Paypal and ebay
Account Tied to Roommate's Suspension, Identity Proof Demanded

Most people know that PayPal and the eBay auction site are connected so closely that they might as well be the same company.

First, did you know that eBay has total access to your auction sites and all the emails you write? eBay also has full access to the information on your PayPal account.

Here is my story. My roommate was suspended from eBay for a bogus non-payment issue. I also use eBay and PayPal accounts. Of course, my roommate and I have the same IP address because we live together and use the same desktop computer.

About 6 months after my roommate was suspended, eBay contacted me and told me I needed to show them proof of my identity, even though this is done when you sign up. eBay said that they had suspended an account at my IP address and that, after reviewing my emails and PayPal account, they felt that I was the person they had suspended because the IP addresses are the same, the address is the same, and the items and the interests of both accounts are similar.

Well, hello, eBay! Of course, this is true. We are roommates with the same desktop and the same address, and we have similar interests. How dare they go through my eBay and PayPal accounts without my permission! But they said they have the full right to do so when they "suspect" that there is "foul play". I had to mail in copies of my personal identity to eBay if I wanted to buy or sell on eBay.

Nothing is confidential on either the PayPal or eBay websites from the staffers at these companies. They also become judge and jury between you and the seller (or buyer) if there is a dispute.

In my roommate's case, she sold an item for $500.00. After 30 days the buyer said that the coin he bought was fake, so she asked for her money back. Before my roommate received the returned item, PayPal refunded the buyer's money. When the coin was returned to my roommate, it was damaged and clearly not the same coin she sold. Well, eBay would not listen. All they wanted was the money back that they had refunded to the buyer. They went so far as to hire a collection agency on my roommate for $500.00 and permanently suspended her from the eBay website until she repaid the $500.00. But the returned coin was not the same one she sold, and they refunded the buyer before the returned item was received to be inspected by the seller (my roommate). eBay replied that their ruling is absolute, final and indisputable, so tough luck for her.

Beware on these sites: anything you say or do will be used against you! There is definitely a "Breach of Privacy" issue with these two websites.

Company: Paypal and ebay
Country: USA
Site: paypal.com

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