Date Received: 2020-03-06
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I have a paypal cash plus account. I had directed my social security XXXX payments to be direct deposited to my paypal account. My paypal account had an " alleged '' negative balance of XXXX. Fine. On XX/XX/2020, Paypal put a " temporary limitation '' on my account to " verify my idenity ''. 3 seperate times over the past 3 months i have submitted multiple copies of documents including : State ID card, bank statements, debit card statements, proof of address. On XXXX XXXX I again submit copies of requested documents. Received an email from paypal stating my documents were being reviewed and I would receive a response via email. A direct deposit of XXXX from the social security administration treasury department posts to my paypal account on XX/XX/XXXX. Paypal removes the alleged XXXX owed and unjustly puts a " permanent limitation '' on my account to where I apparently can not use XXXX anymore and they will hold my funds for 180 days. I made 20 phone calls to paypal on XXXX XXXX and no one could tell me why my account was permanently limited and why i couldn't withdraw my social.security XXXX benefits. I begged, and explained that I had submitted all necessary documents, my balance was current, and that I am XXXX and only receive this money once a month. That I have a XXXX year old and XXXX year old that are starving and I have no money. I explained that my bills are due on the 1st of the month and are already late. Yet not one representative could explain why my documents i submitted hadn't been reviewed, why I can not use my paypal account anymore and why they would be witholding my money for 180 days ( 6 months ). 5 seperate phone calls.on XX/XX/2020, exceeded 45 minutes each. I have gotten no response, no explanation whatsoever. I can not wait 180 days to withdraw my own money. I owe nothing to paypal. I was also informed by a representative that my account was permanently limited only 3 hours after my direct deposit was posted to my paypal cash plus account. For what reason? Paypal will not answer. .
Company Response:
State: CO
Zip: 80033
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-03-06
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-03-06
Issue: Money was not available when promised
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Hi I used PayPal on XX/XX/XXXX to receive funds from a buyer for some furniture that I was selling. The buyer sent the funds to my PayPal account XX/XX/2020 Payment from " Buyer name removed ''. PayPal has held the money stating that the amount of money sent to me was unusual for the sender. That said, they have had twenty days to contact the sender to verify that the sender had intended to send the money. They have done nothing and have not released the funds to me. They are totally unresponsive through the PayPal customer chat service.
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 94501
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-03-06
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-03-05
Issue: Managing, opening, or closing your mobile wallet account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: PayPal is holding {$28000.00} of my money collected from my clients over the past three years and they are not letting me have it. I was actively using PayPal since XXXX and I never had a single major issue. They were always pretty nice to me and we got along pretty well. I trusted PayPal for storing my funds in it, and over the course of the past three years, I've collected more than {$30000.00} on it. On XXXX I received an email from PayPal asking to prove my identity. I thought this was some kind of routine check that PayPal does. I didn't bother to check the future. I provided my passport picture and my bank statement picture. Please note that I provided these multiple times before when requested, and I never had a single issue. On XXXX when I had around {$28000.00} in my PayPal balance I received an email from PayPal stating that my account has been permanently limited and that my funds are frozen in my account. I called multiple times for an explanation of what happened but representatives from PayPal kept it very secretive and refused to give me any kind of information whatsoever. I believe it's okay that PayPal wants me to part ways with them, they are a private company at the end of a day and I respect that What's not okay is them holding my balance of {$28000.00} hard-earned money. I am from XXXX and I pay my business expenses with that account. By holding my money they are ruining my business, my career, therefore, my life. As a XXXX XXXX XXXX, I have no power to do anything other than to escalate this case I am 100 % willing to resolve this with PayPal by providing them any kind of additional information that they may need like utility bills, company registration number, tax returns, anything. I wasn't even given a chance to appeal their decision The reason for holding my balance, as they say, is that if somebody that sent me money in the past 180 days were to refund that money, and I withdraw it all then they would lose money In the past 180 days, I received only {$2200.00} so I suggested that they keep at least {$5000.00} for their security, which is double the disputable balance and let me keep the rest since I actively run a business and I need that money, but they refused. I tried to solve this in every possible way but they refused it.
