HORRIBLE IDEA TO HOLD FUNDS FOR 21 DAYS!!!

[gearhed78]

  Holding funds from sellers until the buyer leaves feedback is the worst idea EVER! Since when does Paypal become an authority on buyer satisfaction?? A smooth transaction is all that I wanted from Paypal. If they are going to hold funds, then they should make it very clear BEFORE you use them!  Keeping my money in their account for 21 days is a HUGE disadvantage of using Paypal. Stick to transferring funds,not trying to be a satisfaction authority!

[Aqua]

Question:  How Do I Get PayPal To Drop Holding PAYMENTS
FOR 21 DAYS because my transactions are not based on merchandise to be shipped
or feedback expected?   I understand that
funds are held for a period of 21 days for a sale of an item unless one has
proof of delivery of the item (delivery confirmation number) or if the buyer
leaves feedback for example on eBay.  I
am a long-time PayPal user…I first began using it to pay for items that I
purchased on eBay.  I never encountered any
problems using PayPal.  But, I would like
PayPal to understand a situation that is hurting how I run my business…I need
access to the funds my clients send to me, immediately, so that I can perform the
service I am rendering them.  I have a
business that does not involve selling products, shipping products, or eBay at
all.  I am now using PayPal simply as a
third-party  to handle receiving money {which
are deposits}  for a SERVICE that I
render my clients….their deposit holds a reservation for one of my vacation
rentals.  I take 4 forms of payments and
one choice is via PayPal which some of my clients prefer using….so I let them
do so…but then I have to wait almost one month before I can get their deposits
in hand.   There is no shipping of a product involved…no
feedback to leave on eBay, etc..  I have
been using PayPal to receive reservation deposits for a couple of years now with
NO PROBLEMS in any transactions themselves and NO PROBLEMS with my clients. Everything
goes very smoothly, even from people reserving my vacation rentals from
overseas.  The ease of sending an invoice
to them, and getting their payment is great…but the withholding of our money by
PayPal is now hurting my business.  Would
PayPal take my situation into consideration by releasing my payments to my business right away?    

[antiquesnme]

I think I mentioned this before--but---as soon as I started putting a tracking number in the items I was shipping--within a week they lifted my 21 day hold on my funds.  Maybe that's what they want--It worked for me--and of course, good feedback and I communicate with my buyers.  Nola6151

[ladyverne1]

REALLY PayPal ?!!!!  This is just getting too old for words.  Fine, this is a "new" account, just to clarify, this is considered a new account, yet I keep getting certificates for new "Stars"  to print out etc. because I am establishing myself through Positive Feedback, Fast Shipping, Excellent Communication etc. as an up and coming Seller in eBay's eyes.  Alright, that said; It would seem I haven't "Moved Heaven and Earth" Enough yet to suit PayPal.  Everytime I turn around, from the beginning my account is "On  a 21 Day Payment Hold, "on again,Off Again" !  Mind you, all the while I have almost perfect Feedback, Quick Shipping etc,etc etc.  Finally, less than a month ago, I needed to pay for some items I purchased on eBay, so I'm waiting for my Positive Feedback because my PayPal account is on hold again, (at least for the next 10 minutes. : /    )  so I get the feedback, and I begin the wait, I will say as a general rule that PayPal is pretty quick in releasing funds after Positive Feedback, (usually same day had been my experience) but this day was different, I waited and waited, no release, so I called Customer Service.  Upon looking at my Positive Feedback, History etc etc, the Operator agreed with me that my money should be available to me, and not only did he remove the holds on the money in question, he took the "Hold" off period, either that or recommended that it be taken off to the "Powers that Be" however that works.  Anyway, I thought: "Finally, my Prayers have been answered: NO MORE 21 DAY HOLDS !"  NOT.....  Yes the hold was removed alright, for about 12 hours, or maybe 24 at the outside.  Only to be put BACK ON HOLD !  Thus it began again, back and forth, on and off.  WHAT GIVES ?    It is SO bad that I have to check my Account Status before I can even bid on anything, for fear that even though the thing was "Holdless" yesterday, it might have changed again today !  As if that is not enough, now they are **bleep**ing up other areas of my finances !  Some examples: For quite sometime, my shipping fees when I shipped an item were taken from my Paypal account, from where the person payed for their item and their shipping, Cool, that was working great.  THEN IT WASN'T !!  All of a sudden, I'm getting overdraft notices from my bank !!!  WHAT ?!!  That couldn't be right, nothing is coming out of my account, YES IT WAS, PayPal decided to try my ON HOLD AGAIN account, and then just go ahead and get it from my checking account. Money was in my PayPal Acct., on hold, but there..??????????????????????  Then everything I read on both eBay and PayPal said my eBay Seller Fees came out of my Acct. (checking) on "x" date.  OK good, I've been wanting to add my new credit card, and acct. and remove the checking account I had been using, they say my eBay payment has been made so I'm all good !  So I did all that, and went about the business of trying to pay for some stuff I bought, checked my PayPal acct., money there, check....NO KIDDING...BY THE TIME I GOT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PAYING THE SELLER PAYPAL HAD SNAGGED MY MONEY FOR MY EBAY FEES THAT HADN'T HIT YET APPARANTLY, 4 DAYS AFTER THE FACT !!  This is enough to make a person wanna hurl.....REALLY !!!   Now I have a true blue mess !!!!  Can someone please help me before I pull my hair all out one by one  ?  I've got one nerve left at this point, and PayPal is JUMPIN' UP AND DOWN ON IT !!!!

