Author Topic: Is safe operating with PayPal? (Read 6084 times)

arquiplay77 · « **on:** May 03, 2011, 05:56 »

Hello all:

I have been using paypal since i begun doing microstock, i was under the impression that was safe and that was like a bank but in the internet. (they are not a bank by the way)

Recently i read something alarming in a post and start investigating a litle over the net, i found lots of complains and pages against PayPal, every one of them telling they could basically just freeze you account in any time with no prior notification, they will keep recieving money but you could not extract it.

I didn´t have any problem with them (fingers crossed) but reading this made me think that it´s not a good idea to keep money there as if it was a bank, the latest months i have been keeping my payments there in dollars waiting for a better change for the euro, now i think maybe is better to loose some money in a bad exchange than loosing it all.

In the other hand this pages collecting negative stories about PP, also promove an alternative way, a "Real Merchant Account" so they are not to be believed at 100% as are not a desinterested part on the story i guess.

What do you think.
Cheers

vlad_the_imp · « **Reply #1 on:** May 03, 2011, 06:16 »

I think that if you Googled any bank you'd find lots of complaints about them. PayPal do attract complaints but also have a huge number of users, I must admit I've had more hassle with my bank than I ever had with PayPal.

gostwyck · « **Reply #2 on:** May 03, 2011, 06:21 »

Quote from: vlad_the_imp on May 03, 2011, 06:16

I think that if you Googled any bank you'd find lots of complaints about them. PayPal do attract complaints but also have a huge number of users, I must admit I've had more hassle with my bank than I ever had with PayPal.

Exactly. I'm sure the vast majority of microstockers are paid via PayPal and we hear very, very few complaints here. I've been using Paypal for about 7 years, probably averaging 15-20 transactions per month, and have never had an issue other than the hassle of battling through the security measures when originally setting the account up and linking it to my bank account, credit card, etc.

helix7 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 03, 2011, 07:22 »

The only problem I ever had with PayPal was with security, when there were some unauthorized attempts to access my account. Since then I've purchased PayPal's Security Key to increase my account protection. Since then, I've had no problems.

I do tend to withdraw funds on a regular basis just so that I have easier access to my money via my primary bank account, but it's really not because of any fear of PayPal doing something to my account. It's more just regular maintenance. About ever 2 weeks I withdraw funds, so it's sort of like a bi-weekly paycheck.

borg · « **Reply #4 on:** May 03, 2011, 07:25 »

I am mad because I have to wait 30 days to get available my money in balance after agency payout...
Do you have similar problem with "pending balance"?

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #5 on:** May 03, 2011, 11:08 »

I never leave money in my PayPal account, but I've been using it for over 6 years with no problems. I move the money to my bank account as soon as it hits PayPal, so while it'd be inconvenient if they froze the account for some reason, it wouldn't be a catastrophe.

I'm in the US, so I don't have any currency exchange rate issues to juggle.

velocicarpo · « **Reply #6 on:** May 03, 2011, 11:08 »

Quote from: vlad_the_imp on May 03, 2011, 06:16

I think that if you Googled any bank you'd find lots of complaints about them. PayPal do attract complaints but also have a huge number of users, I must admit I've had more hassle with my bank than I ever had with PayPal.

Wrong. A usual bank may cause Problems but they act according the laws. Paypal operates outside of the law and refuses to follow international regulations. NO BANK is allowed to just freeze your money without going to court or having a govermental institution involved.

It is the same with istock. You should be aware of your responsibility and NOT use paypal anymore.

velocicarpo · « **Reply #7 on:** May 03, 2011, 11:10 »

Read the TOS of Paypal. They are allowed to freeze your money. They are not safe. You may be able to use them without Problems but it is a matter of luck.

stockastic · « **Reply #8 on:** May 03, 2011, 11:37 »

My impression is that it's been downhill for PayPal since they were acquired by Ebay. In their forum, I've read horror stories from Ebay sellers ripped of by scam buyers - who buy an item, make a supposed 'transfer' to PayPal, then claim they never received the item, or that it wasn't right somehow, or just disappear. PayPal then sits on the transfer forever and - you guessed it - is completely unresponsive to email inquiries.

