PayPal is Hillary Clinton (1 Viewer)

[McGarnicle]

$500 unauthorized hold on my checking account originating in China posted this morning.

I tried to report the fraud via their website. Tells me the transaction ID is invalid.

Emailed -- got an automated response which was no help whatsoever.

Tweeted @askpaypal -- yeah, good luck with that.

Called customer service -- on hold for FIVE HOURS and counting. They effectively do not have telephone support.

My bank needs a fax from PayPal today to prevent the charge from officially posting to my account. Not happening.

Not sure if this will ever be resolved but I am definitely canceling my account. Sucks, since no one else offers their level of convenience for online purchases, but their security and customer service are abysmal.

 

[Eminence]

$500 unauthorized hold on my checking account originating in China posted this morning.

I tried to report the fraud via their website. Tells me the transaction ID is invalid.

Emailed -- got an automated response which was no help whatsoever.

Tweeted @askpaypal -- yeah, good luck with that.

Called customer service -- on hold for FIVE HOURS and counting. They effectively do not have telephone support.

My bank needs a fax from PayPal today to prevent the charge from officially posting to my account. Not happening.

Not sure if this will ever be resolved but I am definitely canceling my account. Sucks, since no one else offers their level of convenience for online purchases, but their security and customer service are abysmal.

In my experience, do not do any business outside of the United States with PayPal / eBay. I got scammed hardcore out of a $400 phone.

 

[3C's]

Ouch! I had my checking acct on there for a while but removed it. Seems safer to only have the Amex since they're easier to deal with if a fraudulent charge shows up. And I have email alerts for any time the card is used online.

 

[Quez]

Did the OP buy something from outside of the US or did a $500 charge just appear out of nowhere?

 

[Fat Nick]

I feel for you man...I HATE them. I got scammed out of a $800 digital camera about 8-9 years ago in a scam e-bay buyer deal. Their customer service basically told me "sorry." They gave me the OK to ship, the funds showed up in my account, everything...then, after 3 weeks, long after I shipped the item, they pulled the funds back saying the CC# was stolen and they wouldn't help at all in recovering my item.

THIS was my avatar for some time.

 

[ffjunk]

Here is a list of phone numbers from a pay pal sucks website.

 

[3C's]

Did the OP buy something from outside of the US or did a $500 charge just appear out of nowhere?

It sounds like an unapproved charge showed up.

 

[Quez]

Google Wallet has some kind if send/receive money solution I was looking at today. I decided not to sign up since it requires a few bank verification steps. However, this thread may make me reconsider.

 

[Eminence]

Google Wallet has some kind if send/receive money solution I was looking at today. I decided not to sign up since it requires a few bank verification steps. However, this thread may make me reconsider.

Really, your biggest concern should be transactions outside of the United States. It's very hard to get scammed from someone inside of the United States, especially if you're doing dealings outside of eBay.

To my knowledge, a charge can't miraculously 'appear' on your PayPal account unless someone has hacked or stolen your account details. Even from there, PayPal has the IP addresses logged of everyone who uses your account and I assume a foreign charge would be red flagged rather quickly.

 

[NCCommish]

Paypal is really crappy. If someone can't take my card then I buy from someone else. I refuse to buy using paypal.

 

[dickey moe]

Google Wallet has some kind if send/receive money solution I was looking at today. I decided not to sign up since it requires a few bank verification steps. However, this thread may make me reconsider.

Really, your biggest concern should be transactions outside of the United States. It's very hard to get scammed from someone inside of the United States, especially if you're doing dealings outside of eBay.

To my knowledge, a charge can't miraculously 'appear' on your PayPal account unless someone has hacked or stolen your account details. Even from there, PayPal has the IP addresses logged of everyone who uses your account and I assume a foreign charge would be red flagged rather quickly.

Welcome back, GB.

 

[McGarnicle]

Did the OP buy something from outside of the US or did a $500 charge just appear out of nowhere?

