Date Received: 2021-08-23
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Out of nowhere, I have been entirely blocked from making payments on Venmo. I reached out to them initially and they told me to try a different payment method to get around any potential issue with the initial payment method. After trying three different payment methods and trying over the course of a week, I am still being blocked from making any payments to anyone else on Venmo. This is a significant monetary issue for me. I asked for a Venmo supervisor to solve the issue but she repeated that Venmo 's automated system flagged a transaction as risky. However, this does not address the issue that I am still blocked after over a week 's time having tried different payment methods and tried paying different people with different payment amounts. It is not a transaction that was blocked but an error in the Venmo system that has blocked me as a user for no good reason. The supervisor has provided no solution and is no longer willing to contact the appropriate people in Venmo to fix the issue. She could contact the security team, or web developers, or her own supervisor but nothing has been done. I am being denied Venmo 's services which is discriminatory and incurring losses to me. I would like this to be escalated and solved so that I am not unfairly barred from ever using Venmo again.
Company Response:
State: VA
Zip: 22203
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2021-08-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2021-08-23
Issue: Managing, opening, or closing your mobile wallet account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I opened a Venmo account a friend sent me money I tried to link my XXXX accounts to the Venmo account and it will not work I sent numerous emails to get my money and no one can help me I was told the system is " Automated '' and there is no way to help me except to send the money back to the person that sent it. I am not on talking terms anymore with the sender and they will keep my money if I send it back. I asked for a check to be sent in the mail. They refused. They said I could send the money to my debit card. I tried and the system would no link it,. I spoke to a supervisor and they said there is not way for me to get my money.
Company Response:
State: AZ
Zip: 85029
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2021-08-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2021-08-23
Issue: Problem with a purchase shown on your statement
Subissue: Credit card company isn't resolving a dispute about a purchase on your statement
Consumer Complaint: I purchased 5 flights through XXXX using both my personal ( XXXX ) and business ( XXXX ) PayPal accounts. I Cancelled all of the flights after Paypal chose to close both accounts ( with no explanation ) as I feared they would cancel the flights and I would be left stranded- so I rebooked seperately. After I cancelled, I received a refund email from XXXX. However- there is no money back on my card or in my paypal account. Paypal says the money isn't there. XXXX says the money has been refunded. However- XXXX has provided receipts of their return ( attached ). Paypal Transaction IDs : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX {$30000.00} Paid and no refund.
Company Response:
State: TX
Zip: 75020
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2021-08-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2021-08-23
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I have an account with PayPal since 2001 and it is in good standing. I made a purchase from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX for a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX for {$99.00}. I used Paypal for the payment to protect me from fraud. When the item didn't arrive, I contacted the seller but their website and email was no longer working. I made a complaint with PayPal but my case was declined because the seller provided XXXX tracking information. I noted that the tracking information showed the weight of XXXX lbs when the weight of my purchase should have been more than XXXX lbs. I also learned that PayPal has been aware of this scam for several years. The scammer purchases a shipping label and then alters it with a different delivery address with the same town and state. I attempted to escalate my complaint and PayPal agent told me to obtain a delivery confirmation from XXXX. PayPal KNOWS that XXXX can not provide a confirmation of delivery address to me because I am not the shipper. My agreement is with PayPal, and PayPal must provide me with confirmation of the actual delivery address or refund my purchase. That is part of PayPal buyer 's protection.
