PayPal's requests for personal information

[PayPal_Andy]

Hello community!

I'm merging your threads together here as they all have a common theme: PayPal wanting to know about your personal information.

We now have answers to your questions here.

While you cannot reply on the Moderator's Tips board, feel free to respond here (as long as you're abiding by the Community's Rules and Guidelines).  Please keep your comments professional, on-topic, and productive and we'll all get along swimmingly. 🙂

Andy

[Inkydreamz]

Paypal is driving me insane.

They keep having to verify my identity. First time was when I tried to apply for a Paypal Debit card. They requested -

*Photo ID

*Proof of Address

*Proof of SSN

I provided all these things. I DO NOT have any utility bills in -my- name to provide proof of address like they request but the Photo ID covered that. All was well and my account was restored back to usual working order.

Then recently I was looking into the 'ADD MONEY' feature and when I clicked on that to explore it they freaked again and limited my account. They requested the -same- info as before.

However, this time around the Photo ID did not cover the 'Proof of Address' non-sense.

They are requesting a utility bill in my name which I have no bills in my name currently.

My question is : what the heck can I send in to provide proof of address when I don't have bills in my name currently??

Thank you!

[zrhaskell]

     Evidently the absolue truth is, the automated system is horribly flawed and was not well-tested before it was released.

[Bettacrazed]

SInce I am just now getting the info that I needed to give the personal Information, I have no problem with it. But I need to know how long its going to take! There are things I need to get and sadly until this issue is solved I cant get it. 

I've looked up and down on every site possible to get an answer, even tried talking to automatic sarah! I just need a number so I know how long I need to prepare myself to wait. 

[AlyssaV]

I've used PayPal before in the past, without any of the issues I'm encountering at the moment.

Apparently, I am not permitted to add money to my account (using the bank account I have already verified, might I add) until I submit a number of documents to PayPal. They are requesting a copy of my driver's license, my social security card, and a utility bill that's in my name. I feel very uncomfortable submitting these items to PayPal, especially considering the fact that everyone else I've spoken to have said that they have NEVER had to submit such documentation in order to use their PayPal account.

Is there something fishy going on, or is it legit?

[PayPal_Frank]

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@AlyssaV wrote:

I've used PayPal before in the past, without any of the issues I'm encountering at the moment.

Apparently, I am not permitted to add money to my account (using the bank account I have already verified, might I add) until I submit a number of documents to PayPal. They are requesting a copy of my driver's license, my social security card, and a utility bill that's in my name. I feel very uncomfortable submitting these items to PayPal, especially considering the fact that everyone else I've spoken to have said that they have NEVER had to submit such documentation in order to use their PayPal account.

Is there something fishy going on, or is it legit?

---

Hi AlyssaV,

I'm glad you are concerned about providing sensitive documents online. We have more information about why this is happening here. Typically we would only need to request copies of the physical documents if the information is not verifying electronically.

- Frank

[Kagami-kun]

This is quite aggravating due to when I spent some money in July just to buy a game, none of this has popped up. Even though PayPal wishes to know more personal information I guess due to my birthday has passed and I grew a year older. I was going to buy something and now even though I'm limited to everything else but adding money from my own bank account is prohibited. I have turned 18, 5 days ago and yet if you ask me for a utility bill, I do not have such a thing as therefore I'm still in high school and I don't even have my own social securtiy card with me. I really just want to use PayPal again for my own personal uses and I can assure you everything on my account is real and I'm real as well, if you wish to prove me wrong then come visit me at my house and we will discuss everything out.

[rtechie]

It would be really nice if PayPal would say what they do with those confidental documents.

How do we know you're not selling our bank statements, utlity bills, etc. to advertising companies?

[PayPal_Andy]

rtechie-

I understand your concern with what we do with your confidential information.  I would refer you to our Privacy Policy for specifics.

Andy

[whatis7x6]

I have received this "account limited" message, too..I made the mistake of trying to add $ to my Paypal account from my bank account. I never tried it before, and I guess I'll never try it again! The notification from Paypal says I can still send and receive $ from my bank account, I just can't "park" that money in my Paypal account. How's that gonna affect yer bottom line, Paypal?

I have no intention of supplying all of the confidential documents Paypal is asking for. Does Paypal not realize that you actually have to supply that information at the bank when you open the bank account? (I believe the Patriot Act requires it.) Then, through their verification process, Paypal makes deposits for you to report back to them, thus proving you are who your bank account says you are. Seems adequate to me, but perhaps I'm not enough of a crook to figure out how to scam the process!. Or, more to the point, I just want a fairly cheap and convenient way to pay for things online.

Which leads me to my next problem............I have a website on which I sell my handcrafted birds and trout. Paypal is the only payment method I offer on my site. What is going to happen to my income? It appears that a sizeable number of people are being scared and/or hassled away from Paypal. Looks like I better start looking for a different payment method for buyers to use!

[mariec58]

I have never had to send Paypal any private information such as copies of anything.  Did they request this in an email? I have gotten spam emails that look just like they are from Paypal.  If Paypal sends you an email they will address you by name.  I would call Paypal Customer Service and ask.  I have had only good experiences with Paypal and their Customer Service Reps!  Good Luck!