Just showed up out of nowhere. I received 3 mails overnight that appear to be legitimately from PayPal, but all in Chinese. Then a mail in English this morning telling me they saw suspicious activity and asking that I change my password and security questions. But they still let the transaction go through.

 

[djmich]

Paypal is convenient, but their service does suck, their is added risk with providing your DDA, and they get real pissy when you exercise your CC chargeback rights rather than go through their "we'll try to work it out" program.

 

[The_Man]

Thanks for the heads-up. I hardly ever use eBay or PayPal, so hadn't updated my password since the big eBay security breach. Because my two accounts are linked, I just logged in and changed them both.

 

[Joe T]

Paypal is really crappy. If someone can't take my card then I buy from someone else. I refuse to buy using paypal.

Pretty much the same for me. Why would I shop with anyone that doesn't take a credit card?

 

[fantasycurse42]

Did the OP buy something from outside of the US or did a $500 charge just appear out of nowhere?

Just showed up out of nowhere. I received 3 mails overnight that appear to be legitimately from PayPal, but all in Chinese. Then a mail in English this morning telling me they saw suspicious activity and asking that I change my password and security questions. But they still let the transaction go through.

That is absolutely ####### ridiculous... Debating shutting my account down right now, I never use it anyways.

What bank is asking for a letter from Paypal?

About to disable my bank account, here is the link they send you to beforehand... https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/paypal-safety-and-security

 

[McGarnicle]

Did the OP buy something from outside of the US or did a $500 charge just appear out of nowhere?

Just showed up out of nowhere. I received 3 mails overnight that appear to be legitimately from PayPal, but all in Chinese. Then a mail in English this morning telling me they saw suspicious activity and asking that I change my password and security questions. But they still let the transaction go through.

That is absolutely ####### ridiculous... Debating shutting my account down right now, I never use it anyways.

What bank is asking for a letter from Paypal?

PNC

 

[IC FBGCav]

I have never had a problem with them.

 

[culdeus]

I keep my paypal linked to a checking account that has a very low balance and make it pull from a CC for everything. This covers me in the event of a hack/fraud like this.

Maybe.

 

[djmich]

Paypal is really crappy. If someone can't take my card then I buy from someone else. I refuse to buy using paypal.

Pretty much the same for me. Why would I shop with anyone that doesn't take a credit card?

You don't always use Paypal because the shop doesnt accept credit card but because it is more convenient and in theory safer than giving every online merchant your CC #.

 

[Joe T]

Paypal is really crappy. If someone can't take my card then I buy from someone else. I refuse to buy using paypal.

Pretty much the same for me. Why would I shop with anyone that doesn't take a credit card?

You don't always use Paypal because the shop doesnt accept credit card but because it is more convenient and in theory safer than giving every online merchant your CC #.

what?

 

[djmich]

Paypal is really crappy. If someone can't take my card then I buy from someone else. I refuse to buy using paypal.

Pretty much the same for me. Why would I shop with anyone that doesn't take a credit card?

You don't always use Paypal because the shop doesnt accept credit card but because it is more convenient and in theory safer than giving every online merchant your CC #.

what?

You don't have to give a website you've never done business with your credit card number...that sounds safer than giving them your credit card number. No?

 

[McGarnicle]

Sounds like PNC is going to take care of this for me no matter what. They were less than helpful this morning but the girl I just spoke to sounded pretty hot actually and put a stop payment on the charge. She said it may still post in the morning, in which case I could formally dispute it, then most likely have the money back in a few days.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Sounds like PNC is going to take care of this for me no matter what. They were less than helpful this morning but the girl I just spoke to sounded pretty hot actually and put a stop payment on the charge. She said it may still post in the morning, in which case I could formally dispute it, then most likely have the money back in a few days.

I was about to say, you need a new bank... Kinda ridiculous if they wouldn't help you here.

 

[NCCommish]

Paypal is really crappy. If someone can't take my card then I buy from someone else. I refuse to buy using paypal.

Pretty much the same for me. Why would I shop with anyone that doesn't take a credit card?

You don't always use Paypal because the shop doesnt accept credit card but because it is more convenient and in theory safer than giving every online merchant your CC #.

what?

