PayPal looses a customer...

just have to vent a little.

my long time good relationship with PayPal seems to be at an end. my account is frozen because, for some unknown reason, they decided that more personal documents from me are needed to verify my account. specifically they want me to FAX (do people still use this antiquated information path?) a photocopy of my driver's liscence, a phone and/or utility bill, a recent statement from my bank account, and a recent statement from my discover card (the (thankfully) only card on the account).

i've used this account for well over a year with absolutely no problems in the past. i have no idea why they decided, out of the blue, to require me to divulge personal information in order to access it.

i've tried to close my account and withdraw the $50 that's in there but they will not allow it.

am i just being silly or is this going a little far? i mean, i've never heard of a bank suddenly deciding on it's own that you need to prove who you are with personal information like phone bills and credit card statements in order to get your money out. this $50 is legally mine and for them to decide that they can hold it indefinatly for no valid reason seems ludicrus to me.

i've wrote them a letter in hopes that they will release the money and they'll let me close my account with a little dignity, but i'm not holding my breath.

anyhow, i'm very ticked off by the whole episode and i will definatly not be doing business via PayPal anymore. i suppose it was only time before eBay started screwing with a good system.

Have you confirmed that this request is from Paypal and not some type of con (someone trying to get hold of your credit card & personal details) ?

There are Paypal related rip-offs out there, sites designed to look exactly like Paypal etc.

Be Careful

That does not sound correct. I would call Paypal via landline to confirm all this. I've seen several fraud scam artists use Paypal in a similar manner, by requesting documents, etc.

--dan

Paypal Security Tips & Contact Links

Would suggest all Paypal users take a look.

i am absolutely sure that it is PayPal. they didn't even bother to notify me, i was informed that my account was frozen (they call it 'limited access' as i can still recieve money) when i logged in to pay for an eBay auction that i had won.

Limited Account Access Details
--
PayPal is constantly working to ensure security by regularly screening the accounts in our system. We recently reviewed your account, and we need more information to help us provide you with secure service. Until we can collect this information, your access to sensitive account features will be limited. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we would like to restore your access as soon as possible.
--
Why is my account access limited?
Your account access has been limited for the following reason:
01/18/2003: Our system requires further account verification.
--
How can I restore my account access?
To return your account to regular standing, please complete the remaining checklist items below. Each link can be clicked for more information on how to complete the step.

1. Add and confirm a bank account (DONE)
2. Fax documentation (TO DO)

Once you complete all of the checklist items, your case will be reviewed by one of our Account Specialists. We will send you an email with the outcome of the review.
--
What can I do while my account access is limited?
During limited account access, you CAN continue to use the following features:
receive payments place logos into your auction listings or on your website
update your account information
--
What can't I do while my account access is limited?
During limited account access, you CANNOT:
send or request money electronically transfer funds to and from your account close your account

Click to expand...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">and

Fax Step
--
PayPal requires a copy of certain documents for verification purposes to return your account to regular standing. For speedy processing, use our
customized cover sheet.
--
Please fax any of the following documents:
Valid photo ID
Phone or utility bill
Recent statement for the United Bank Account
Recent statement for the Discover Card
--
As always, any personally identifying information that you submit to PayPal will remain secure and will never be transmitted to any third party.

Click to expand...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">

i'm now noticing that the wording is 'any of the following documents' instead of 'all of the following documents' as i first read so perhaps i over-reacted a little =P. still frustrating, especially since i have no access to a fax machine. if i choose to continue to use PayPal in the future i will definatly _never_ keep money in my account.

papasan--do you have a scanner and a modem? You've got a Fax macine!

Or even access to a scanner and access to a modem (Don't even have to be the same people)

scanner yes, modem no.

i would never offer that kind of information...especially digitally.

That is messed up. Why dont you throw in your social security number then paypal can totally steal your identity.

I think of all of them I'd send in a copy of my water and sewage bill. That seems pretty safe.