After seeing enough such stories I decided never to sell anything of real value on Ebay again, or to leave a significant amount of money in my PayPal account.

vlad_the_imp · « **Reply #9 on:** May 03, 2011, 12:02 »

Quote

You should be aware of your responsibility and NOT use paypal anymore.

Banks have a million and one ways of ripping you off, and I don't need to be told what to do. You make your decisions, I'll make mine.

visceralimage · « **Reply #10 on:** May 03, 2011, 12:02 »

During my 9 months in Russia, my account was frozen 17 times; sometimes more than one time per day. I am an American, I was working near the China border but in Russia. My ISP was in China. This raised a red flag by their automated program and no amount of notes by paypal supervisors would stop the account from freezing.

They would request reams of documents, proving my identity and my home, wanting electric bills to prove my address, etc. If you live in a tent in the tundra, you can imagine the trouble; you don't have an electric bill-God doesn't issue one for sunlight (using solar panel to charge batteries).

The only real solution was to get a skype account so I could call in each time and speak to a representative. Exchanging emails was useless. I never lost any money in my paypal account but spent plenty trying to get them the documents and proof of my identity. Nevertheless, it was impossible to open a bank account in Russia (Americans are not allowed by Russian law to open accounts; unless opened in coop with Russian citizen); paypal was the best option for getting paid and holding my funds.

gostwyck · « **Reply #11 on:** May 03, 2011, 12:14 »

Quote from: visceralimage on May 03, 2011, 12:02

During my 9 months in Russia, my account was frozen 17 times; sometimes more than one time per day. I am an American, I was working near the China border but in Russia. My ISP was in China. This raised a red flag by their automated program and no amount of notes by paypal supervisors would stop the account from freezing.

They would request reams of documents, proving my identity and my home, wanting electric bills to prove my address, etc. If you live in a tent in the tundra, you can imagine the trouble; you don't have an electric bill-God doesn't issue one for sunlight (using solar panel to charge batteries).

The only real solution was to get a skype account so I could call in each time and speak to a representative. Exchanging emails was useless. I never lost any money in my paypal account but spent plenty trying to get them the documents and proof of my identity. Nevertheless, it was impossible to open a bank account in Russia (Americans are not allowed by Russian law to open accounts; unless opened in coop with Russian citizen); paypal was the best option for getting paid and holding my funds.

I think you'll probably find that PayPal was never designed around your particular and unique circumstances. That's what cash, travellers cheques and credit cards were meant for.

Michaelp · « **Reply #12 on:** May 03, 2011, 12:25 »

They froze my account a couple of times. The first time after transferring a certain amount of money. They claimed that there is a EU law which requires them to act like that, but after doing some research and asking a friend of mine who is a Lawyer it showed up that there is no such law! They simply lied in order to freeze my money! After two weeks of support requests and sending documents I finally was able to get my money out.
Another time they froze my account because I was logging in from another country. I was receiving a payment while on vacations. Big misstake logging in. Again a week of dealing with the useless support until I got my money.
Don`t tell me it is about security because I use since ages the same bank account etc. to transfer my money to...impossible that it is about fraud.

Imagine this: You bank freezes your account because you pay with your associated credit card while on holiday in another country! How stupid is that?

? Unprofessional. Beyond that I do not trust companies who lie to me.

I do not use them anymore. No Problems here with Moneybookers and Payoneer are even better!

vlad_the_imp · « **Reply #13 on:** May 03, 2011, 12:54 »

Quote

No Problems here with Moneybookers and Payoneer are even better!

I've seen plenty of complaints about both those companies in the istock forums.

Quote

Another time they froze my account because I was logging in from another country.

