Count me in as being infuriated at this policy. I too have used e-bay and pay-pal for many years with never a single dispute, negative feedback, or any factor that could logically deem my account to be "high-risk" (which is their justification for imposing holds). After arguing this with a customer service supervisor for a full 40 minutes, I was left with the explanation that pay-pal can use their "discretion" to impose a hold on anyone's account, basically for any reason they see fit. This is nothing short of robbery. Thier explanation of a hold is that "the money belongs to you, but you can't spend it or withdraw it". What the heck is that supposed to mean? That's like if someone takes your car and says "no, I didn't steal it, I'm just going to hold onto it for as long as I feel like, and while I do, you can't use it - so walk!"
There are numerous safeguards in place within the e-bay and pay-pal customer agreements to protect buyers and sellers, which we all have to abide by. This is an unnecessary policy that creates nothing but inconvenience for the seller, and I have no idea how it's not already - but it should be illegal to do this! If this was standard practice and policy when I signed on to pay-pal, I would never have done so. It's a shame that this is (or was) such a convenient method to buy and sell on e-bay, because I now have to find another service. There is no way that I will remain a pay-pal member and subject my money to random, time-consuming and arbitrary holds at their "DISCRETION"!
