Change my account name to another name?

[LeonPetrou]

Hello, I started my Personal PayPal account with a friend a few years back as we were going to start creating courses on Udemy together. We created it under his name 'Johnny'. Shortly after we created the account he decided he didn't want to do Udemy anymore but I continued with it, and continued using the same PayPal account which had his name on it (my silly mistake).

The problem I'm experiencing is that PayPal has now limited my account, and when I try to validate my identity with my ID document, it gets rejected and my account gets further limited because my name 'Leon' is different to the name on my account 'Johnny'.

How can I validate my identity with PayPal so that I can change my name on the account and remove the limitations?

Thank you in advance,
Leon Petrou

[kernowlass]

@LeonPetrou 

You wouldn't be able to withdraw those funds until you verified.

You can't verify because its in the wrong name.

Your only option is to ask the 'senders' of the fund to open claims for non receipt of item and then don't contest it so they get their money back and then ask them to pay you again to a new account opened in your name.

Even after 180 days you would not be able to withdraw those funds as the same issues would not have been resolved.

[juanbbatista]

@kernowlass that's what PayPal states, but somehow he was able to suffessfully withdraw money before, and this account is not verified yet. Also, I don't think he has any chance to contact the sender and ask him to claim this money back and then send it to a new account. However, in case this works, it's better to issue a full refund from your end, his account is temporary limited, so probably the refund functionality is still available.

[LeonPetrou]

Thanks for the info @kernowlass 

I can ask Udemy to claim a refund for all their payouts so that I can withdraw it into another account, but I have a feeling that they won't be able to do that because I have payouts from a few years back sitting in my PayPal account. 

Is it possible for PayPal to push the refund of all payments to Udemy as @juanbbatista  suggests? Then I can withdraw the funds into a another PayPal account in my name?

If this is possible who do I talk to or how do I get this done?

[juanbbatista]

You must send the refunds manually, one by one. However, I don't recommend this way. Sending too many refunds to the same account is clearly a suspicious behavior in your account!

[LeonPetrou]

Thanks for the info @juanbbatista 

I can ask my friend to use his ID and proof of address but this raises two concerns:

1) The physical home address on the account is my personal address. My account warns me saying "If you're unable to submit the required information by 16 Jul 2020 or if we notice additional changes in your account activity, your access will be further limited". This means that PayPal will permanently limit me if I try add his address now when it is currently temporarily limited. So as a result, even if I do get my friend's proof of address, it will still not be verified because there will be a mismatch between his address and my address. Is my understanding correct? Also am still able to add an address if my account is temporarily limited? I'm too afraid to test this myself incase PayPal permanently limit me.

2) Does by putting the account in my friends name and verifying his identity give him legal grounds to claim the account and take all my money? If so, I should probably get him to sign contracts prior this engagement with him.

Thanks for helping me out and I look forward to your reply.

[juanbbatista]

1.1) The Warning means that they can place additional limitations on July 16th but not permanently, they will only suppress new functionalities like sending refunds. 1.2) You can modify any information with your account temporary limited --your home address for example--, this won't cause any serious inconvenience. When PayPal says "additional changes" they means "violation or suspicious incoming payments or access". 2) You definitely can't change the account owner name, but you can add or edit the home address. If your friend lives in your country, you can add his address and then he will gain full access after sending proof. NOTE: Be sure your friend doesn't have a verified PayPal account already, otherwise both accounts will be permanently closed. ADDITIONAL) After you modify the physical address in this account, and send your friend's address and ID proofs, PayPal will be able to continue with the investigation. This doesn't mean that the account will be restored, remember that PayPal considers that the activity in this account violated their terms, so there's a possibility that they permanently limit it after all. If this happens, the person who submitted the ID document (in this case your friend) won't be allowed to use PayPal anymore, he won't be able to open a new account and get verified anymore.

[LeonPetrou]

Thanks for the details @juanbbatista, that is good to know that I will be able to add an address with no problem.

I have emailed Udemy and asked them if they would be able to request a refund for all their payments they made to me. I hope this would be possible, this would be the best-case scenario to get the money out my PayPal account.

So this is the plan of action:

Step 1) Wait for Udemy to get back to me and if they can do that, then problem solved. If not,
Step 2) I will have to ask my friend for his ID and proof of address. Though after I upload these, there is still a high chance of the account getting permanently banned and he loses the option to ever use PayPal. This doesn't seem like a great solution.
Step 3) After getting permanently limited for 180 days, I can attempt to withdraw my funds into my bank account (same one I used before). If this works, then problem solved if not...
Step 4) Ask my friend to open a bank account with his name (that I have sole access to) and then withdraw the money into there.

So based on my above plan of action I have three questions:

Question 1: In Step 3, will I still be able to withdraw my funds into an account with a different name, like I have successfully done before? Or will PayPal be more strict with verifying the name because it is now a permanently limited account vs a previously not-limited account?
Question 2: In Step 4, with the permanently limited account, if my bank transfer fails due to the different name on the account, will I have the option to add an new bank account (the one I create with my friend) or will there be no option / ability to change the bank account details?
Question 3: Do you agree with my 4 step plan of action above or do you have any better suggestions or tips that may make this process easier for me to withdraw my money?

Thank you in advance.

[juanbbatista]

1) Not sure. 2) Yes you can add a new Bank account despite limitations. 3) Your plan looks perfect in the given situation.

[LeonPetrou]

Thank you so much for your help, I really do appreciate it! I'll keep you updated on what happens.

Is there a way to reach out to someone who works for PayPal to handle the PayPal to Udemy refund? Everyone I have emailed doesn't reply, and unfortunately their phone lines are closed. Plus, no one has ever replied to any questions in my resolution centre. One of the reasons I'm so grateful that you've helped me out @juanbbatista!

[juanbbatista]

You're almost welcome. About contacting someone at PayPal I have no suggestions for that, they're not responding to messages or email on this days. The worse customer support I've ever seen!!