Company Response:
State: DE
Zip: 19709
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-03-05
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-03-05
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/20, I completed a transaction on the XXXX XXXX. This transaction was completed on there platform, where I was invoiced by seller, paid via their platform via PayPal. The item was not shipped out and the seller has refused to cooperate. I have contacted both PayPal and XXXX, neither are able to assist, claiming the payment type ( P2P ) is not covered under protection. There is an issue with this, the platform only has one way to pay, which is set up via XXXX and PayPal, so why is their integration constructed in a way which will not protect transactions for the consumer? I was invoiced, paid, and expected to recieve goods via the platform. Where is my protection by either PayPal or XXXX in this? I have also contacted XXXX to file a dispute, as I am currently out of {$520.00}.
Company Response:
State: MD
Zip: 210XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-03-05
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-03-05
Issue: Overdraft, savings, or rewards features
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Conducting various transactions with PayPal, a handful of transactions have caused me issues. Specifically transactions for the first part of 2020. While the transactions have bounced back and my bank deemed not paid, I continually have hundreds ( currently approximately {$500.00} ) in NSF Fees. Further, PayPal constantly transfers an amount at a arbitrary date of their choosing. Every time I get a notice, there is no express indication that they are going to retry a payment at a specific date ( example, we will retry payment in 3-4 business days ). The emails do not provide a specific date. I am unable to keep up with the transactions, I have attached the transactions from PayPal for the last 2 months, and my bank account transactions for PayPal. Additionally, I attached the emails.
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 11231
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-03-05
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-03-05
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/2020, I purchased a XXXX 100 oz silver bar in the amount of {$1900.00}. My purchase was paid with PAYPAL Credit account. I received the silver bar on XX/XX/2020. While inspecting my purchase there were defects with the silver bar. The silver bar had dents and scratches on the metal. I contacted PAYPAL.COM and was directed to contact the merchant, XXXX, first. I opened a complaint/dispute with PAYPAL.COM, at their direction, until I resolve my transaction with the merchant. PAYPAL.COM placed a temporary credit for the amount, {$1900.00}, until resolve my transaction with the merchant. On XX/XX/2020, I contacted XXXX, and informed them about the condition of the metal. I informed that I would like to return the metal. Thereafter, XXXX sent me a XXXX PREPAID return label vial email. Their executive company is located in XXXX, Texas. Their Vault/Warehouse, where the metals are stored, at their fulfillment Center is XXXX XXXX. I went to a XXXX on XX/XX/2020 with the package, and was informed that it would be received by the merchant by XX/XX/2020. I received confirmation that the it was received. Thereafter, XXXX refunded my PAYPAL CREDIT ACCOUNT for the amount of the of {$1900.00}, the purchased amount on XX/XX/2020. I contacted PAYPAL.COM, which is different from PAYPAL CREDIT, that the refund was placed on my credit account. I have been contacting PAYPAL.COM, informing them that my refund was applied to my PAYPAL CREDIT. PAYPAL.COM is not acknowledging all the documents of receipt I have sent them. They state that the merchant stated that I did not return the package and the the merchant did not provide the refund, which they did. I have sent all documents from the merchant, XXXX of their receipt and PAYPAL CREDIT that indeed merchant refunded me the credit. This has been going on with PAYPAL.COM for the last 2 months and they want me to pay the {$1900.00} to my PAYPAL.COM which they are not credit account just an online service. I will attach the documents that I have provided to PAYPAL.COM confirming my return and refund provided by XXXX to my my PAYPAL CREDIT. I feel that PAYPAL.COM is giving me unnecessary stress. I am retired, and can not afford to loose money that belongs to me. Thank you for your assistance. XXXX XXXX XXXX
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 11229
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-03-05
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-03-05
Issue: Fraud or scam
