Stunned by sudden permanent account limitation, desperate to find out why!

[jc881]

Hello,

I've used my PayPal account for many years, almost exclusively for making the occasional eBay purchase once every several months. Today I received an email saying that PayPal was limiting my account (it was later, when I logged into my account, that I realized "limited" is a euphemism for "permanently banned"). The email said the limitation was because of a violation of the user agreement, though it did not say what the violation was, and interestingly it told me to remove anything PayPal-associated from my "site(s) and auction(s)." The email said nothing explicit about me using PayPal to accept payment, but the overall tone of the email, and the reference to my "sites and auctions," seemed to imply that PayPal believed I was using my account as a merchant account to sell things and accept payment on online vendors like eBay. This is bizarre as I've never sold anything on eBay or used my PayPal account to sell anything at all, only buying occasional video games and sports memorabilia on eBay.

I tried to use the "Chat Now" feature on the site, only to find that it connects you to a virtual/AI assistant. This assistant told me nothing new, that my account was permanently "limited" though it did say that PayPal was "unable to continue offering our services to you at this time due to the nature of your business and the risk it poses to PayPal." It's at this point that I was completely gobsmacked - like I said, I don't have a business! Looking over my transactions, the only "business" I conducted was stuff like buying a video game and 2 pieces of NHL memorabilia on eBay, and sending a small (<100) amount of money to a family member to help them financially. I'm not a merchant or businessman of any kind, so you can imagine my surprise at that message!

So I sent an email. I received an immediate automated response that, once again, simply reiterated what I already knew: "due to the violation of PayPal's Acceptable Use Policy, your account will remain permanently limited." It didn't provide any hint of what the violation could be. At this point I'm certain it had to be a mistake, or someone was hacking my account for nefarious purposes - I was completely grasping at straws.

And this is when it gets REALLY weird.

Determined to talk to an actual human after going 0 for 2 on customer support methods, I made a phone call and was told that I would be on hold for 36 minutes to an hour (!) and that they would call me back at that time. I confirmed the callback and received an automated call right on schedule, and it connected me to a human (at long last!) She told me that my account was permanently limited for a violation of the agreement, I told her I knew that, lol. She said that there was no chance of reactivating the account and that PayPal has "decided to part ways with you." Imagine my surprise! But the best was yet to come.

I explained that I was desperately just trying to find out why I was limited and what the alleged "violation" was. It was at this moment she said one of the most bizarre things I've ever heard in my life. She said PayPal could not disclose that information, and that if I wanted to know why I was "permanently limited" that my only option would be to file a subpoena under the Freedom of Information Act. My jaw dropped. Talk about needing an act of Congress to get something simple done - she had just told me if I wanted to know why PayPal was banning me, it would require a LITERAL act of Congress!!

By now I've managed to pick my jaw up off the floor, but I still have no theory as to why they would suddenly "permanently limit" the account of a user in good standing who had used their service for many, many years.

So my questions are, is this sort of thing common? Does anyone have similar experiences, and is there any recourse I have? Fortunately I didn't have any funds in my account, so even just finding out why I was limited would be enough for me. Does anyone have any guesses as to what could've happened? I'm still stunned, legitimately gobsmacked.

[zinochka]

Exactly the same happened to me, can't believe them, PayPal should be ashamed of themselves. You are guilty, period, no explanation or a chance to clear yourself.  I am deeply offended and hoping someone will file class action.  I sold an item (baby pajamas) on ebay and they did not allow the payment to go through.  I had a frustrated buyer that left negative feedback not believing my explanation about Paypal.  Hard to believe unless it happens to you. PayPal can't spot the real fraudulent activities but they do it to loyal customers for years.  Funny tht recently eBay parted their ways with Paypal, only small accounts are in process of moving to ebay managed payments. 

[AdelaPickles]

I’ve just fallen down this rabbit hole too. Good idea about a class action, I’m interested.