Company Response:
State: TX
Zip: 78664
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2021-08-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2021-08-23
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Subissue: Debt was result of identity theft
Consumer Complaint: I began getting calls from PayPal in mid XX/XX/2021. These calls were actually being intercepted by my phone company XXXX 's robocall-blocking feature but I could see the Caller ID and number that was calling me. I called PayPal and was told that I had a balance due to Paypal of {$300.00}. I told them this account is fraudulent and they told me that this was being reported as fraud and would be referred for investigation. They told me that I did not owe PayPal anything. In early XXXX, I received nearly 20 calls over 4 days. I called PayPal again and was told that I still had a balance due to Paypal of {$300.00}. I subsequently found that someone had opened at least 2 accounts in my name, SSN, address and telephone number fraudulently. I also found out that there was a balance due on a second account of {$180.00}. When I contacted Paypal XX/XX/XXXX to report the fraud I wasn't even aware there was second account. I was told that the suspect account would be closed, that I am not responsible for the amount due and that their collection agencies would be made aware and would not contact me. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received an invoice from XXXX XXXX XXXX ( PayPal 's collection agency ) stating that I had a balance due of {$180.00}. When I followed up with PayPal on XX/XX/XXXX about this, I discovered this was the second fraudulent account under my name. PayPal, supposedly, will now close this account as fraudulent, too. PayPal will not or can not give me any information about when these accounts were opened. I do know that the email address used to open these accounts is not my actual email address. PayPal does not have record of my actual email address. Since email seems to be PayPal 's preferred ( perhaps only ) method of communication, I never knew about these accounts. I have asked PayPal to provide me a written confirmation of the actions they have taken, but their customer service representatives and a supervisor would not give me that information. The company is not taking my concerns seriously and believe that I should take appropriate actions under the law. It is very difficult to contact anyone with authority at PayPal. I was told that all a person needs to open a PayPal account is to provide an email address. Since I have a security alert on my credit reports, I know that PayPal does not seem to have tried to determine my credit rating. This is very poor business practice.
Company Response:
State: PA
Zip: XXXXX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2021-08-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2021-08-22
Issue: Managing, opening, or closing your mobile wallet account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: About a year ago I asked PayPal to cancel my account and delete all my information. To this day I get emails about my account.
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 93312
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2021-08-22
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2021-08-22
Issue: Lost or stolen check
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: A refund was submitted by merchant and PayPal is refusing to release the funds back to my debit card
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 10457
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2021-08-22
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2021-08-21
Issue: Other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I have a XXXX XXXX XXXX and contracted with a client for services for their daughter 's bat mitzvah that was to take place on XX/XX/2020. The client was sending emails around saying that the party would go forward as late as the night of XX/XX/XXXX. On the morning of XX/XX/XXXX, I received information from the venue that this client had cancelled their event with them. When I contacted them to confirm, the client was excessively rude, threatened me and then hung up on me. We had purchased all of the food, ordered the rentals, had the party fully staffed and prepped much of the food, as well, requiring staffing the kitchen in the days leading up to do so. The contract reads clearly what the cancellation penalties are and, in spite of the fact that we had no obligation, we were prepared to work with them on a future date, crediting whatever was possible. The client had paid a large portion of the party through PayPal using the client 's business, which happens to be a credit card company, to do so. They asked for a full refund, declining our offer to work with them on an alternate date. I responded by restating the terms of the contract, which states that a cancellation at that late date did not warrant a refund. In fact, they still had a balance due, which I did not pursue. The next thing that I heard anything about this was when I received a dunning letter last month stating that I owed PayPal {$6500.00}. Apparently, the client applied for a charge back from PayPal more than a year after the payment was made as an end run around his contractual responsibilities. PayPal claims to have sent one email, which I did not receive or I would have responded immediately with my documents to refute this claim. I have received a ton of spam related to PayPal and have forwarded much of it to them, never hearing a reply back. As I do not use PayPal very often, I do not check my PayPal message box on their site and had no other way to know what was transpiring. He used PayPal so that he could pay by credit card. I do not accept credit cards and the client was upset from the start about that. In retrospect, I have to wonder if he uses credit cards as insurance in case he doesn't like the outcome of something. It is much easier to get a refund from a credit card than it is if using cash or a check. When I tried to reach out to PayPal to settle this, their response was basically, too late. They allowed a charge back well past their printed time to acquire one, so I do not know why they can not revisit this issue. At the very least, they should be required to confirm that contact has been made before they can proceed with such a claim. They seem to want to bear no responsibility and the end result is that they are allowing this client to break our contract with no consequence. PayPal is now a vehicle to circumvent a contractual agreement, something I believe that only a court has the right to do. As I was given no way to escalate my complaint, independently I found the email address for the CFO of PayPal on XXXX and sent a couple of messages directly to him, but got no response. I am very frustrated and upset that they seem to not care and not be held to the same standards as other financial institutions. There are no consequences for PayPal or the client when they don't follow the rules. I do not know if my client 's status of being in the credit card business had any affect on the way things were handled, but I am quite sure that they utilize PayPal more often than I do, making them a more attractive client than I am and returning the charge did not impact PayPal at all. I am a struggling small business owner and this is a burden, more dramatically while being a XXXX during these times.