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Good day Sir/Madam, I'm writing this letter with so much anger in my heart, regarding the discontentment with PayPal 's services, regarding my account with the associated Email : XXXX PAYPAL PERMANENT LIMITATION REFERENCE ID : XXXX As a new PayPal user, I never expected to be treated in such unprofessional, lackadaisical, inadmissible and unacceptable way. I created my PayPal account, on the XXXX of XX/XX/2020, and prior to this, I never ever liked PayPal, due to the horrible and horrendous stories perpetuated by most of my entrepreneurial friends. But on the other hand, some of my customers kept demanding I used PayPal on my store, as it's easier for them to pay with it. Sounded like something worth trying. By the way, I make around {$1500.00} to {$2000.00} every day on my store, with the use of other payment processors like XXXX and XXXX. I created my PayPal account on the XXXX of XXXX, and the creation process was seamless, I'll give them a +1 on that. After which, I added the account to my XXXX store, received some payments, and in 24 hours. I was told I'm not allowed to withdraw the money, and my account has been temporary limited, till I submit some documents to lift the limit. I called customer care to complain about this, if I should just refund all my customers, and just know that PayPal doesn't want me, or should I go ahead in fulfilling the orders, with the hopes that PayPal will lift the limit, and I was told that everything will be fine if I provided the required documents. I submitted every single one of the required documents. Every single one of them!! I even went as far as fulfilling 40 of my customers ' orders with XXXX XXXX, so they get it quickly in 7-14 days, as stated on my store XXXX. Only for me to wake up on Monday, and get a very distasteful message saying that PayPal will hold on to my funds for 180 days????? With no solid reason whatsoever?? Right now, it's a good thing that my business is an LLC in the USA, so I have the right of suing PayPal to court. And I'm pretty sure, they'll pay more, for the damages caused and the inconvenience caused. I've gone through PayPal 's User Agreement, 8 times now, carefully, and can't still find where I went wrong. I've sent the link of their user agreement, to my lawyer, to prepare the court case. Right now, I'm writing to you, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, stating the subtle and crafty way of PayPal, in scamming small businesses of their hard-earned money, for 180 days, for no solid reason at all! I'm also pleading, that you help me pursue this case, so I'm able to get my money out as quickly as possible. Regards, XXXX. Account ID : XXXX XXXX
Company Response:
State:
Zip: XXXXX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-03-05
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-03-04
Issue: Money was not available when promised
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: On XX/XX/2020 a {$75.00} transfer was deposited into my PayPal cash plus account ; paypal.me id : XXXX XXXX XXXX On XX/XX/2020 the app indicated that the full {$75.00} was available for use and/or transfer. My initial attempt to transfer funds to my debit card for a {$0.00} fee resulted in an error message advising me to reattempt the transfer after waiting a few minutes. After waiting a few minutes, I reattempted the same {$75.00} transfer for the {$0.00} fee which resulted in another error message which was different in that the message did not suggest a timeframe to reattempt the transfer. After adding a different debit card to the account and reattempting the same {$75.00} transfer for {$0.00} fee a third time to the newly added card, another error message was the result and that error message did not suggest a timeframe to reattempt the transfer as in the previous instance. There was no change in the application user interface showing or suggesting there was any sort of problem or limitation involving the balance, linked accounts, or overall account in general throughout the attempted transactions, other than the 3 error messages immediately following the failed transfer attempts. No emails, text messages, phone calls or media indications of any sort were generated outside the PayPal app to inform or advise of any failed transfer attempts, suspicious activity, security or other holds and/or account limitations. It was after this I decided to contact PayPal directly at approximately XXXX XXXX at XXXX, multiple call records to this number exhibit attached. I am not sure if the agent I spoke with identified himself, but the agent did speak with a clearly foreign accent. After having the agent review my account and the failed transfers, the agent advised that further transfers had been frozen by the security system as a result of too many failed transfers. After questioning the nature of this so-called security hold, such as what caused the first transfer attempt to decline, the agent stated he was unable to provide additional details or override the system and he was also unable to request anyone to review and override the security hold. The agent went so far as to certainly suggest and possibly state verbatim that there was