Paypal illegally holding money

sdfasf
Contributor
Contributor

Money paid by buyer's on ebay have been put on hold. I sold 4 items - all from an old computer, at once. 3 of those have been unduly put on hold. This has made it so I'm unable to complete the transaction and send out the items. Reading here it seems like it's a total crap-shoot if they'll even release the money after everything has been sent and positive feedback has received. I'm not a new seller and I've never really had any problems or complaints.

 

This seems like an illegal, and outright gross attempt to hustle members of this service. I am honestly surprised that paypal hasn't been sued to the ground with these shark tactics, and ebay moreso with their complete anti-competition.

 

What is the best thing to do here, as a seller? Contact the buyer and tell _them_ to speak to paypal, as they've locked their money away?

 

Attempt to cancel the order completely? As people have suggested here, the best thing to do to move forward is to move over to Amazon. If I cancel the order I assume that Paypal will have no choice but to refund the money back. They'll no longer be able to hide behind the idea they're protecting anyone.

 

Thoughts?

Login to Me Too
78 REPLIES 78

Geezer32
Contributor
Contributor

This is a scam, nothing more.  I just lodged a complaint with the AFCA about my funds being held by PayPal, I suggest that everyone do the same. Things will only change if people speak up against this BS

Login to Me Too

StarApparell1
Contributor
Contributor
What is the AFCA? I will file a complaint against pay Pal immediately!?
Login to Me Too

Geezer32
Contributor
Contributor

Australian financial complaints authorities. Formerly the financial ombudsman. Just search for them and then use the complaint form it’s all online only takes 5 minutes 

Login to Me Too

DR2019
Contributor
Contributor

Had the same thing happen to us 

 

Using paypal for 12 years, 100% feedback on ebay, over 10,000 sales, a handful of charge backs but only when refunded and paypal did not send the money to buyer they they went to bank and we just had a 20% of payments heard for 60 days 

 

there was no warning or phone call just one day went on and was on there 

 

spent next day trying to get someone to let us know what was happening and after 9 phone calls still now the wiser went to Onbudsment they sent a email for us got a phone call same day... 

 

turns out that we on this for a reason only paypal know and wont share have been threw the list of reason and we dont tick any of them boxes whenever we ask them to clarify why has happened they just fob us off if very unprofessional and unethical 

 

they said can remove the 20% for 60 days if give them 30K to hold, i personally feel like this is extortion and we are pursuing it further and have since removed paypal from our own website and dont take on amazon either and stop processing as many payments as can threw then and when ebay offers Adyen will be changing to them and completely removing paypal as a payment option due to this 

 

it is honestly just a money grabbing exercise nothing more we will never use them in any business's we involved in already remove several and will warn every other business deal with also 🙂 

Login to Me Too

tranwong
Member
Member

I agree its unethical to hold money for weeks. I can't quite use the term 'scam', but its close.

 

Although it really depends on certain things and each situation may be different. If you have someone who has never sold an item, sell a $2,000 TV, PayPal will assuredly place a hold until the transaction is complete.

 

My problem with PayPal is how they will place holds on items delivered, then argue with you that they aren't delivered. Basically, sometimes they are going to wait 21 days no matter what . *THAT* is some BS and complaints need to be filed with state agencies

Login to Me Too

Jaesook
Contributor
Contributor
I think PayPal is purposely giving me error messages that stops me from sending money to someone or transferring my money into my bank account under the names of "security". PayPal, Its nice that you guys are trying to make this safe but you guys are driving me crazy. If anyone had the same experience as me please help!!!!!
Login to Me Too

LolaG
Contributor
Contributor
I sold a boat through eBay. It was a boat, it could not be shipped and was sold as local pick up only. The gentleman paid through PayPal because he kept getting messages of payment reminders, I did not send them. He picked the boat up after paying through PayPal, the last week of June. It is now July 10th, and PayPal is still holding my funds. eBay released my funds the day after the sale because the buyer posteda positive feedback. eBay even contacted PayPal on my behalf. PayPal still refused to release my funds until July 18. They said they don't have an option to manually release my funds, and if they don't get verification from the buyer personally they will hold my money until either the buyer contacts them or tracking information confirms delivery. As the seller, I am paying the PayPal fees, for a boat I sold through eBay, eBay is good, my buyer is good, PayPal took their money straight off the top like always so they are good. The it one not good here is me, the person who is paying to have their money held. eBay confirmed the sale, and that isn't good enough. I contacted the buyer, but guess what, he's on vacation with his new boat! Meanwhile, I am not on vacation because I don't have money to go. If you ask me it's all bologna, and PayPal is most likely drawing interest off the money they hold. My daughter was part of a class action law suit against PayPal some few years ago. I believe it was for holding funds, and she received a check for that. So I think there has been a law suit, but looks like there needs to be another one!!
Login to Me Too

kernowlass
Esteemed Advisor
Esteemed Advisor

@LolaG 

 

The law suit was for holding funds AFTER 180 days for permanently limited accounts and NOT for the new seller hold >>>>>>>>>>>>


You should never use paypal for an item that is to be collected or personally delivered as you have 0 seller protection.
Your buyer can collect the item and then file a dispute for non receipt of item. As you would have no tracking number to prove delivery of the item to him then you may lose the dispute. (However with a large collect item you should be ok).

That is why Ebay give you the option of 'cash on collection' and you can state in your decription that that is the only payment you will accept. If a buyer pays with Paypal then you are allowed to refund that payment and re-state 'cash on collection'.

That way you have cash in hand / no wait / no fee / no risk of a dispute.


Advice is voluntary.
Kudos / Solution appreciated.
Login to Me Too

Gogo10
Contributor
Contributor
I had a case where i sold an item, delievered it and the buyer put the money on hold and I never got it. I wrote to paypal, send all the evidence about the delivery and correspondation with paypal and they ignored it. 10 days after the buyer invented a new sale of other product, made fake documents and fake correspondation with. I alerted paypal that this is fraud and criminal activity and fraud and asked them to send me this fraud documents that they block this user what i could easily prove. Nothing happened, they didnt believe me. I will never do any sales again here, just wanted to spread the word here and ask if anyone had a similar experience and can advise me sold this. I lost my money and time, but maybe i can help someone else to avoid a fraud like this here. My protection as seller here in this case was 0%, no support or cooperation to solve this case from paypal at all
Login to Me Too

Johnnyfiver
Member
Member
I am absolutely livid about this. I have been an Ebay seller for six months. Every one of my sales got a 100% positive review for immediate shipping with a tracking number. The problem is I am selling specialised tools so I only sell/ship maybe one a month. It could take two years to get to 25 sales and pass their ridiculous "test." When you think about it, they are doing this to tens of thousands of sellers, holding funds and earning interest which they pocket. Oh, BTW Ebay I became a seller as I NEED the money. I guess you figure everyone is just doing this as a hobby and can afford to go three weeks without income? As a result I am fed up and actively seeking an alternative to Ebay.
Login to Me Too

Haven't Found your Answer?

It happens. Hit the "Login to Ask the community" button to create a question for the PayPal community.