Date Received: 2023-06-27
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I opened a PayPal account earlier this year in order to pay some fees for a sports league I recently joined. Yesterday, I received a fraud alert both from PayPal and from my credit card. Someone had gone into my account and attempted to send someone money. It looks like my credit card ( XXXX ) declined the purchase, which was great. But in inspecting my PayPal account, it appears as though another XXXX was added to the account that I don't recognize. I attempted to remove the card from the account, but was asked to upload a government ID and a credit card statement to be able to this. Considering that I was already a victim of fraud, I was not comfortable uploading more sensitive personal information. I next tried to close the PayPal account altogether, and again, was informed that I could not do so without resolving the " limitations '' on my account, and the only way to do that was to upload a picture ID and credit card statement. I next called PayPal, reiterated all of the above to a customer representative, and then escalated it to a supervisor. I was told again, that I can't close the account without resolving this " account limitations, '' and the only way to resolve them is to provide identity documents. All I want to do is be able to shut the account down. I don't understand why no identification was necessary for some stranger to add a credit card to my account or make a payment from it, but now I can't close the account once I've already been victimized without further compromising myself by providing additional personal information? No. All I am trying to do is prevent myself from being victimized again. Any other credit card or bank would let me close the account. That's all I'm trying to achieve here.
Company Response:
State: VT
Zip: 050XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-06-27
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-06-27
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/XXXX, about XXXX pm I purchased XXXX XXXX at Venmo website with {$1700.00} to send it out to another wallet. However till today XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX pm is still sitting at my account for review. So I called XXXX XXXX From customer service and I was put on hold for XXXX minutes and he couldnt explain why it wasnt transferred immediately as advertised on their website. I am paying $ XXXX day penalty for every day delay beyond XXXX pm XX/XX/XXXX.
Company Response:
State: NC
Zip: 28278
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-06-27
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-06-27
Issue: Managing, opening, or closing your mobile wallet account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Unexpected Permanent Limitation Imposed on PayPal Account I am writing to file a complaint regarding a recent unexpected issue with my PayPal account, which I have used dutifully and in adherence to all stated guidelines for a significant period of time. This issue surfaced on XX/XX/2023, when my account was abruptly flagged and consequently limited without an explicit justification. My usage of PayPal has predominantly been for online shopping purposes and for enabling monetary transactions between acquaintances. Throughout my experience with PayPal, I have maintained an utmost commitment to ensuring that all transactions conducted through my account are entirely legitimate, and to the best of my knowledge, do not violate the Acceptable Use Policy as laid out by PayPal. Despite my consistent compliance with all requirements and guidelines, I was taken aback to receive a notification informing me of a revocation of my account privileges. The notification, unfortunately, did not provide any specific information or details about the reason behind such a significant action taken against my account. Consequently, the grounds on which my account has been limited are still unclear to me, leading to substantial inconvenience and concern. Given my historical usage and adherence to PayPal 's policies, I am led to believe that this could potentially be a result of an unintentional error. I trust that this issue will be addressed promptly and my account will be reinstated at the earliest convenience, considering the severe implications it holds for my routine financial transactions. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I eagerly anticipate a resolution that reinstates my access to PayPal 's services.