literally no person employed by PayPal which would be able to override this systemic decision. The agent stated that the system showed a 24 hour hold time after which transfers would proceed as normal. I then asked the agent if other transfer methods were also blocked. The agent stated he was unable to determine if they were or not, but that I was free to attempt other transfer methods to see if there would be security holds on them as well. I also asked this agent about the failed deposit attempts into my account dated XX/XX/2020. The agent stated that he could not see any problems, reasons, holds and/or limitations which would've precluded the successful execution of the failed transactions. I advised it had to be something preventing the transfer via PayPal, because the funds which were attempted to be sent were subsequently sent to me via XXXX XXXX, at an additional cost of approximately {$19.00} per XXXX XXXX fee schedule, exhibits attached. In summary this agent stated that there was absolutely nothing showing on his end which would preclude anyone from sending money to my account. He had no comment that the sender paid an additional {$20.00} to send the funds after suggesting the sender did not have sufficient funds to process my requests on XX/XX/2020. Subsequent to speaking with this agent, I did attempt to transfer funds via pick up at XXXX. Upon execution of those requests they were also returned with error messages. There were no system messages, emails, text messages, phone calls, nor any other media sent to me to memorialize the attempted transfers other than the messages received immediately upon decline of the transfer attempts. Also I updated various account details such as adding phone numbers, email and additional debit cards. These transactions were memorialized with emails and exhibits are attached. On XX/XX/2020 at approximately XXXX XXXX a " get cash at store '' request was requested and approved for {$30.00} with a fee of {$3.00}. A bar-code and alpha-numeric code were also generated both of which expired one hour after generation. I immediately located the nearest 24 hour XXXX which was located at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, approximately 13 miles from my origin location. Upon arriving at XXXX I asked the security officer for assistance. Initially directed to the online pickup area, I was then directed to aisle 9. The clerk was finishing with an existing customer upon my arrival. When I showed the clerk my PayPal app displaying both the barcode and alpha-numeric code, she advised that she was not able to process my transaction and stated that I need to wait until after XXXX XXXX and have customer service process it and she also pointed to the physical area. I thanked the clerk and left her register. Between being rejected for my approved transfer and the stated time of XXXX XXXX to proceed I attempted to transfer amounts onto my linked debit cards each failing. At approximately XXXX XXXX I attempted to set up another get cash at the store which was unsuccessful. I then decided to contact PayPal at the XXXX number contacted previously. After waiting on hold for an agent approximately 10 minutes, I spoke with a woman who identified herself as a specialist for the PayPal cash account Mastercards. I asked a couple of housekeeping questions about a recently requested plastic which were adequately answered. However when I asked about the failed transfers, she gave what is seemingly a boilerplate response to this issue about the " system '' blocking the transfers for unspecified security purposes. When I queried her as to specific purposes she said there are many reasons and that nothing could be done. I then challenged her that if there are many reasons my transfer is being blocked then I would like to know one specific reason. She declined to provide any specific reason becoming more condescending and surly with each retort. I then requested to be transferred to the fraud department. The agent stated my issue does not constitute fraud so she was not transferring me to that department. At this point the agent was fully arguing with me, ignoring my question and refusing to fulfill my request to be transferred. At one point this agent specifically stated that there is no fraud department at PayPal. Upon that statement is when I revealed that I'm a XXXX XXXX employee and knew for a fact that there is in fact a fraud department. She refused my request and became more surly. I specifically told the agent that she was not answering my questions, not offering any solutions, and was arguing with me which was making me upset and that I no longer wanted to speak with her. I requested to be transferred to anyone other than her when her tone changed from argumentative to downright sadistic. In her ultimate gotcha moment she stated she was the only person at PayPal I needed to talk to therefore she had nowhere to transfer me. I then requested she disconnect the call and I would