[ladyverne1]

I came back to make an addition to my little tirade, however upon reading my last post I'd like to make a clarification right off the bat.  For some reason it "bleeped me" and I want whomever is reading this to know that I am not disrespectful enough, no matter how upset I may be, to use profanity.  I don't know what it "thought" I typed, but where the "bleep" is, it simply says they are "mess-ing up my acct." Don't see why a form of the word "mess" would get bleeped,maybe I"ve been under a rock or something, but last I knew it wasn't profanity.  🙂  Anyway, what I came back to say was that although I tried to make it a bit humorous for the reader, these are real problems for me that do need to be addressed.   I've attempted to read the policies of both eBay and PayPal, and quite frankly they leave me a bit befuddled.  I have a disability due to depression, and that much info thrown at me at once is a bit overwhelming, so I don't glean from it what I should.  So any help from you kind folks here would be great.  Thanks Much !

Ladyverne1

[Alex0393]

I have just gotten off the phone for the fourth time and still have not been given a specific reason why they have chosen to place my account which contains around $1,750.00 on hold. I have been buying and selling on ebay for over two years now and during that period I have accumulated 103 transactions with 100% positive feedback from the people I have dealt with. Paypal has avoided giving me a specific reason why they have just now chosen to do this and have assured me that they will not take the 21 day hold off of my account for any reason whatsoever. I was given no notice prior to them doing this that told me it was possible and telling me how it could be avoided. I went back and read their reasons under the user agreement for being able to do this and the reasoning is purposely in my opinion so vague so that they can justify it regardless. Based on those reason I would think just about every paypal customer could potentially have a hold put on their money without violation of the user agreement. I think this is unfair and perhaps illegal and I am pursuing every avenue possible to get in on what I'm sure are numerous class action lawsuits. In addition I have contacted the Mississippi Department of Consumer Affairs and the Attorney Generals Office both of which enthusiastically invited me to come in and provide them with all documentation. The attitude expressed leads me to believe that they feel they have a strong case against Paypal and may be pursuing legal action. Last I have contacted an attorney and set up an appointment to see him. He was literally excited about the prospect based on the information I gave him.

I have enjoyed using ebay and regret that I will no longer be able to because it's hard to do business without a paypal account since most buyers require it. They have a true monopoly on the online business and in my opinion count on people knowing that closing their account seriously damages their ability to buy and sell online. I am one person and realize they don't give a rats **bleep** if I'm a customer or not but I will fight this to the very end and have access to the financial means to do that very thing. If nothing else I will get this story out to the world in hopes that others will give thought to business practices that are socialistic in nature and in the end adjust the stock value to reflect the loss of confidence in them. The practice, again in my opinion, is in place so they can improve their cash position and draw untold millions in interest payments on the money. The bottom line is, the money they are holding belongs to me, not paypal, and what they are doing is nothing more than temporary theft. I have never been told by any financial institution nor have I ever heard of anyone being told by any financial institution that they cannot access their funds without giving them a specific reason why. I would appreciate anyone with any information on pending lawsuits or who have experienced a similar situation with them to post here and the website I am creating as I intend on getting every piece of evidence I can to pursue this to the very end. In addition to my money I will be seeking severe punitive damages that I feel confident any jury hearing my case will be more than willing to award me as a way of letting them know that in America this type of business practice is unacceptable.

[hbogdon]

Hi When I called them they said they will hold my money until its delivered which I believe is illigal. So if you are doing a class action suit, let me know I will join you. They are still holding 198.00 of my money to I reported them to the Federal Trade Commission I will also now report them to the Attorney Generals office also. Once I receive my money I am closing my ebay and my paypal account down since ebay owns Paypal. keep me posted. Helen

[mcliff68]

Hi! Glad to hear that everyone is finally starting to see the scope of what Paypal and Ebay has done by actually holding and taking money from our PERSONAL ACCOUNTS!! . I don't care what they  say........what they are doing IS ILLEGAL and if any other company tried to do this they'd be brought up on charges! If you do go ahead with any type of suit, please let me know, I have already contacted the Atty. General's Office myself (in California and in Florida, which is where they are and where I live) like you they both seemed VERY interested in what was going on and wanted more information. I think we have quite a few people involved in this and I am hoping we can make a difference and put things right!

[Alex0393]

I also wanted to add a note to my previous post. The customer service representatives I have spoken with have been extremely courteous and professional and have done that in spite of my regrettable frustration with them on the phone. I know the people I spoke with have no control over paypal's business practices and I truly feel for them having to talk to irrate customers when they have not been given any suitable answers to pass on to the customers. It has never been my way to express my frustration with those who answer the phones but this time I was told I was as high up the food chain as I could get and my anger was obvious. For that I feel bad and did try to call back and apologize but had no way of knowing who I had spoken with. If any of them happens to read this post I just wanted to apologize for taking it out on them

[TheyeofHorus]

"I am Mad as **bleep**, and I am NOT going to take it anymore".  Yes they just did this to me and I am **bleep**.  I have been with eBay/PayPal since about 2002 (with my ex) and on my own since 2008 and have always encouraged others to start eBay because it was such a great opportunity.  Yes I sell intermittently or erratically, when ever I feel like it.  I have 100% positive feedback, etc..  One of my last 4 feedbacks says that the transaction/communication/shipping was just about the best he has ever had!  So when I got my notice in my email I thought it might be a spoof/phishing scam, so I logged in the regular way and saw the notice, I fired off a very scathing email message to PayPal using some very strong language, just to accurately convey exactly the depth of my disgust towards their shortsighted policy.  They want the big wholesalers and don't give a **bleep** about the small people that go to yard sales, auctions, thrift stores etc and find the real treasures that people WANT.  The kind of people that literally built eBay and PayPal with our dedication and hard work are now taking a back seat because of their GREED!  That is the way I see it.

[redpower]

You people should really read like the last two pages before you rant, you will probably have your answers.