Date Received: 2022-11-03
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: To whom this might concern, On XX/XX/2022, at XXXXXXXX XXXX, I received an email from Venmo, stating that " Your Venmo account has been temporarily restricted '' due to recent activity that triggered some security alerts. On XX/XX/2022, at XXXXXXXX XXXX, there was another email from Team Venmo with the title " Notice Regarding Your Account '' regarding request # XXXX - which was generated by Venmo itself. In this email, Venmo stated " We have recently reviewed your usage of Venmo 's services, as reflected in our records. Due to the nature of your activities, we have chosen to discontinue service to you in accordance with Venmo 's User Agreement. As a result, we have placed a permanent limitation on your account '' The moment I received the notice, I took my time to review the User Agreement, to make sure I have not violated any term unintentionally. On XX/XX/2022, at XXXX XXXX, I replied to the request above to inquire about the reason and if there is anything I can do, or anyone I can speak to resolve the issue. On XX/XX/2022, at XXXX, XXXX XXXX a gentleman replied to the email above on behalf of Venmo , he couldn't explain the reason why and could only repeated what I had already read from the previous email. Since PayPal and Venmo are under the same company, my PayPal account also experienced the same issue. My account is now permanently limited and currently has {$110.00} that is held hostage for 180 days. On XX/XX/2022, at XXXXXXXX XXXX, I received an email from PayPal, with the title " You can no longer do business with PayPal ( Ref ID - XXXX ) '' and there was no in-depth explanation why. On XX/XX/2022, at XXXX XXXX, I emailed XXXX to inquire about the reason and seek help. No response was made for this attempt. On XX/XX/2022, at XXXXXXXX XXXX, I emailed XXXX to inquire about the reason and seek help. No response was made for this attempt. On XX/XX/2022, at XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX, I emailed XXXX again with more explanation on my side, hoping that someone can reply. No response was made for this attempt. On XX/XX/2022, at XXXXXXXX XXXX, I emailed XXXX again with more explanation on my side, hoping that someone can reply. This time I received an automated reply, but no other than that. I also contacted PayPal Support on XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX AM and received a reply from a rep at XXXXXXXX XXXX the same day. I waited and a different rep responded to my question on XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX PM- again he copied what I have already known and could not offer any further help. All of my attempts to contact PayPal regarding my PayPal and Venmo accounts were met with unhelpful responses. Hopefully, CFPB can help escalate this issue to PayPal, I really hope to get my accounts back and continue my relationship as a customer with PayPal Inc. I have been nothing but respectful toward the company and would really appreciate if they can resolve this issue. I will attach as many documents as possible ( my attempts to contact through email, XXXX ) I appreciate all the help and response I could get, thank you very much.
Company Response:
State: VA
Zip: 22079
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-11-03
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-11-03
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: To whom this might concern, My PayPal account is now permanently limited and I could not perform send or receive funds. On XX/XX/2022, at XXXX XXXX, I received an email from PayPal, with the title You can no longer do business with PayPal ( Ref ID - XXXX ) '' and there was no in-depth explanation why. In the email, it mentioned that " Specifically, the sale of items that infringe or violate any copyright, trademark, right of publicity or privacy, or any other proprietary right under the laws of any jurisdiction '' I am not a seller, I am currently a university student and never been a seller of anything in person or online. I had no idea why PayPal wrongfully flagged my account as a seller account and suspended me for such reason. XXXX, CFPB can help escalate this issue to PayPal, I really hope to get my accounts back and continue my relationship as a customer with PayPal Inc. I have been nothing but respectful toward the company and would really appreciate it if this issue can be resolved. I will attach the email I received from PayPal. I appreciate all the help and response I could get, thank you very much.
Company Response:
State: VA
Zip: 22079
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-11-03
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-11-04
Issue: Other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/2022, Paypal permanently limited my Paypal account without providing any valid reason. When I ask for a reason, they say there's a " potential risk '' on my account but refuses to tell me what this risk is supposed to be. They won't release my fund to me as a result and was told I have to wait for 180 days to get it. However, upon research I found out that they never even give it to you after 180 days. https : XXXX I asked them to at least refund the money back to the original buyer of my service if they can't release the fund to me but they won't do that either. I can't even log in to their system anymore because they locked me out. They told me I should be able to log in again after 24 hours but I can't trust them. Please help me out. I will provide you any personal information necessary if asked to provide. You can do a background check on me with FBI, CIA or whoever because I am an innocent law-abiding citizen.