Company Response:
State: NJ
Zip: 07003
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2021-08-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2021-08-21
Issue: Managing, opening, or closing your mobile wallet account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Hello CFBP, My name is XXXX. I have a serious issue with Venmo. On XX/XX/2021 XXXX XXXX Mountain Time {$1400.00} was sent to me from my other account using my XXXX XXXX card. I tried to transfer the money but it wouldn't let me so I waited till XX/XX/2021 to email a ticket notifying them to unfreeze my account. I was contacted by customer service agent named XXXX XXXX on XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX Mountain Time who forwarded my ticked to someone named XXXX XXXX an Account Specialist. On XX/XX/2021, XXXX XXXX emailed me to send them my ID and bank statements to prove to them that the card itself was mine and under my name. I sent them my ID and bank statement around XXXX XXXX Mountain time the same day. On XX/XX/2021 XXXX XXXX emailed me mentioning he has permanently deactivated my account even though everything I sent to him was valid. I emailed him back around XXXX XXXX Mountain Time mentioning I could provide more info to verify that the card was mine. I even offered my own social security and birth certificate. In the email he mentioned I violated one on of their policies and didn't clearly say what policy. The communication from him was very unprofessional and not informational. In the email it mentions they would be holding my funds for 180 days which is awful when I am in desperate need for the funds. I need the funds in order to pay my bills and utilities. Holding my funds for 180 days almost sounds like tyranny in my opinion. I've have been trying to get a new account specialist to look at my account and trying to get it unfrozen but Venmo seems to be ignoring my tickets. I desperately need my funds in order to pay my bills and other things in my life. I have also read on the web that they are doing this to many other people who are in need as well especially in this pandemic. CFBP if you could please help me get this issue fixed, I am in huge need for a resolution to the unprofessional work Venmo has done to me. In the following documents I will provide proof of my complaint.
Company Response:
State: ID
Zip: 83301
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2021-08-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2021-08-21
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Purchase of {$47.00} on XX/XX/2021, using PayPal for payment. URL : XXXX XXXX XXXX Seller info Transaction ID XXXX Delivered XX/XX/2021 Upon receiving the item, was clearly not as described. Appears to be a complete scam. Contacted seller, requested refund. Offered 50 %, then 60 % refund. Ultimately PayPal offered 100 % refund but requires " me '' to ship the goods back to XXXX, at my expense. I have no issues returning the item but not at my expense. Getting the run around. The cost of shipping to XXXX with tracking is more than the requested refund. Complete scam. This also seems to be a regular scam with PayPal and XXXX based merchants you should be addressing. For reference : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Text from the PayPal dispute provided below, case XXXX. Requesting a full refund. {$47.00}. The item received was not as advertised. Appears to be a complete scam. Looks like a cheap piece of plastic made and painted by a XXXX year old. Claims ( from the attached screenshots labeled " As Advertised XXXX '' ) " XXXX Full Metal Car Engine Assembly Kit '' Not true, single piece of plastic, no moving parts. Not an assembly kit. " car engine build kit is designed based on inline gasoline engine, but work with electric motor instead of gasoline '' Picture with an electric motor attached. No electric motor provided. No moving parts. " This four-cylinder engine is sent with kit ( 500pcs+ ) with a metal box ''. Not true, ONE plastic piece. Missing 499+ parts. " The whole process is close to the professional assembly line process. Its interesting and full of experience '' Not true, nothing to assemble. Complete garbage. " High Craftsmanship : The whole car engine is made of metal. With XXXX precision casting process, aluminum alloy oxidation, looks gorgeous. Ideal for gift collection. '' Not true. Not metal. " XXXX XXXX That Works : Working Principle - It is an electric engine, works with electric motor and 700 mah lithium battery. Under full power state, it works around 30 mins. '' Not true. No moving parts. Not electric motor. No Battery. Works for 0 minutes. I could keep going if needed. Please see the attached screenshots.
Company Response:
State: TX
Zip: 78613
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2021-08-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A