Bad PayPal! - When security becomes ridiculous
Want to know the perfect formula on how to create a frustrating system, provide terrible customer service, and manage to drive a loyal customer to hate? Just take lessons from PayPal - they are doing a great Job at really screwing up.
Here's the magic combo:
First, PayPal created some security restrictions that 'automatically' triggered on my account. While they won't say, I'm guessing its because I accepted 20-30 payments before I attempted to make a full-withdrawal. Regardless, this sparked their security system and it asked that I certify my account (this is different than verify). To do this, I have to ADD MY PERSONAL CREDIT CARD to the account ?@?#$@#$# I also have to verify my SS#. The first step takes 1 week for the transaction to show on my personal CC#... The second step fails because they say that I've used my SS# at some point in the past.
If anyone is like me, I've been using the Internet and PayPal since 2000. As a tribute to PayPal, I actually have two accounts. One is for CentreSource, the other was for my campaign. But because of that, I'm now kicked to the next level- RESOLUTION CENTER! This place in the PayPal Nightmare is a series of steps I have to accomplish before they will give me my money. Note: We're at over 2 weeks now to get through all of this.
As I attempt to solve the mysteries of the RESOLUTION CENTER, I learn from my off-shore customer service rep that they'll have to cancel my CentreSource account so they can transfer my SS# to the Campaign account. I say "you're joking... In all your years, you've never had someone that wants to separate PayPal accounts for legitimate business reasons?". He lets me know that many people have had this problem, but offers no logical reason why. Uber-secret security measures I'm guessing.
So, on to trying to work via their system.
The RESOLUTION CENTER (bad interface, obscure directions) asks for various pieces of info including: Copy of my SS Card, copy of a utility bill, a SUPER SECURE Fax Cover Sheet (courtesy of PayPal), and my explanation. I fax this info and get a confirmation.
A little over 12 hours later, I get another email saying "They're very sorry..." but they need more info. To my shock and amazement, they are asking for the EXACT SAME INFO I JUST FAXED. It seems my off-shore buddy didn't put in a good word for me and now they're just being mean. I reply to the email, letting them know my frustration, and am quickly greeted by an AUTOMATED RESPONSE reminding me that they don't read any replies - only communications filed through the ULTRA-SECURE RESOLUTION CENTER (scary music queue).
When I go back to the RESOLUTION CENTER, I go to their messaging section and surprise, surprise... their ultra-death-dealing security measures also provide a messaging system that DOES NOT KEEP TRACK of any communications back and forth. How are my off-shore buddies supposed to keep up with my case?
Alas, I still don't have my money (3 weeks later) and PayPal's RESOLUTION CENTER AKA: MONEY HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR still won't give me my funds. They are still asking for the same info I've faxed. Their response to my last DOUBLE-DECODER-RING-SECRET-MESSAGE was that they couldn't help me until I followed the steps in their GOD FORSAKEN @#$@#$@ RESOLUTION CENTER.
I hope SEO picks this up: PayPal Sucks, PayPal is Bad, PayPal delivers bad Customer Service, PayPal deserves a KGB Assassination (if anyone finds this article through the keywords PayPal KGB Assassination, I'll fall out of my chair).
Comments
Wow, I had no idea about
Wow, I had no idea about this company (read -scam artist)untill recently. I have a similar experience in that I have had about 10-20 deposits, without withdrawing the funds. At the beginning of this month I received an e-mail saying that my account info was not sufficiant enough, and that I must remedy this immediately or lose ALL of my money. I panicked, went online to find out that my account had been hacked into !!! So now I needed to ADD MY CREDIT CARD INFO !! Yes that's right, they admitted my acount had been hacked into, so now I had to give them more important info to lose. They already have my money, and bank account info. So I add my credit card info with the intent of cancelling it the moment I get my money the heck out of there. They won't accept it !!!!! Frustrated I e-mailed them, and my credit card provider to get this resolved quickly. My credit card provider responded to my e-mail within hours, explaining that somehow my address was recorded wrong,and that it was immediately fixed. So back to the PayPal site to enter my credit card info again, now they have to call the house and ask if I'd like to have them call immediately, or in one minute to shut off my internet connection. I have dial-up, so I oppted for the minute. Next page I have to record a pin #, I scramble find a pen, write down the pin, log out, and shut my computer down as fast as I can. This ends up being too late they have received my voice mail, now I must wait for a letter in the mail with a new pin - this is said to take at least 7 business days. I really am amazed a company like this has customers, I know the second I get my money back they will be down 1, and if we can spread the word we can save countless other victims too !! I suppose it would be helpful to add that two days later I have still not recieved a response to my e-mail.
I too have had HORRIBLE
I too have had HORRIBLE results from PayPal. They kept money of mine for 2 months. I tried to get my bank to reverse the charge which they did, but then PayPal just sent it through again, which the bank paid and around and around. I finally reversed it and cancelled my card. What a pain just for the IDIOTS. I think they are just using OUR money to make money. Do you know the rate for overnight or short term money? Say they have 500,000 customers (probably more)and 20% of them get funds held for say 2 or 3 days. Even if they are only $1,000US then that's a million bucks. You can make big money, $10,000 per day easy. Plus their exchange rates are usury.
I think their needs to be an investigation by the EU who hates these kind of screwups.
I have used paypal as a
I have used
paypal as a buyer on Ebay for 6 years , but as soon as I registered as a business seller with Paypal the KGB security paranoia system kicked in causing my business client's large payment to be put in limbo with no immediate hope of transferring funds to my business bank account . It takes about 6 days to transfer paypal funds if your account is ready to use anyway . I could have had my client send a check by snail mail and had it in two days and in my bank account next day . I will never use papal again !!!!!
Sites to review:
Sites to review:
www.aboutpaypal.org
www.paypalsucks.com
Paypal has a known tendency to grab money for no good reason, I've seen this happen to more than a few people's accounts in the Nashville area. It can happen to you. Good luck getting your money back.
Very similar lack of support
Very similar lack of support and customer satisfaction can apparently be had at Bank of China in Beijing, if you try to invoke the "withdraw all funds from account" operation, which is an operation that customers are bad customers for invoking.
There was plenty of competition for Bank of China. Is there any at all for PayPal? Showing your opinion with your feet is the only power talk banks understand. I think PayPal has reached a position where it is a bit too safe to be really horrible and still keep their customers.
Sounds like PayPal has been
Sounds like PayPal has been taken over by Vogons.
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