PayPal Invoicing Issue - 500 Internal Server Error

[boa]

When my customers are handed off to PayPal (HTML form fields that have been in use and have worked for months) they are getting an "Internal Server Error".  Folks, this is NOT a client-side error; It is nearly 100% a misconfiguration of the server.

<on soapbox>  My frustration right now is that for hours I tried to contact a live person at PayPal to report the problem.  Even before the office closed (10PM CDT) I got the run-around from an automated phone director.   So folks, how do you report a problem when you have one?  I do between 5k and 10k a month; do I have a better option than this, someplace where a real human being cares?  Seems like the tech side of data processing is a 24/7/365 job, not something that gets shut down when the administrative office is dark. <off soapbox> 

[Goto10]

Frank, can your company at least do the right thing and put up a proper error message for that page so my clients don't think it's one of the many Paypal scams out there?  You guys really need to deal with situations like this much better than it's been handled.  I'm looking into alternatives as I cannot have this situation happen again and have my clients see this.  Very base level customer service stuff here, guys, given the operations you run.  Proper error message pages and a rough ETA at LEAST would be helpful.  

Are automated subscription payments working?  I need to know this.

[MicroGuy]

I just lost a huge International sale because of this problem. Is anybody home in management? That error message looks like something out of  the stone age. Geeeeeeeeeeesh!!!!!!

[boa]

Good post, Goto10.  Perhaps PayPal is not accustomed to having errors, but the handling of this one shows they have no plan.  The error message is right out of the server package, including the part about contacting the 'webmaster'.  Good luck with that.  In effect, there is no PayPal produced message at all.  As far as I'm concerned this is a major issue for PayPal -- and a potential financial disaster for many.  When the cash flow stops, so will many small businesses. 

[Goto10]

Has Paypal been compromised/hacked, Frank? Would Paypal be upfront and honest if it had been?

[ITC]

Having the same issues. Had something similar last week! Not to happy.....making my business look bad!

[DV8]

I'm having the same problem.  This is unacceptable.  My customers cannot pay, and I can't even view my previous invoices for shipping addresses.  The error message displayed is very generic and non-professional appearing.

In light of this, I'd recommend that Paypal provide some link within the accounts to have an option of downloading the invoices and all account activity into an Excel file.  Just for situations like this, when we cannot access our sales info.

[camidwives]

We are also having this problem while trying to invoice vendors for a multi-location statewide conference.  It is hugely unprofessional and is definitely adversely affecting our sales.  

Please find a way to fix this immediately.

Thanks.

[DV8]

Even more frustration.  The contact email provided on that Internal Server Error screen (webmaster(at)paypal.com) doesn't even work!  It just sends an automated reply email saying to go somewhere else for contact.

How about Paypal just put the correct contact info on the error message screen in the first place! 

[TexasLangGenius]

I can't even click on the "Pay ($ Amount)" button!

I tried every solution under the sun, even trying paying through my smartphone but nothing works...

[julesb7885]

Having the exact same problem.