[ETS/PARC List] PayPal Policies

[Victor J. Pennetta]

FYI. Below is some interesting reading on PayPal policies from a fellow ham. Not sure what is true or not. Maybe he was just having a bad Paypal day.

73,

Victor  KC2NBC

  Well here's  some advice. I too would keep a LARGE balance on hand at 
PAYPAL. As I buy and sell all the time. I never send an invoice via their 
system, nor do I do much selling on EBAY. This month of December, has been a  different month for me where as I have received several LARGE transfers for some HIGH-END(Collins gear and IC-7800) equipment. When I woke up on Saturday morning the 27th of  December, I checked my email and I had an email from PAYPAL, advising me  that my account was on "Limited" access and I would NOT be able to access those funds. I immediately got online, and went to their site. It was correct what I was reading in my inbox was true , PAYPAL had "frozen" my account. With the almost $4000.00 in it! I called them right away and then it all came to light what they were doing and inferring! First, PAYPAL, was questioning what the monies were coming into my account for. I explained to them I buy and sell ham radio gear. They asked if those transaction were conducted via EBAY( now you must realize they already knew the transactions 
were not from eBay. I took that question as a TEST) I explained I buy and 
sell on other sites which cater to Hams, and were established for our 
specific community. the person was still not liking what I was telling him. 
At this point the person wanted me to provide DELIVERY PROOF  for items which were represented by  transactions that had recently occurred.  One such transaction was a refund a fellow ham issued to me by a mutual 
agreement we made. PAYPAL, wanted details and in fact said I was operating "outside" of their "rules and regulations", by making such agreements. Next transaction they chose to review the seller, again a fellow ham, has as his "confirmed address" with PAYPAL a US Post office box. He had instructed me to ship to his home address, which is his callbook address by the way. I did so, he received the package and no problems. I provided PAYPAL the delivery confirmation and , to my surprise I got the 3rd degree from this rep. Apparently, we are NOT TO SHIP to any address other than the "CONFIRMED" address on the "YOU'VE GOT A PAYMENT" email we get from PAYPAL. So there was another strike against me. Now here's a real GREAT one. Another transaction they choose, the ham paid me but PICKED THE ITEM UP, at a later date. OH BOY now that is a NO NO, according to PayPal. Apparently, WE ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO ALLOW ANYONE TO PICKUP THE ITEMS!! BECAUSE THEN WE DO NOT "FALL WITH IN THE 
PROTECTED" guide lines should a buyer file a claim after the fact. Well just great another strike for me! Now, one more transaction reviewed, is one that we as hams do a bunch of and that is TRADES + CASH, NO NO NO, we can not do that with PAYPAL!! At this point I said enough was enough, I don't know who or what type of clients others sell and have business with. But  for over 20 years I have been a ham operator, and we HAMS do operate and conduct ourselves (most of us do) as professionals,  one thing we do have is a unspoken code, A GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT, is still( for the most part) practiced with in our community. If I can not conduct my business my affairs in a manor in which  satisfies me and my customers, then I do not need you PAYPAL. So with that as I had the rep on the phone, I issued a FULL REFUND to a ham that was buying a Kenwood transceiver. I also issued a refund to another ham that was buying some other "Collins Gear" At that point I took my account from $4000 
 + to 2.73! The rep was LIVID! He had the nerve to say, "how do we know you were not buying or selling drugs!!", Now that was it, I went off the wall. The ham that was buying the "Collins Gear" didn't have a problem with it and I then drove well over 200 miles one way today to deliver the equipment to him, he then returned the refund to me in CASH!( This guy is really a GREAT GUY and one of SO MANY SUPER HAMS, I have the honor of knowing) The other ham I issued the refund to, he lives out of state, and here again another SUPER HAM, he said he would buy a MO and  send it to me for the rig, WHAT A GREAT GUY AND A SUPER HAM. What he doesn't know 
is I'm shipping the rig to him on MONDAY, and I'll cash the MO when I get it, I have not a doubt in the world he will be sending the MO. Plus, I have 
the rig boxed and ready to go.
    So lessons learned, my State Director of Mars, has always told me the minute he would get a payment in,  he would transfer the funds to his bank account. THIS IS SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THAT. Also  I reviewed the way our monies are kept  with them it is quite scary. First, off if you agree to "get interest" on your balance, which they PUSH real HARD. There is  a reason for that, THOSE INTEREST BEARING ACCOUNTS ARE MONEY MARKET ACCOUNTS AND ARE NOT FDIC INSURED. Now if you have money on balance with them but not in a interest bearing account, then it is insured, 
BUT ALL MONIES ARE POOLED TOGETHER AND THEN PLACED IN AN ACCOUNT, AND THEN INSURED AS A GROUP, TO WHAT EVER THE MAX FDIC ACCOUNT BALANCE INSURED AMOUNT IS...100K, 200K WHATEVER. So I thought about that, and thought how many eBay members have money on account with them, I suddenly realized none of the money would be insured because the fdic protects accounts up to 100,000 or maybe 200,000 and I know for sure that total members balances MUST equal more than that!!
    Bottom line is this,  that is our money they have, so NO ONE will take care your money as good as you so its best you get your money and keep it in your  account at your BANK that you have(SOME) control over.

I'm not trying to VENT in anyway, but rather, give a HEADS up to everyone!



73
DE
NE6V
Joe Vega
6264195167
previous: W6eev,kb6lkl
Station Trustee KI6TRI
ARRL LIFE MEMBER
CCA :AC97-00562 (reinstatement pending) Those cancer DR''s lied I was suppose to be dead 10 years ago.So I sold everything and prepared to die...well 10 years later I'm still here..So I'm back on the AIR!

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