Actually, there is little that is protected by law. Social Security numbers are not protected by law and anyone can get your number. The reason for that is it is not illegal to obtain the information. It is illegal to use it fraudulently.

I have heard many people say "I'm not giving you my SSN!" and then make a phone order or internet purchase with their credit card number! If you use a cordless phone, your conversation can be intercepted by a simple scanner. If you access things through your phone like voicemail, bank accounts the DTMF tones can be recorded (with a scanner). That recording can be played back to access whatever you just did. If you use one of those wireless cameras that are popping up everywhere, it can be intercepted by your neighbor by using devices such as an Icom IC-R3. Or if you've ever gotten an appliance as a gift that plugs into the wall, there could be a wireless camera in there. Scary. Thats just the tip of the iceberg.

Alot of things are public information such as your past criminal and civil court cases, your birth date and mothers maiden name, your property tax information and who owns your house and even how much you paid for your house. Your phone #, SSN, your address, marriage information, divorce info, etc all accessable because it is public information.

You can only minimize identity theft from the amatuers. Just like car alarms stop only joy riders, pros just flatbed it away.

Anyway, if you were born in California (I don't know the laws outside of Ca so don't want to break any) E-mail me with your name for a rather eye-opening demonstration. I promise that I don't have access to an MDT at home.

Sorry about the rambling but in my profession you tend to see alot of fraud.

SurefireM6 is correct about the availability of a whole lot of info easily. Here's an example of just some of the on-line government information sources:

Search Systems

As far as PayPal asking for verification that you are you, I'd rather have them do that to me than to just give my money away to anyone who had a good line. (I have a validated PayPal account, and have since PayPal first started.)

As to the ID they are requestion, it's no different than I had to offer the local library to get a library card (I used my electric bill.)

I suppose that I will find out if eBay/Paypal is going to get ornery with me, next time I try to send money via paypal. I almost never have money in my paypal account. I just use it as a transaction service.

Check this thread on KFC.
http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB42&Number=221039&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

Yes, (Look at the link). I got the scam E-Bay e-mail. "They" stole exact forms from e-Bay, so it looked dead-on official.

However, I opened the full e-mail headers and it said SEXWEB on it, even though the return e-mail address looked like e-Bay.

I deleted it... But, it was the best scam I've seen so far (along with the PAYPAI scam e-mail)

I wonder if it's the Patriot Act making them ask for more info. I applied online for banking through Citibank and they asked for everything: SSN, Driver's License, Residence, etc etc etc etc. It was sick.

Good luck!

sure enough, i faxed paypal a copy of my latest electric bill and it's not enough. they want copies of my credit card statements, bank statements, a photo id, AND a utility bill.

pissing me off to the extreme. if i didn't have $50 locked in the account i would drop the account and forget about it.

gonna call them up tomorrow and find out just what the hell is going on and why they need all this info from me. finding their phone number is not easy, but i think it was posted here somewhere.

bah...bigest pain in the a$$ ever to get access to money which is mine! seems like they are breaking some laws somewhere, but is it really worth it to hire a lawyer to sue their butts?

man...just keeps getting better and better. called twice, hold time was actually pretty short thankfully (probably because you need a few hours on a Cray to find their phone number). both times they were extremely non-helpful. i was told that i needed to fax in ALL the information and that's it. tried to speak to a supervisor, no dice. they would not allow me to speak to anyone else. nice and convienient.

so now i'm basically stuck sending in all my info and let these guys disseminate it to whomever they wish (i.e. the non-lube bend-over) if i ever want to see my $50. i doubt they would have taken the time to do this if i had no money in the account. a big scheme in order to quietly close some low-level accounts and take a little bit of money here and there?

anyhow, this has all convinced me very solidly to never use paypal again.

i'm so pissed i'm considering never using eBay again, and that's prety damned pissed since i'm on there once or twice every day.

btw, here's the phone number. write it down, you _will_ need it some day.

402.935.2057