I've had my Paypal account since 2013. Never had issues. I don't sell anything. I only used my account to buy stuff. I never filed any disputes or claims all this years I had my account.
Problems started two months ago. Paypal started asking me for documents (ID, utility bill, SSN card) and blocked my Paypal balance so I could not use it. I didn't have a lot in my balance. I only had $10 that I got from eBates. (At that point I only had three payments from eBates totalling to $60 but I used most of them to buy stuff) However I could still use my account to make payments so I didn't bother with providing documents.
Last month I bought something from China and paid around $200. The items I received were counterfeit so I opened a dispute, seller was not very helpful so I turned it into a claim. Seller still has 15 days to respond and my claim is still open.
Two days ago Paypal limited my account even further and I was unable to make payments. They asked for an ID or utility bill or SSN number. Providing any of this would be fine. They also asked me to verify my two credit cards, which I did. I also sent them the pictures of my passport and US visa to prove my identity. (Not a US citizen but I currently live in the US, Paypal doesn't offer services where I used to live so I opened a US account since I live in the US) The utility bill and SSN number sections were checked green and Proof of ID was in review. A few hours later I was sent an email to inform me that my documents were denied because they also needed a utility bill and proof of SSN. When I checked my account, utility bill and SSN section were still checked green but proof of ID was in red showing "denied".
I sent Paypal an email and explained that the proof of ID I sent them should have been enough to lift the limitation as they only asked for one of the documents, not all. I also explained them I was not a US citizen so I didn't have a SSN and didn't have any utility under my name but I could provide a bank statement as a proof of address but could not provide SSN. A few hourslater, I received an email titled "Paypal appeal denied" explaining that my account was now permanently closed and there was no way to appeal this decision.
I have no idea why my account is closed. They say they found my account high risk and there were fraud with one of my cards, which is not true. Both my cards are clean and has nothing to do with fraud. I have been using them since I opened this account. It seems like Paypal is punishing me for opening that claim, even tough I am the one scammed by the seller. I am now afraid that the claim will be closed in favour of the seller and I will be out of money.
I am pretty sure this is hopeless but do you think anything can be done?
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