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 91710
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-11-04
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-11-02
Issue: Managing, opening, or closing your mobile wallet account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I opened up a Venmo account for my money to go in to from a new client. I received {$150.00} went to buy food and couldn't pay with my phone. So I tried to transfer it into my friend 's XXXX XXXX account which I couldn't, after several attempts to transfer it to another card, Venmo froze my account. Now I have to show documents, which I don't have, due to miss fortune this year. As I speak to others seems this is a come up for Venmo, other people has frozen accounts and lost there money to Venmo. I need my money I'm not trying to rip anyone off I'm the one that is hurting over this. My children need this little amount of money. But $ XXXX XXXX people world wide in a week is a lot of extra cash for free. I didn't need a id for them to openy account but now I need one to spend my funds. Seems fishy to me and many other XXXX XXXX. Thank you for listening XXXX XXXX XXXX. They can send me a check and I can cash it to prove my identity
Company Response:
State: AL
Zip: 36869
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-11-02
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-11-02
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: My Venmo account was frozen on XX/XX/XXXX, I contacted Venmo as soon and this situation happened and they were not able to solve it or explain why this happened. Since XX/XX/XXXX I've been contacting them, they asked me to send pictures of my ID which I did but no fixing has been done so far. All they say is that it takes 7 days to be fixed, but it's been way more than that. I can not access my money since the account is frozen, consequently I can not pay my bills or even buy food.
Company Response:
State: CT
Zip: 06902
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-11-02
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-11-02
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I will try to summarize ; On the XXXX of XXXX, my friend who was in XXXX at the time of transaction sent the sum of {$5600.00} to my PayPal account, I was supposed to use some of it that day but then I received another note on my PayPal account saying my account access has been temporarily limited and some information is required before I can get back to access my account features. I obliged and submitted my bank statement as it was required. I was supposed to wait a day or a couple. After a few days of not getting a reply I called and spoke to a service representative but he was cold to me and was asking how I knew my childhood friend which was weird to me but then I told him and afterwards, he was quick to tell me that my friend is a criminal and my account was not going to be rectified. Shortly after, I got a note saying I cant use PayPal anymore and that the money on my balance will be held for 180days before I will get an email of how Ill get my money. Ive never had this experience but I know for sure this is XXXX. I asked my friend to make contact from her end, and she was told that the payment was made using family/friends so PayPal wont hold on to the payment and that I should contact PayPal. Now, Im frustrated but I had to call back again only for a different agent to tell me that my PayPal activity is the reason why Ive been locked out of accessing my money. Asking what PayPal activity exactly but there still is no reasonable answer instead the customer service agent tells me theres nothing he can do and ends the call. Now Im very confused, stressed and tired of this whole drama. Can someone explain to me in real sense why I cant have access to my own money which I happen to have LEGALLY on the PayPal platform? Is this a joke? Im attaching some screenshots of the service replies and the chat between my friend and an agent just incase it will help in anyway.
Company Response:
State: IN
Zip: 465XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-11-02
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-11-02
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: On Wednesday, XX/XX/2022, I received XXXX ( XXXX ) e-mails from PayPal ( XXXX ) stating the following : " You can no longer use PayPal After a review, we decided to permanently limit your account as we found potential risk associated with it. As a result, we can no longer offer PayPal services to you. Any bank or credit card information thats linked to your PayPal account can not be removed nor can it be added to another account. You can still log in and see your account information but you cant send or receive money. If you have funds in your PayPal balance, it will be held for up to XXXX days. After that, well email you with information on how to access your funds. '' I also received XXXX ( one ) e-mail from Venmo stating the following : " XXXX XXXX, Your Venmo account has been frozen due to recent activity that triggered some security alerts. You may have received a separate email from Venmo with more information. If you have questions or want to reactivate your account, please contact Support here. Thanks, Team Venmo '' I have been blocked from access to the accounts and the funds reserved in them. I have contacted both PayPal and Venmo regarding this time-sensitive matter but have not received a response regarding the reasoning for the restrictions nor any information regarding how to appeal any decisions.
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 11238
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-11-02
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-11-01
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Pay Pal allowed a company called XXXX charged me {$89.00} on XX/XX/XXXX. I never authorized this payment. Per Pay Pals policies, processes and procedures I have to contact XXXX and tell them I never authorized this payment. Pay Pal subsequently took {$89.00} from a payment that I had received from XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. The payment was for {$230.00}. I never authorize Pay Pal to deduct a payment from a payment that I had received.
Company Response:
State: GA
Zip: 30263
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-11-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-11-01
Issue: Managing an account
Subissue: Deposits and withdrawals
Consumer Complaint: I received some deposits from my military benefits. In the month of XXXX PayPal allowed my account to be used for buying crypto by someone other than me. I disputed them through the app, when I went to check the status of the dispute there was no open or closed case. I called PayPal and they opened a case but closed it in approximately an hour saying that the XXXX transactions are consistent or something. I will NEVER use or buy that amount of XXXX PayPal cant even tell me where that money was sent. I need my money back because I live off of my XXXX check and the first time I deposit my checks into that account I get taken advantage of. PayPal needs to take a deeper look into my account and refund my money. I do not care if they close that account but I will not stop until I get my funds back. Case number : XXXX
Company Response:
State: GA
Zip: 30291
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-11-01
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2022-11-01
Issue: Unexpected or other fees
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/2022 at XXXX XXXX PDT, XXXX took {$11000.00} USD due to " PayPals damages caused by Acceptable Use Policy violation ''
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 92602
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2022-11-01
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A