When I signed up with Paypal, I gave them my social security number, my phone number, my mother's maiden name, and my physical address. I went through a verification process at that time wherein they sent me a postcard to verify my identity and physical address. I responded and thought all was well.
Last month, upon trying to send a payment, I was informed that I had reached a spending limit with Paypal. I use Ebay to buy gemstones and supplies for artisan jewelry, had always paid on time and never had or caused a problem and all of the sudden, I was no longer allowed to send payments using Paypal unless I gave them a bank account.
I called Customer Service three times before I got a gentleman named "Todd" who was courteous and helpful. I explained to him that this additional "verification" seemed superfluous and that I didn't want my bank account accessed as the only money that went into that account was for my mother's mortgage. "Todd" reassured me that I could still use my credit card to make payments and that my bank account was only used for verification purposes. Because Paypal is supposed to be the "safe, secure way to send money", I trusted him in that. I submitted my bank account information.
Six transactions later, Paypal started accessing that bank account in spite of the fact that I checked to make sure the funds were coming from my credit card on every transaction. The money wasn't in the bank account because my mother's mortgage had just been paid - each time Paypal hit my account, it cost me $34.00. The bank account took the money, which had been earmarked for the Paypal purchases, off of my credit card. Then Paypal decided to try to follow my original instructions and take the money from my credit card again. When they couldn't get money from there (because it went to fix the bank problem they had caused), they started accessing my checking account again.
In three weeks, Paypal has cost me over $1200.00 with the bank, $400.00 on my credit card, $298.00 on my Paypal account, and my mother's last mortgage payment did not go through because of them.
I sent them an email last week and never received a response. I have been physically ill because of this and am scared to death. I don't have an income at the moment due to a year and a half long undiagnosed neurological disorder - I am still trying to get disability since the doctors can't release me to work until the problem is under control. Paypal has me in financial ruin and could cost my mother her home.
I called customer service and was hung up on when I asked for a supervisor. I called a second time and the woman who answered the phone actually snickered when I told her what the problem was. I insisted that she get me a supervisor which, 17 minutes later, she did. The supervisor told me that I had been given misinformation and that I had no recourse. I asked for her supervisor and she hung up on me. A third call elicited similar responses, at which time I finally lost my temper and yelled - and was once again hung up on.
Paypal lied to me, has cost me a fortune that I cannot pay back, has messed up my excellent reputation on ebay, caused problems in my family because of the bank account problem and the ensuing fees associated with failed transactions and the returned mortgage payment for my mother's house, has caused undue physical, mental and emotional stress that only exascerbate my existing condition, and has destroyed my faith in online business transactions. I can't eat or sleep for worrying - and they think it's funny. I feel violated.
My credit card has been cancelled, and I am working with the bank to close that account and set up some sort of payment plan - although I've no idea where the money will come from. I am literally ill from worrying and stress. The money was on my credit card until Paypal accessed my checking account, I made sure of it. I made sure that each transaction with Paypal was funded by my credit card, and they won't help. Because of lies from PayPal's "Customer Disservice" personnel and unauthorized access to my bank account, I am at a total loss.
Juliet
Baltimore, Maryland
U.S.A.
0 comments