Pay Pal Changes??

[Tattoo Bradley]

My bank went after paypal for some shady activity that they did. Fraud department ate in to paypal and got me all of my money back. (About 100 dollars)

I got an email from paypal stating that if I ever did that again, they would terminate my account. I even got a phone call from somebody, a rather nasty phone call, explaining to me that any further violations of my terms of service would be met with penalties. I told them to, well, do things that I can't say here and told them I would not hesitate to do it again.

I bank with Bank of America, the local branch has been very, very good to me about protecting my interests. When paypal screwed me, the bank forwarded the money in to my account that day, and I kept that money. The bank went and got their 100 dollars or so back from paypal. They used their lawyers and their resources to get results, and their resources were far greater than mine.

Apparently, in the paypal terms of service, you agree not to activate any fraud protection service that your bank has to protect your accounts. I don't know what the deal was. I was kept blessedly free of stress, fine print, legal mumbo jumbo, and all of the usual lip service in dealing with scumbags... My bank went and did it for me. My coffee had barely even cooled when they had a phone number and my bank rep was calling up somebody, and she let them have it. Then a couple of guys in suits came in to the office and things got really heated. I went home.

I do think about ditching paypal.

Wow. I'm really surprised you're still with them after that.

[Bob C]

I never gave PayPal a bank account. I just use my credit card when I make Ebay purchases. No problems.

[MacWage]

So, if one does NOT use paypal, what are good alternatives that ALLOW anti-fraud protection to BOTH buyer and seller? I am in the stages of creating an on-line business and am wondering about the BEST payment process for ALL involved.

[Dreadbelly]

I've been having a look at this.

I doubt it would work with my webstore at Etsy though. Bother.

http://www.995merchantaccounts.com/

Edit. It was asked why I still use paypal... I guess because I have to, and my bank saved my bacon once, so there is a part of me hoping they can do it again if need be.

At least one can hope.

[Warlock]

The very reasons that I stopped selling things on ebay...

[David Dalglish]

I never gave PayPal a bank account. I just use my credit card when I make Ebay purchases. No problems.

When you start with Paypal you get a credit limit, which I did not know about, it was £500, when you go over that you must Get VERIFIED that is when the fun starts, You have to give a bank acc.details, & this becomes the default, you have to go into MORE FUNDING OPTIONS, to use your credit card. So far I have had no problems with Paypal.

[Mike1]

If you go over your funding limit with PayPal, you open a new account with a different e-mail addy.

PayPal can be convenient, but it can also be a jungle. And for those that think their payment is assured, simply because it's been made by credit card, I'll not mention the nightmare world of charge-backs. I've been in wholesale/retail sales for over 30 years and could tell you some stories that would curdle your blood.

If you sell an antique whig-jig that will grind smoke to an online customer and they fund the purchase with a credit card, the card is only as good as the customer will allow. Until you have the cardholder's signature on a sales voucher, you are at risk. Even shipping the whig-jig with a Signature Required option will not suffice, because the customer did not sign a sales voucher, he merely signed for delivery. Address verification, phone verification and CVV numbers are all designed to make merchants feel good, but what will make or break the deal is whether or not you have a sales voucher with the customer's signature on it. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, the hat, the badge with my picture on it and a stack of charge-backs to go along with them.

We had a customer cover a bad check with a credit card. His attorney asked that we FAX him a brief note to explain that we had been paid in full, so that could be presented to a judge that was hearing the case. The paper-hanger gets a walk from the judge, because all the merchants were now satisfied. About 6 weeks later, the charge-back arrived.

"I didn't order this, I didn't receive this and I want to see a copy of the receipt, showing where I signed for this." And another merchant breaks out into tears.

When it comes down to it, an online or telephone credit card transaction is really no more safe than accepting that same individual's personal check.

The only way you're ever going to be safe is to deal in cash and that's not an option when you're online. Which means you are going to get a lesson in the business expense known as 'bad debt'. The only aspect in question is when it will occur.

[Robin]

I never had any problems with PayPal...I have 2 accounts...one for my VISA card (basic account) and 1 for my Master card (verified business account).
I never used PayPal with my bank account...I like the credit card security better.

For sellers PayPal is handy (nice tools!), for buyers it's easy to use and secure. The PayPal website is crystal clear and easy to navigate, for buyers it's free of charges (basic account).

I use PayPal for years now...as a buyer and as a seller...and I like it!

[McClef]

Here in the UK it is rare that we have to sign when using a card.

Since last February, the vast majority of retailers are on the PIN system for authorising transactions as card companies insist they will not make good any signature transactions that later prove to be fraudulent. They believe that a PIN is better than a signature (which can be forged) although of course if a fraudster knows the PIN it is not complete protection.

Online transactions, Paypal or not, don't need PIN or signature and most rely on confirming the "security code" (3 figures on the back of the card) as the only other means of verification.

At least with Paypal, the seller never gets to see any of your card details at all.

But it is important that one stays alert to any phishing emails one gets and report them to Ebay or Paypal.

I always do this by forwarding them to their "spoof" address and get an acknowlegement and confirmation that they are spoofs. What action they then take is never reported and this in an area they could certainly do with improving.

[Robin]

Just never give your credit card info...and passwords to anyone...PayPal, Credit card companies and banks will just never ask for it by email.
All emails asking for your credit card details or passwords are very dangerous scams. And don't blindly trust websites either...lots of crooks on this planet.

That's why I prefer PayPal...I don't have to give my credit card details.