Date Received: 2020-10-25
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I have an account with PayPal in which i was having my Georgia unemployment benefits deposited into. I have zero fraudulent activity and zero chargeback history on the account, the account is only used to receive my funds each week and then i would transfer them to a Prepaid Paypal mastercard account to access them. Well, on or about the month of XXXX of the year 2020, Paypal placed a limitation on my account and requested that i verify my identity by providing a bank statement from the prepaid card i was sending my money into. I did just that and paypal proceeded to lock my account and tell me that they would be holding my funds for 180 days. From what i understand, this is done to prevent chargeback losses to the company, however, as i have said i do not have any fraudulent activity or bad transactions on my account. I feel like i have been taken advantage of and i demand access to my money. My name is XXXX XXXX and any help with this matter would be appreciated.
Company Response:
State: GA
Zip: 30144
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-10-25
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-10-24
Issue: Other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/20 I transferred {$1000.00} from my PayPal account to my son 's PayPal account. When my son tried to access the money in his PayPal account he was unable to. We contacted PayPal resolution and they said that they flagged this transaction as suspicious and froze the money in his account. They said that it looked to them that I was buying something from him but they was no merchandise delivered. Also because I transferred {$1000.00} to his account and they saw it as a transaction, he only received {$970.00} in his account ( 3 % plus 30 cents deducted ). Although I've had a PayPal account for many years, this is the first time I attempted to transfer money with it. I typically only use this service to buy merchandise online. Maybe I made a mistake by the way I transferred the money? Anyway, the money has been frozen and although I've explained this to PayPal multiple times they refuse to unfreeze the money.
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 14623
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-10-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-10-24
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Subissue: Debt was paid
Consumer Complaint: I made a purchase of an item through a webpage called XXXX and they only allowed me to use PayPal for the item. I found out the website was fake and when I tried to communicate with them by email ( 6 times ) and never got an answer back. I submitted a claim with PayPal and they denied it saying it was a billing dispute. XXXX opened up an investigation and gave me a credit on my account for {$390.00} the amount I paid for the computer i never got. The next day PayPal also sent me my money back, Im assuming it was because XXXX inquired about my complaint. After a week or so I called XXXX back to ask them to take back the credit they gave me as I had received my money back from PayPal. Now Im getting emails and phone calls from PayPal telling me I have a {$390.00} deficit on my account and they froze my account until they receive {$390.00} payment. I called XXXX and was told someone canceled my complaint with XXXX and thats why XXXX has not returned PayPals refund. I spoke to XXXX Bank again yesterday ( XXXX ) and they researched the entire process and said I've done nothing wrong and i don't owe PayPal anything that they received there money back. I tried numerous times to talk to PayPal " Limatatons '' department they put me on hold and never come back! I honestly don't know what to do now.
Company Response:
State: FL
Zip: 349XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-10-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-10-24
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/2020 I submitted this : I sell on XXXX, and my PayPal account was limited on multiple occasions. When I was limited, PayPal had me submit the required information so that they may review it and un-ban my account. I had my account limited 4 times within one month and each time I was able to provide the necessary documentation and my account was released. When my account was banned for the 5th time, I had submitted my information and some time passed where I had not received an update regarding my account as I could not withdraw any of my funds which are desperately needed. I contacted customer support through email as their customer service phone number is not working because the call center is closed. The agent told me that they are waiting for a specific transaction that was in transit to a customer of mine, and once it was delivered, my account will be released. A few days later, I had received notification that my account was permanently banned and all my funds are withheld for 180 days. After contacting support 3 times, I was not able to find the reason for my ban. I received a reply from the company stating, " As stated in the Restricted Activities & Holds section of the User Agreement, your remaining Account balance will be held for up to 180 days. We will make any remaining funds, less reversals or other applicable debits, available to you for withdrawal on or before XX/XX/2020 ; and we will notify you of this via email. Due to the global concerns over COVID-19, we have implemented limited staffing of PayPal Customer Support for safety precautions. We apologize for this experience but can assure you we are still committed to providing world class customer service and can be reached via email and chat. Alternatively, you can use the self-service options found on your Account. '' I was lied to by the company. On XX/XX/2020, the company illegally withdrew my entire balance and said it was a payment for " PayPal 's damages caused by Acceptable Use Policy violation ''. This is ridiculous. I need my money now. I was blatantly lied to by the company and I am frustrated.
Company Response:
State: IL
Zip: 604XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-10-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-10-24
Issue: Other service problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: To me this boils down to one overarching issue and I can only guess that I'm just 1 of 100 's of thousands of Americans who have experienced this. Issue : XXXX/PayPal XXXX have too much reliance upon automated algorithms for customer account security at the expense of simply allowing customers to prove account ownership via answering questions. Both companies claim they have limited parameters for consumer questions and when exhausted can not provide account access. Their response is simply to " open a new account '' and will not provide any reasons for such actions. Consumer recourse to reach a human agent on the phone of either company is nested so deep in their websites that it is nearly impossible to reach a human agent for timely resolution of account issues. Additionally, when those resources are found within their websites many times it then asks for the consumer to login to make contact with the company from the same accounts they are currently locked out of. Thus creating a loop where the consumer has even more limited options of reaching the company for assistance. Timeline : XX/XX/2020 - I spent 3 hours tediously web chatting with eBay until finally reaching an agent on the phone who was able to provide access. XX/XX/XXXX. 2020 - I spent 2 hours tediously web chatting with PayPal and was never able to speak with an agent. My account access was never restored during that time even after answering all of their questions with 100 % accuracy. These two dates only represent account lockouts happening since I began documenting the interactions across the XXXX/PayPal XXXX as there have been multiple prior occurrences even though I use both companies very infrequently. It's also worth noting the account lockouts occurred after I had successfully logged in to XXXX and PayPal respectively earlier on both days prior to the account lockout. These two dates also represent the longest periods of account lockout and in the case of PayPal, there is no resolution to-date. In the case of PayPal which is a registered XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX Registration Number : XXXX ) with XXXX, Im amazed that they are able to wield so much power over consumer finances yet offer so little consumer service and fair reporting.