You don't have to give a website you've never done business with your credit card number...that sounds safer than giving them your credit card number. No?

I get more protection from my card issuer than Paypal. Paypal doesn't care. Paypal has screwed thousands of people with their practices. They have caused small businesses to go under by freezing every dollar they had. If you can only offer Paypal you don't get my money.

 

[Joe T]

Paypal is really crappy. If someone can't take my card then I buy from someone else. I refuse to buy using paypal.

Pretty much the same for me. Why would I shop with anyone that doesn't take a credit card?

You don't always use Paypal because the shop doesnt accept credit card but because it is more convenient and in theory safer than giving every online merchant your CC #.

what?

You don't have to give a website you've never done business with your credit card number...that sounds safer than giving them your credit card number. No?

Is the alternative giving paypal access to my bank account? Then no, it doesn't sound safer. And not just based on this thread, I'm 100% sure it is not safer.

 

[RUSF18]

Sounds like PNC is going to take care of this for me no matter what. They were less than helpful this morning but the girl I just spoke to sounded pretty hot actually and put a stop payment on the charge. She said it may still post in the morning, in which case I could formally dispute it, then most likely have the money back in a few days.

I was about to say, you need a new bank... Kinda ridiculous if they wouldn't help you here.

Likewise, when I read the OP, my comment was going to be that your anger should be directed more towards your bank. A random charge originates from China and they should have held it first and contacted you, not made you jump through hoops to clear it.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Sounds like PNC is going to take care of this for me no matter what. They were less than helpful this morning but the girl I just spoke to sounded pretty hot actually and put a stop payment on the charge. She said it may still post in the morning, in which case I could formally dispute it, then most likely have the money back in a few days.

I was about to say, you need a new bank... Kinda ridiculous if they wouldn't help you here.

Likewise, when I read the OP, my comment was going to be that your anger should be directed more towards your bank. A random charge originates from China and they should have held it first and contacted you, not made you jump through hoops to clear it.

If I'm reading what happened right, I don't think the bank knows where the charge originated from... I think they just see it as a request to add funds from paypal.

However, if he calls his bank and says he didn't authorize it, they shouldn't process it.

 

[McGarnicle]

Sounds like PNC is going to take care of this for me no matter what. They were less than helpful this morning but the girl I just spoke to sounded pretty hot actually and put a stop payment on the charge. She said it may still post in the morning, in which case I could formally dispute it, then most likely have the money back in a few days.

I was about to say, you need a new bank... Kinda ridiculous if they wouldn't help you here.

Likewise, when I read the OP, my comment was going to be that your anger should be directed more towards your bank. A random charge originates from China and they should have held it first and contacted you, not made you jump through hoops to clear it.

To my bank, the charge originated from PayPal. They have no idea that it came from China. And I recently paid a pool guy $600 via PayPal so this didn't look out of the ordinary either. The onus is on PayPal's security here and they did a horrible job.

 

[comfortably numb]

paypal/ebay marriage is the only reason paypal is still alive.

Ebay is convenient for many and they have a monopoly on how you can pay for an item through ebay.

Some of paypal's business practices seem borderline illegal with holding up your funds.

They act like a bank but seem to walk the line on the same regulations banks are held to.

 

[McGarnicle]

Paypal is really crappy. If someone can't take my card then I buy from someone else. I refuse to buy using paypal.

Pretty much the same for me. Why would I shop with anyone that doesn't take a credit card?

You don't always use Paypal because the shop doesnt accept credit card but because it is more convenient and in theory safer than giving every online merchant your CC #.

what?

You don't have to give a website you've never done business with your credit card number...that sounds safer than giving them your credit card number. No?

Is the alternative giving paypal access to my bank account? Then no, it doesn't sound safer. And not just based on this thread, I'm 100% sure it is not safer.

