Withdraw from a suspended account

[sha8wn]

Hello,

I have been using PayPal to support my freelancing business for the last 8 years without issues. I have been getting paid and I have been paying contractors using PayPal.

Recently I was asked to prove my identification and business to which I submitted what documents I had.

PayPal did not seem to accept the documentation I had and said that my account is going to be suspended because it seemed suspicious.

This is fine as this is their product and they have their policies, however, I had quite a substantial balance in the account.

PayPal informed me that my funds would be locked for 180 days as it would be used to clear any debts or refunds that may appear. I was also told in this auto email that after 180 days I should message them to withdraw my funds.

As frustrating as this is, again, I get that this is their policy. 

However, now 180 days has passed and I tried to contact PayPal support to withdraw my funds but all I get is auto emailers with no one willing to help me.

This money was hard earned through my freelance work and it seems to be so difficult to get what is mine.

Has anyone navigated this problem successfully or has any advice on what I should do next ?

Please help.

Thanks

[kernowlass]

@sha8wn 

If you have been told your Paypal account has been permanently limited then Paypal tends to hold any funds for 180 days. This is the same time frame that buyers have to open Paypal disputes.

If no disputes are opened in 180 days then normally you are allowed to withdraw the funds. That is as long as you are over 18, the account is in your legal name and registered in the country where you reside.

Sometimes they confiscate funds under this policy.
https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/ua/useragreement-full?locale.x=en_US#actions

Paypal also may request further documentation from you before you can withdraw those funds.

Contact options for Paypal are accessed by clicking help/contact bottom left of Paypal pages...

1. Paypal phones (you can use the guest option if you can't log in).
2. Live chat is also randomly available.
3. You can send them a message, during business hours you may also be able to message whilst logged out.
Or
4. Have you considered contacting Customer Service via Facebook or Twitter?
You can send them a personal message from their Facebook or Twitter pages.
It's: https://www.facebook.com/PayPal and @AskPayPal for Twitter.

[sha8wn]

Thank you for your response.

• I do not see live chat, I used to see it before. I guess since my account is pending suspension, this feature is no longer available.
• 180 days has elapsed and they mentioned, contact us after 180 days. 
  - I tried using the message center, no one has responded to me for nearly 3 weeks
  - I tried resolution center, I cannot file a case as they require me to select a specific transaction and as soon as I select a transaction, they say it cannot be disputed so that is a dead end
  - I did not know about the phone call option which I might explore since everything else has failed

[Burhan01]

Explore the option to contact them via their tweeter account then, If they don't allow you any contact via your account.

[sha8wn]

Ok Thanks, let me try this.

[cbrooke01]

this is happening to me also. have you solve it already?