[Sgone83]

After reading all this and having the same issue I went ahead an filed a complaint with the better business bureau. I’m don’t with it and all I want is to close my account and be done for good! I’m also in if there’s a lawsuit I don’t want my bank info in their system if I can use the service

[startledsloth]

Same exact thing happened to me as well. Used PayPal for years, barely touched the account other than buying and selling a few items on eBay. Only recently started using it again, only to be hit by a permanent limitation for no reason. Spent an hour waiting on the phone to talk to a rep, only to have them tell me that I would literally need to take PayPal to court just to get an answer as to why my account was banned. No warning, no appeal, no nothing. Just sudden termination. I was even hit by a Venmo restriction a few days later, again with no warning and no real ability to appeal. I have no idea what could possibly warrant such extreme action against someone who uses the service maybe three or four times a year just to buy little collector's items off the internet. Especially when I've never received a warning and have remained in good standing with them (as far as I'm aware). They were even spamming my email with credit card offers right up until the moment I got banned. Behavior demonstrated by PayPal here is disgusting to say the least.

[FREEDOM1776]

Yeah I just had the same thing happen to my account. They claim that I violated their policy by selling Firearms related items. I have never ridden or got an email letting me know that you cannot sell firearms related accessories. I have been selling these items on PayPal for over 15 years. They send me a message that my account is shut down and that my funds will be in there for a hundred eighty days. And now I'm reading online about other people having the same thing happen and after the hundred eighty days they still can't get their money. It sounds to me like there is going to be a class action lawsuit against these lying thieves their thievery will not go unpunished.

[Dannyknee123]

How many of you guys are conservative? I heard they have banned people before for supporting president trump.

[FREEDOM1776]

I'm a patriot and I was selling firearm related accessories so anything's possible between Twitter and Facebook going after conservatives it wouldn't surprise me that PayPal does the same thing they're all a bunch of commie pieces of crap

[Dizzyd024red]

has anyone been able to get any info or resolution on this bogus perma ban. I joined in 2007 for purchasing from eBay and Amazon. Alqays received offers for PayPal bank and credit cards. Finally about 2 weeks ago I gave in and ordered my card for my cash plus acct. Then attempted to deposit my stimulus paper check. Before I could complete the deposit 2 emails followed the congrats please confirm card order and your card is being sent to me . Then app notification card is on its way. Please activate and begin using your new card. The flowing day i was about to signin to the app to retry the deposit and it says error occurred please try again later. So 1 hour and gonna try again now my acct shows normal info for login. All the sudden autologgofff happens. So log back in and says you can no longer use PayPal. I'm confused so gonna call and boom 3 emails stating g I'm no longer able to use pay pal i call and get the best automotive crap so set up call back and waiting for call i sent an email never got called back but I did get an email that stated to got to resolution center and click resolve beside every section. There is no resolve or sections for that matter. The the amazing notification from the app stating they reviewed my acct and I can never use PayPal again. I guess they have no business ethic , empathy, sympathy, for customers and have been running this fake customer friendly company into the fraudulent company zone and ripping us off one at a time. I feel such dissapointment and I am appolled with unprofessionalism and lack of care. These guys handle our finances and they pull this without explanation whatsoever. I have no choice but to file with the BBB at this point.hopefully they will figure out what loyalty is and correct the errors I hate losing a longtime well rounded relationship.

[urbaknight]

Yes, there should be a class action lawsuit against PayPal. They are aware the vast majority of the users will not expend the time and effort to pursue legal action, much less the the cost to engage professional help for a trial should it be warranted. 

PayPal did the same to me and took $50K from my 2 accounts. 

Prior to the account limitation, I noticed they kept asking for me to confirm my identity despite me having repeatedly submitting the same documentation. 

From my brief conversation with the representative who attended to me over the phone after they deducted my funds (the call option miraculously became available after then), I glimpsed the basis of the 'violation' to be in the dealing of actual firearms, which could explain the false positive when we have been buying or selling games or in-game items that their system could be programmed to flag if the description of those bears any semblance to weapons and explosives. I read that PayPal has been closing down accounts of sellers who deal in actual firearms, this might be the reason of all these recent suspensions. 

It is however strange that they are denying people from appealing their suspension decision and details of the clause being violated, so much it is difficult to not regard this practice as anything less than suspicious.