Many banks will do this if you don't warn them you are travelling abroad. You should always tell your bank you will be using your cards abroad or they may well freeze them as an anti-fraud measure. I'm not saying PayPal are whiter than white, just saying, in my experience, they are fairly trouble-free. (hope I'm not tempting fate there >touches wood)

gostwyck · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2011, 13:02 »

Quote from: vlad_the_imp on May 03, 2011, 12:54

Quote
Another time they froze my account because I was logging in from another country.

Many banks will do this if you don't warn them you are travelling abroad. You should always tell your bank you will be using your cards abroad or they may well freeze them as an anti-fraud measure. I'm not saying PayPal are whiter than white, just saying, in my experience, they are fairly trouble-free. (hope I'm not tempting fate there >touches wood)

Yep. My bank have frozen my credit card and cash card when I suddenly (to them) tried to use them in Australia and Thailand (from the UK). However I've done PayPal transactions without a hitch whilst travelling in Thailand, Australia, NZ, Italy, France, US, etc, etc.

microstockphoto.co.uk · « **Reply #15 on:** May 03, 2011, 14:05 »

This is just my personal experience, but I am using both PayPal and MoneyBookers and never had any problems with them.

Michaelp · « **Reply #16 on:** May 03, 2011, 14:15 »

Quote from: gostwyck on May 03, 2011, 13:02

Quote from: vlad_the_imp on May 03, 2011, 12:54
Quote
Another time they froze my account because I was logging in from another country.

Many banks will do this if you don't warn them you are travelling abroad. You should always tell your bank you will be using your cards abroad or they may well freeze them as an anti-fraud measure. I'm not saying PayPal are whiter than white, just saying, in my experience, they are fairly trouble-free. (hope I'm not tempting fate there >touches wood)

Yep. My bank have frozen my credit card and cash card when I suddenly (to them) tried to use them in Australia and Thailand (from the UK). However I've done PayPal transactions without a hitch whilst travelling in Thailand, Australia, NZ, Italy, France, US, etc, etc.

Wow, unbelievable...where are you located?

visceralimage · « **Reply #17 on:** May 03, 2011, 14:48 »

Quote from: gostwyck on May 03, 2011, 12:14

Quote from: visceralimage on May 03, 2011, 12:02
During my 9 months in Russia, my account was frozen 17 times; sometimes more than one time per day. I am an American, I was working near the China border but in Russia. My ISP was in China. This raised a red flag by their automated program and no amount of notes by paypal supervisors would stop the account from freezing.

They would request reams of documents, proving my identity and my home, wanting electric bills to prove my address, etc. If you live in a tent in the tundra, you can imagine the trouble; you don't have an electric bill-God doesn't issue one for sunlight (using solar panel to charge batteries).

The only real solution was to get a skype account so I could call in each time and speak to a representative. Exchanging emails was useless. I never lost any money in my paypal account but spent plenty trying to get them the documents and proof of my identity. Nevertheless, it was impossible to open a bank account in Russia (Americans are not allowed by Russian law to open accounts; unless opened in coop with Russian citizen); paypal was the best option for getting paid and holding my funds.

I think you'll probably find that PayPal was never designed around your particular and unique circumstances. That's what cash, travellers cheques and credit cards were meant for.

I understand. That is why I stuck with them even with the problems, it was the only real solution short of carrying all my cash. Travelers checks are not accepted in Russia, except maybe Moscow; concerning credit cards-useless except for major stores, credit and debit cards are only good for the ATM's.

Russia now has ebay and paypal is now functional in Russia but you must have a local bank account to get a paypal account in Russia; an international account will not work for a Russian paypal account.

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Author Topic: Is safe operating with PayPal? (Read 6084 times)

arquiplay77

vlad_the_imp

gostwyck

helix7

borg

Jo Ann Snover

velocicarpo

velocicarpo

stockastic

vlad_the_imp

visceralimage

gostwyck

Michaelp

vlad_the_imp

gostwyck

microstockphoto.co.uk

Michaelp

visceralimage

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