Company Response:
State: MA
Zip: 02138
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-06-28
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-06-28
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I used to own a high end watch resale company, based in XXXX FL. I used PayPal to process my clients credit card payments. After having my account open for more than a decade AND having been approved for more than XXXX XXXX dollars in processing monthly, my account was in a great position to carry my company to the next level. I was preparing to expand, hiring XXXX employees and investing in sponsorship with the XXXX XXXX. Every transaction included serial numbers from each timepiece, tracking from XXXX overnight and insured shipping, in addition to calling PayPal to confirm that my account was set to handle the transactions without any issues. Additionally, I paid my supplier from PayPal, to keep the transaction locations in XXXX location. In XXXX of 2021, I was in XXXX conducting business. My client ordered another few pieces, so I charged him via PayPal. Immediately, my account, the buyers account AND the suppliers accounts were frozen. All funds left in each account. I received a message that within XXXX XXXX, the funds would be released. I tried multiple times to contact PayPal and settle the issue, but to no avail. They told me there was nothing that could be done. On XX/XX/2021, PayPal removed {$71000.00} from account. There was no warning, no communication. To this day, I am approved for over XXXX XXXX dollars of processing on this account, which is frozen and unavailable for transactions. My business had to be shut down. I could no longer conduct business, as all my liquid was lost in the theft from PayPal. I hired a lawyer on contingency around XXXXXXXX XXXX ago to handle retrieving the money, but they didnt get an answer from the demand letter and I can not afford the money needed to continue pursuing PayPal XXXX They have robbed me of my income and the XXXXXXXX XXXX it took me to build a reputation strong enough to get the clients I had. I couldnt process payments from them any longer, as a new processing account only allows at most XXXX of processing. I look to XXXX to provide and I look to CFPB to help me communicate with PayPal and XXXX retrieve my families hard work. Thank you so much for your consideration, patience and understanding. Y
Company Response:
State: FL
Zip: 33065
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-06-28
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-06-27
Issue: Money was not available when promised
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I started an E-Bike Rental Business called XXXX XXXX XXXXand one of the pay options on my Website was PayPal. My first customer attempted to reserve a Bike using the PayPal Pay Portal on XX/XX/XXXX. I followed the PayPal online business setup and confirmation procedure and received a notification I was verified, but the {$20.00} deposit was in unclaimed status. On XX/XX/2023 I spent 3 hours on the phone with PayPal Support to see why I could not claim the {$20.00}, even being confirmed. By 2 PayPal Engineers that it looked like everything was completed to allow me to access the funds, and my business account had been verified and complete. They told me that within XXXX business hours, the issues should be resolved. On XX/XX/2023 the {$20.00} was still in the unclaimed status, and I was still unable to claim the funds so I again contacted PayPal who told me that I needed to complete the verification process. I explained that I was already verified as confirmed by 2 different PayPal Agents ( engineers ). I then asked to escalate this to a supervisor who confirmed my Business was verified, and that there was a bug affecting me and 75 other businesses preventing them from claiming unclaimed funds. This supervisor who identified herself as XXXX told me this bug would be resolved within XXXX hours. I told her I was concerned the funds would be returned to the customer as it stated clearly on the PayPal website that after 30 days, all unclaimed funds would be refunded back to the customer. I was informed that the {$20.00} in question would be flagged and it would not be refunded per this policy. She issued ticket number XXXX to track this bug to resolution. On XX/XX/2023 I again contacted PayPal because the {$20.00} funds were still unavailable in unclaimed status, and despite being reassured numerous times that the issue had been identified and actively being worked to be resolved, the {$20.00} were still unavailable to be claimed as promised several times. I then contacted PayPal again, on XX/XX/XXXX to reiterate my concern that the funds would be lost via refund due to the 30 day all funds in unclaimed stats for 30 days will be refunded to the customers credit card on file policy. Again, ai was reassured by a PayPal Agent that this would not transpire. Finally on Wednesday, XX/XX/XXXX, I received an auto- notification from PayPal that the {$20.00} had been returned to XXXX XXXX the customers ) credit card. I called PayPal on Friday, XX/XX/XXXX to voice my frustration of the deceptive communication and malfeasances in not resolving this issue prior to this unfortunate result, despite all my efforts in trying to avoid it. I was told by the PayPal Agent XXXX that nothing can be done and they refused to compensate me for the {$20.00} lost due to their direct control. I spent over 5 hours on the phone communicating with PayPal as described, and this practice would seem purposefully deceitful to delay any recourse in resolution in hopes it simply goes away. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received an auto email from PayPal that my account is now set up and ready to receive funds... They resolved the issue, but Too late, obviously. I understand {$20.00} is not a large sum of money, but it would seem that if this also happed to 75 other businesses as described on. XX/XX/2023 by PayPal Supervisor XXXX, that this unresolved bug would result in undue windfall for PayPal could be significant in the form of collected interest while these funds were in trust prior to refund or payout. Not to mention the inconvenience to all of these small businesses who had a similar experience.
