebay.com.au and therefore Paypal’s own statements relating to their reasons for the 21 DAY HOLD are therefore not applicable and MY money should be released immediately.

I informed her too that I have lodged a complaint with our government’s Financial Services Ombudsman, that I have a Case Number and that Paypal would be receiving a ‘SHOW CAUSE’ notice in due course.

I also pressed the point that being an EXISTING Paypal account holder and Ebay user since 2006 on one ID and 2013 on the other that I had already been PROVEN and VERIFIED and had established my credentials, I have not had a dispute in all that time, my Seller Dashboard also rates me as “Above Standard”  and therefore MY money [[ current as well as future ]]  paid in GOOD FAITH by MY buyers should NEVER be held - EVER!!!  

I had the Paypal site open & active during the conversation and can confirm that my 2 held payments were immediately released right before my eyes.  Whether or not any future ones will be held again is anyone’s guess. 

[ja_la]

Great Outcome! Finally 😄 

[2106greencat]

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Sit Boo Boo, sit. Good dog. Woof.

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[magpie5*]

hi, thanks for the info.

my account has been frozen due to varification issues - after 10 years!!

have been told it will take another 5-6 weeks to fix.

i have just lodged a complaint, and also sent an email to the executive paypal thing.

fingers crossed. their behaviour is surely illegal.

[lyndal1838]

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@magpie5* wrote:

hi, thanks for the info.

my account has been frozen due to varification issues - after 10 years!!

have been told it will take another 5-6 weeks to fix.

i have just lodged a complaint, and also sent an email to the executive paypal thing.

fingers crossed. their behaviour is surely illegal.

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Have you rung paypal about this?   It does not take 5-6 weeks to verify anything.....maybe 5-6 days but more likely 5-6 minutes if you get on the phone and make a fuss.   That email sounds fake to me.

[joyandhappinessatchannel44]

This thread is huge, I can't read all of it 😞

I've just started selling a few things (not my first time) and having all my funds held. 

So I have to pay postage AND ebay fees on faith.

Suddenly hoping I don't sell too much and considering cancelling my listings, which is bizarre.

Can someone please tell me exactly who to email etc about this?  

[cq_tech]

Lodge a written online complaint with the FOS at https://forms.fos.org.au/OnlineDispute and ring Paypal on 1800 063 273.