This is what blows me away...I've always perceived it as being perfectly safe and have done probably over 1000 transactions over the years. With the security that (appears) to be in place, it should be safe. Except last night someone in China hacked into my account, apparently did not have to answer any security questions (maybe they hacked my security answers in addition or my password?), posted this phony withdrawal....AND PAYPAL SAW THAT IT WAS SUSPICIOUS, and sent it to my bank to be paid anyway. This is a company that handles billions in transactions annually. It's just mind boggling.

 

[McGarnicle]

PayPal is now responding via Twitter private message of all things. After I blasted them with 4 or 5 tweets of how worthless they are.

 

[RUSF18]

Sounds like PNC is going to take care of this for me no matter what. They were less than helpful this morning but the girl I just spoke to sounded pretty hot actually and put a stop payment on the charge. She said it may still post in the morning, in which case I could formally dispute it, then most likely have the money back in a few days.

I was about to say, you need a new bank... Kinda ridiculous if they wouldn't help you here.

Likewise, when I read the OP, my comment was going to be that your anger should be directed more towards your bank. A random charge originates from China and they should have held it first and contacted you, not made you jump through hoops to clear it.

To my bank, the charge originated from PayPal. They have no idea that it came from China. And I recently paid a pool guy $600 via PayPal so this didn't look out of the ordinary either. The onus is on PayPal's security here and they did a horrible job.

My mistake. But agree with FC...most banks now will remove disputed charges immediately and investigate. I've never heard of needing a letter to remove a charge.

 

[McGarnicle]

My mistake. But agree with FC...most banks now will remove disputed charges immediately and investigate. I've never heard of needing a letter to remove a charge.

They wanted the fax so they could remove the hold immediately. To file a dispute I would need to need to wait until it actually posts, which then lengthens the whole process.

And PayPal just called me. Someone in China has been in my account several times going back to last year. Possibly a virus. I'll have to find out it someone has been using this computer for porn or something.

 

[tonydead]

I keep my paypal linked to a checking account that has a very low balance and make it pull from a CC for everything. This covers me in the event of a hack/fraud like this.

Maybe.

You don't have to give a website you've never done business with your credit card number...that sounds safer than giving them your credit card number. No?

Yes

Is the alternative giving paypal access to my bank account? Then no, it doesn't sound safer. And not just based on this thread, I'm 100% sure it is not safer.

See Culdeus post above. No third party has access to my bank account that has real money in it.

And PayPal just called me. Someone in China has been in my account several times going back to last year. Possibly a virus. I'll have to find out it someone has been using this computer for porn or something.

So it wasn't PayPal's issue then. And you're probably lucky it was your PayPal account and not your bank account or credit card number.

 

[McGarnicle]

So it wasn't PayPal's issue then. And you're probably lucky it was your PayPal account and not your bank account or credit card number.

Hmm. Okay so it wasn't their issue except they knew someone was accessing my account from China since last year and I was never told. And they processed a payment that they identified as suspicious when they could have stopped it. Other than that...

 

[shadyridr]

My mistake. But agree with FC...most banks now will remove disputed charges immediately and investigate. I've never heard of needing a letter to remove a charge.

They wanted the fax so they could remove the hold immediately. To file a dispute I would need to need to wait until it actually posts, which then lengthens the whole process. And PayPal just called me. Someone in China has been in my account several times going back to last year. Possibly a virus. I'll have to find out it someone has been using this computer for porn or something.

should be easy to tell. Are all the penises in your porn censored?

 

[tonydead]

So it wasn't PayPal's issue then. And you're probably lucky it was your PayPal account and not your bank account or credit card number.

Hmm. Okay so it wasn't their issue except they knew someone was accessing my account from China since last year and I was never told. And they processed a payment that they identified as suspicious when they could have stopped it. Other than that...

Sorry, I meant root cause of the problem.

 

[Paulymaggs]

Paypal is really crappy. If someone can't take my card then I buy from someone else. I refuse to buy using paypal.

Pretty much the same for me. Why would I shop with anyone that doesn't take a credit card?

You don't always use Paypal because the shop doesnt accept credit card but because it is more convenient and in theory safer than giving every online merchant your CC #.

what?

