Paypal screwing over their customers - why can't I just use bitcoin?!

[hacknoid]

I just need to rant for a second...

 

I go to make a purchase at a place we buy from regularly this morning - using Paypal.  Instead of working, I get a message that the payment is declined, because I have hit some sort of limit, and now I need to verify my account!  I check my history, and there is nothing unusual there - no large transactions, just many small ones over the lifetime of the account (several years).  Checking the balance, we have spent nowhere near the stated limit in the past 12 months, so I can only assume they have a LIFETIME sending limit on their account - once you hit it, you need to verify.

On the Paypal site, there is a nice little banner informing me of this fact, and saying its easy to lift the limit - BY PROVIDING MY BANKING INFORMATION!  I am not providing that, as they have no business knowing it!  I have linked a credit card to the account for years now and have never had a problem.  Now the account is unusable, without providing that information!   They so screw over their customers!  I don't want to use them, but they have been the most convenient method of payment over the past several years.  They are making it so easy to see the advantage of using Bitcoin!


Now, more on topic for a second - this business is actually a place that I had contacted about them using Bitcoin, as they have mentioned that their fees are so high they encourage people to use checks rather than Paypal.  They do know about Bitcoin, and the people involved are interested, but unfortunately the other customers are already giving them such a hard time about how to use Paypal, that they (understandably) don't want to open a new can of worms with Bitcoin.  (FYI - The business is a CSA - a farm share, that provides fresh local fruits and vegetables to their members).

Oh, I so hope that we can see the end of Paypal - SOON.  Hopefully I'll have luck convincing the CSA to accept bitcoin sometime soon!

[OnkelPaul]

Would they be willing to work with BitPay?
Never used it, but it seems like a reasonable solution if a merchant wants to accept bitcoin payments without going through the perceived hassle of actually dealing with bitcoins.

Onkel Paul

[madmadmax]

I just need to rant for a second...

 

I go to make a purchase at a place we buy from regularly this morning - using Paypal.  Instead of working, I get a message that the payment is declined, because I have hit some sort of limit, and now I need to verify my account!  I check my history, and there is nothing unusual there - no large transactions, just many small ones over the lifetime of the account (several years).  Checking the balance, we have spent nowhere near the stated limit in the past 12 months, so I can only assume they have a LIFETIME sending limit on their account - once you hit it, you need to verify.

On the Paypal site, there is a nice little banner informing me of this fact, and saying its easy to lift the limit - BY PROVIDING MY BANKING INFORMATION!  I am not providing that, as they have no business knowing it!  I have linked a credit card to the account for years now and have never had a problem.  Now the account is unusable, without providing that information!   They so screw over their customers!  I don't want to use them, but they have been the most convenient method of payment over the past several years.  They are making it so easy to see the advantage of using Bitcoin!


Now, more on topic for a second - this business is actually a place that I had contacted about them using Bitcoin, as they have mentioned that their fees are so high they encourage people to use checks rather than Paypal.  They do know about Bitcoin, and the people involved are interested, but unfortunately the other customers are already giving them such a hard time about how to use Paypal, that they (understandably) don't want to open a new can of worms with Bitcoin.  (FYI - The business is a CSA - a farm share, that provides fresh local fruits and vegetables to their members).

Oh, I so hope that we can see the end of Paypal - SOON.  Hopefully I'll have luck convincing the CSA to accept bitcoin sometime soon!

You weren't really screwed by Paypal though - I was, purchased an item from eBay, the seller was fraudulent, asked them to give me back my money and was bounced around between different Paypal staff, they ultimately asked me to wait 13 days for the seller to settle the problem with me after which they would fully refund me, I have contacted them again after 13 days and they said that it has been too long and they can no longer reverse the transaction, I was raging at this point and asked them to give me the full details of the fraudulent seller so I could report him to the police, they said they take the privacy of their customers seriously etc and even refused to give me his phone number (and they also refused to report him themselves), lost 500$ but the lesson was worth it. Now that's some 1# class scamming of customers, who can top that?

I now have some details on the individual including a photo but it's extremely hard to dox, do you think it's worth it to open a thread?

[hacknoid]

Would they be willing to work with BitPay?
Never used it, but it seems like a reasonable solution if a merchant wants to accept bitcoin payments without going through the perceived hassle of actually dealing with bitcoins.

Onkel Paul

I did suggest Bitpay as on option to use, but I think, being a small operation, that they are having a hard time managing the customer inquiries and problems in using their website as it is (they have a good website, but some people are having trouble with the basics).  At this point, with Bitcoin still being so new in most people's eyes, I think they aren't ready to take on a whole new boatload of questions.  Their customer service person is fantastic, and really strives to be helpful on each and every inquiry, so I can see it taking a lot of her time already.

I've purchased through Bitpay several times, and it works great.  But of course, you have to understand what Bitcoin is before you could use it to purchase in this way...  No idea how much work is required on the backend, but I suspect it shouldn't be hard for them if they wanted to.

I'll keep (gently) pusing them in the right direction! 

[hacknoid]

You weren't really screwed by Paypal though - I was, purchased an item from eBay, the seller was fraudulent, asked them to give me back my money and was bounced around between different Paypal staff, they ultimately asked me to wait 13 days for the seller to settle the problem with me after which they would fully refund me, I have contacted them again after 13 days and they said that it has been too long and they can no longer reverse the transaction, I was raging at this point and asked them to give me the full details of the fraudulent seller so I could report him to the police, they said they take the privacy of their customers seriously etc and even refused to give me his phone number (and they also refused to report him themselves), lost 500$ but the lesson was worth it. Now that's some 1# class scamming of customers, who can top that?

Wow - ok, true.  Not screwed like you were!  I guess my point was that they manage to lock you into dependence on them, but all the time you are subject to their whim.  They are a company after all, and they can do what they want.  You example is a case in point - they can handle the dispute however they like, and you can still wind up getting screwed in the end.  (That was handled horribly on their part - I thought they tried to actually help in those situations?)

Interestingly, an escrow bitcoin transaction using m-of-n authorization would potentially have fixed the problem in your situation, without you losing your money.

I now have some details on the individual including a photo but it's extremely hard to dox, do you think it's worth it to open a thread?

Social media holds great power, but ultimately you need police to get involved.  Problem there can be jurisdiction - and things that happen online are notoriously hard to resolve without the middle party (in this case Paypal) being involved.  Anything is worth a try, I guess...

[LiteCoinGuy]

thats "normal" there. they block your funds and work with that money. also people have to wait 21 days (!) before they can withdraw their money from paypal! horrible! 
and of course, you pay ebay fees and then paypal fees  !

[elor70]

PayPal are a perfect capitalist orginastion therfor they will never use bitcoins and will always give us trouble.

[DyslexicZombei]

I can't wait for BTC to destroy them. When I get enough BTC I will *never* *ever* use PayPal again (unless I unload some electronics via the wife's ebay acct).

Screw you Paypal & your stupid fees & a-hole rules that benefit them & screw over every customer. G'luck trying to get your money back in dispute resolutions. WTF do we pay you guys such usurious rates for, if not dispute resolution?

[Mike Christ]

PayPal are a perfect capitalist orginastion therfor they will never use bitcoins and will always give us trouble.

Inefficiency is extremely profitable.

[atomium]

Paypal is on a long way down

[Moogle]

Whilst I do use PayPal a lot I do welcome the idea of them losing market share. Whether it be to bit coin or anything else.
Fees are ludicrous especially when doubled with eBay fees!