Company Response:
State: IL
Zip: 60563
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-10-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-10-23
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Someone listed my account on a website as a vendor. I was sent multiple payments from people outside of the USA. I forwarded the emails and reports to Paypal. I also declined the payments as I am not a vendor and do not sell items online. Paypal closed my account and kept my cash on hand, stating I can have it in 180 days. I have called reporting the fraud was not my doing on XX/XX/20 - the number I called was ( XXXX ) XXXX. I gave all the data including the fact that earlier that day I had forward the emails to the XXXX. I was told I would have a formal response in 72 hrs. I got nothing. I called again XX/XX/20 the automated system recognized my number and would not transfer my call it hung up on me. I then reached out via XXXX on XX/XX/20 was advised the issue would be escalated. I today, XX/XX/20, got an internal email on the Paypal platform addressed to XXXX ( not my name ). Per user agreement the account is permanently limited. No explanation of what violation was made. I am the one who reported the fraud and now I have lost access to my account and funds. While I understand if I violate the agreement then my account can be limited how is it fair that I was the party that reported the fraud/scam and lost my account and have to wait for my funds.
Company Response:
State: TX
Zip: 76131
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-10-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-10-23
Issue: Managing, opening, or closing your mobile wallet account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: PayPal sent me a message today that it was permanently closing my account without an explanation why. I tried to contact PayPal but their automated phone system immediately hung up on me, and PayPal has apparently locked me out of being able to message it online. I can assure PayPal I did nothing fraudulent or that would otherwise violate its terms, so I want ( a ) an explanation of what problem they detected and ( b ) an opportunity to dispute the closure and get me account reopened.
Company Response:
State: CO
Zip: 80226
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-10-23
Issue: Wrong amount charged or received
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/XXXX I have made a purchase using PalPal for an item ( {$2.00} ). However the transaction resulted in a XXXX cash advance fee charged by my credit card. The bank 's explanation which is plausible stated that the transaction information submitted to them by PP listed the transaction as cash advance and not purchase. They also stated that this is a common situation with PP. On XX/XX/ I contacted PP and after a long wait I spoke with CSR based in their overseas call center. Unfortunately the CSR was not able to even help me as he didn't understand the concept of cash advance which he admitted PP employees ( or contracted ones ) are not trained in the basic concepts of payment systems. When I was transferred to the supervisor after about 15 min wait ( employee number given as XXXX ) he told me that he doesn't have any authority to address the issue except to " escalate '' it. In short the PP system is designed to specifically deceive consumers and not to address issues by getting them involved in a long and laborious administrative process to get the issue resolved, in this case {$10.00} This type of fraud is simply unacceptable and it is a fault of the regulator to not able to stamp out this pathology with heavy fines ( per incident ).
Company Response:
State: IL
Zip: 60073
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-10-23
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Paypal is fraudulently declining financial transactions to withhold cash-back award potential. Despite having a long established relationship with this vendor they have begun declining all transactions on business debit card ending in XXXX. My PayPal account is in good standing and is secured by a long standing link to my financial accounts at XXXX XXXX. Paypal despite repeated attempts to contact them by phone has zero support available and chat support takes hours and days to respond and do so with scripted messages that do not address the concern. When formally asked to escalate the concerns no additional action is taken nor additional contact made. PayPal is fraudulently declining transactions in an effort to deprive me of my cardholder right to receive cash-back rewards and unjustly enrich themselves through theft by conversion. Account ID : XXXX debit card end XXXX
Company Response:
State: MI
Zip: 48185
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-10-23
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Placed order online for an swimming pool liner in the amount of {$98.00}. Two days later I received an email stating that item was delivered. Reached out to the merchant through email @ XXXX. I sent 3 different messages on 2 different days and still no reply back. I then called USPS and gave them the Tracking number XXXX. The agent then asked me for my shipping address. She stated that the address on the tracking is not mine and that she would open an case for the item. Service request case # XXXX for USPS>>> After contacting USPS I then call my bank which is XX/XX/XXXX ( claim # XXXX ) which then credited my account temporarily. After 90 days of XX/XX/XXXXdoing there investigation they then stated that they would not pay the claim. I have reached out to the claims department multiple times regarding this issue and I was told to contact Pay pal who then stated for me to contact my banking institution. I have missed hours from my job trying to deal with this matter and I thought that your bank has your back.
Company Response:
State: NC
Zip: 28052
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A