Company Response:
State: CO
Zip: 804XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-06-27
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-06-27
Issue: Other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: On the afternoon of XX/XX/, I was bombarded with an insane amount of emails, only to find out later on that this is referred to as e-mail bombing, while something more sinister is happening behind the scenes. Later in the evening I received a text alert from XXXX asking me if I had authorized an {$800.00} payment. I went to my online account and saw that there were in fact several ( XXXX ) unauthorized transactions to XXXX. I immediately called XXXX and informed them as to what was happening. They cancelled the debit card and transferred me to the fraud department. Needless to say my bank account was totally drained and it even went into overdraft. XXXX assured me that they will do their best to investigate and come to a resolution. After a week of waiting and no updates, I called XXXX on the morning of XX/XX/2023. They informed me that they had finished their investigation and that my claim was denied because the payments, all 18, were processed and issued to a third party merchant, in this case, PayPal. XXXX said that I needed to contact PayPal and seek a resolution about getting my funds returned. I called PayPal on three different occasions, each time speaking to different people, and each time I gave them all the information from the XXXX transactions. PayPal kept saying that they can not find the transactions in their system so they can not do anything and that I needed to go back to XXXX. Basically I was being ping-ponged back and forth from PayPal to XXXX and vice-versa. I can not understand why PayPal says that they have no records of the transactions because from all indications PayPal was the recipient of the 18 transactions. In all there were 25 transactions to PayPal at the time when the incident was occurring. Four of those were rejected and three cancelled. While speaking to the last XXXX fraud specialist, I was told that part of their thorough investigation would have been to contact the merchant ( PayPal ) and verify the transactions. When I called PayPal there were none of those 18 transactions in their system? My position now is that my bank account has been wiped out, XXXX tells me that they transferred the money and they have the proof of payment receipts to show it but it seems like the onus is now on me to figure out where it went.
Company Response:
State: FL
Zip: 33772
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-06-27
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-06-26
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Paid {$50.00} to hold a refrigerator via PayPal on XXXX XXXX. When the " seller '' starting asking for more money, we said " no and please refund us our money '' they shut down the account being used and removed themselves from the chat ( I have screenshots of the chat as well as some of the user data before they removed it ). I submitted a complaint to PayPal with the same info above, and they responded with " This looks like a normal transaction so we aren't going to do anything. '' The user also removed their profile from PayPal so I can't contact them directly like PayPal directs me to. I'm attempting to escalate the issue via PayPal but don't see where i can do that. I guess if it feels like a scam, it is one.
Company Response:
State: VA
Zip: 24073
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-06-26
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-06-26
Issue: Managing an account
Subissue: Funds not handled or disbursed as instructed
Consumer Complaint: It is a venmo account starting XXXX XXXX. Accorinfing to To the FDIC you can't actually confirm my identity Which I find particularly very peculiar considering the fact that I've sent you my a number of times I think over 5 so shop with the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX unlock my account right now because according to the ftc there's nothing untoward unusual about my account other than the fact that you're lying to them saying that you couldn't confirm identity give me the XXXX XXXX XXXX get on it just get on it right now because I'm sick and tired of this INSANE THEYVE HAD MY OVET {$4000.00} frozen over 1000 days
Company Response:
State: MA
Zip: 01830
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-06-26
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-06-27
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: XX/XX/2023 {$0.00} PayPal Today I opened an account for the first time. The account was then placed on limitations. I received an email stating " I can no longer do business with Pay Pal ''. I called to close the account. I was told the account could not be closed because it was placed on limitations. The call was escalated to a higher level. The gentleman got on the phone and did not give his name. He stated " the email address was a risk ''. It is my business email account that was just created a few months ago. It had not been used much. I asked why and he stated because of " Fraud '' and it " will not be closed, but will be kept limited so no one can call in with the email address and use it ''. I told him I wanted all my personal identifiable information removed from their system and an email sent to me. He stated he could not do that. He stated that could not be done because PayPal is a financial institution. I told him i am not looking to get money from them. This is just for transfer. He told me he could not delete my information because of a risk. I assured him I was not a criminal and didn't have a criminal background and have never used paypal before and therefor my information should not be blocked because there is no papertrail in your system regarding me. I am a new customer. He then hung up the phone.
Company Response:
State: DE
Zip: 19805
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-06-27
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-06-27
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: XXXX and PayPal XXXX and venmo has been breached
Company Response:
State: TX
Zip: 76903
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-07-27
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A