You are truly that dimwitted that you don't get what that guy is saying?

 

[17seconds]

1 guy know card # good, many guy know card # bad

 

[Joe T]

Paypal is really crappy. If someone can't take my card then I buy from someone else. I refuse to buy using paypal.

Pretty much the same for me. Why would I shop with anyone that doesn't take a credit card?

You don't always use Paypal because the shop doesnt accept credit card but because it is more convenient and in theory safer than giving every online merchant your CC #.

what?

You are truly that dimwitted that you don't get what that guy is saying?

No. I got it.

The "what?" meant I didn't believe it. Still don't. hth

 

[NutterButter]

I don't know how you guys get screwed over with paypal. Other than Amazon, everything I buy on the net goes through paypal and I've never had a problem. I absolutely love the convenience.

 

[McGarnicle]

Hell, I'll post my credit card number on a bathroom wall. One fraudulent charge and I can report it stolen and I don't owe a thing. Here we're talking about your checking account. I have been deprived of $500 for a few days. In the end it's little more than an inconvenience but it's clearly worse than a credit card being compromised.

 

[Quez]

I looked more into Google wallet and downloaded the app. Along with having a PayPal like way of sending/receiving money it also allows you to input rewards cards. I put my Walgreen's card and a few others in it, so I guess I can just scan my phone instead...

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

McGarnacle I hope you get your dough back/never gets taken out.

Either way it's a colossal pain in the ### having to essentially spend all that time and energy sifting through all the dopes on the phone.

I feel your pain.

Hopefully the dude I send $277 to for a winning bid Sunday sends me my item despite not listing it as shipped or responding to my email.

 

[tonydead]

I guess u missed the part where you use your CC through PayPal. I agree it's not smart to use a real banking account there.

Hell, I'll post my credit card number on a bathroom wall. One fraudulent charge and I can report it stolen and I don't owe a thing. Here we're talking about your checking account. I have been deprived of $500 for a few days. In the end it's little more than an inconvenience but it's clearly worse than a credit card being compromised.

 

[Galileo]

I don't know how you guys get screwed over with paypal. Other than Amazon, everything I buy on the net goes through paypal and I've never had a problem. I absolutely love the convenience.

My experience thus far has only been positive as well.

 

[McGarnicle]

I guess u missed the part where you use your CC through PayPal. I agree it's not smart to use a real banking account there.

Hell, I'll post my credit card number on a bathroom wall. One fraudulent charge and I can report it stolen and I don't owe a thing. Here we're talking about your checking account. I have been deprived of $500 for a few days. In the end it's little more than an inconvenience but it's clearly worse than a credit card being compromised.

Yeah but if you use it a lot, it's a huge inconvenience not to have your checking account linked. As a buyer, if I'm using a credit card I have to remember to immediately make a payment to the CC bank or I'll probably end up carrying that transaction into the next month and incurring interest charges. As a seller, now I can't transfer money to checking; I have to request a physical check. Everything gets slowed down.

 

[tonydead]

I guess u missed the part where you use your CC through PayPal. I agree it's not smart to use a real banking account there.

Hell, I'll post my credit card number on a bathroom wall. One fraudulent charge and I can report it stolen and I don't owe a thing. Here we're talking about your checking account. I have been deprived of $500 for a few days. In the end it's little more than an inconvenience but it's clearly worse than a credit card being compromised.

Yeah but if you use it a lot, it's a huge inconvenience not to have your checking account linked. As a buyer, if I'm using a credit card I have to remember to immediately make a payment to the CC bank or I'll probably end up carrying that transaction into the next month and incurring interest charges. As a seller, now I can't transfer money to checking; I have to request a physical check. Everything gets slowed down.

I have a secondary (low $$) bank account that's linked. I'd never let a third party have access to my real accounts.

If you are a buyer the CC can send you a bill each month so you don't forget (plus you earn points by using a CC).

If you are a seller there are several ways to move money out of the bank account fast.

 

[Enderdog]

<--- PayPal free since 2005. It was hard to cancel back then too.