call to speak with someone else. She refused that and it seems as if she was laughing underneath her breath as she was determined to not assist me in any manner, not provide any information, not be candid in any statement she made and to be as surly and abrupt as possible, talking over me for at least the last 5 minutes of the call. I eventually disconnected the call, log of which is memorialized in the attached exhibit. After that dreadful call with the female agent I called back to the XXXX number contacted previously. I spoke with a Male agent who seemed to have a foreign accent. The agent stated he was in the dispute department. I informed the agent I wished to file a formal complaint against the previous agent. He asked some questions about a dispute then stated that I couldn't dispute a transfer. I told him that I did not wish to dispute any transactions and rather I wished to file a formal complaint against the previous agent and I also wanted to speak with someone who would provide the detailed information to my questions the previous agent refused to take seriously. This agent then stated he would escalate the complaint about the previous agent and request the call be reviewed. Almost immediately and taking a much more stern tone he stated that the transfers were being delayed and that nothing could be done. I asked for 1 reason and he stated because a previous transfer was declined. I pointed out that was in reference to this same matter and it was PayPal stating the funds were available on one hand while declining the transfer on the other. I asked if I am on the terrorist or OFAC lists or if there is a FISA warrant. He declined to respond. I asked if there are reasons my transfers were declined that he was not allowed to acknowledge, in a general sense. He stated that he would try to get someone else to assist me, placed me on hold and after several minutes the call was disconnected.
Company Response:
State: AZ
Zip: 85014
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-03-04
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-03-04
Issue: Problem with a lender or other company charging your account
Subissue: Transaction was not authorized
Consumer Complaint: I paid XXXX $ for a digital good through paypal goods and service on XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX PST. The seller agreed to provide me the goods and email account associated with the said item. I have this transaction on video of the seller. The seller agreed to the transaction and when I sent the payment, I was sent fake credentials. I have video of me paying the transaction and me receiving the said items that do not work or was not described as part of the deal. I have opened a dispute with paypal, but the seller is now providing fake created screenshots of messages through discord that I was not part of and we mainly dealt on facebook messenger. In the video, it shows me paying through the paypal email he wanted me to and I did. He did not provide me the item I was meant to be given. I am currently awaiting paypal on this dispute. The current dispute reference number is Case ID : XXXX
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 95660
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-03-04
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2020-03-04
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Subissue: Debt is not yours
Consumer Complaint: See previous complaint submitted against PayPal. I have obtained more evidence from XXXX XXXX. A transaction of {$79.00} thru PayPal was disputed, requesting a {$53.00} credit. PayPal claims that I did not have a bank account associated with the account. So what? Their website allows ONE form of payment, which was XXXX XXXX. If that was a problem, maybe I should redesign their website. Anyways, the transaction was disputed with both PayPal and XXXX XXXX, which is perfectly legal. XXXX XXXX issued a credit of {$53.00}. However, PayPal closed the dispute and charged the amount to my PayPal account. See enclosed documentation from XXXX XXXX, which confirms a credit of {$53.00} was issued. The dispute was closed in my favor. However, XXXX XXXX ( who is afraid to provide contact info ) falsely claimed that XXXX XXXX sided with the merchant. Obviously, the documentation shows otherwise. We have two billion dollar companies - PayPal and XXXX XXXX - who mixed up the transfer of {$53.00}. Now, PayPal is trying to charge my account. I attempted to call PayPal from the number provided by XXXX XXXX from PayPal 's response to CFPB, but the representative informed me it was an attempt to collect a debt. Per XXXX XXXX 's response to CFPB, debt collections were to stop. Thank you XXXX for providing proof to a federal agency that PayPal is using tactics to violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Company Response:
State: OH
Zip: 440XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2020-03-04
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A