Skype & PayPal
Unauthorized Skype Charges Drained $148 From Savings Account

On August 27th I had several unauthorized charges on my PayPal account. The charges were billed by Skype, a service I have never used.

I had been away from the internet for a few days and was not aware of these charges until August 30th, when I went to withdraw money from my bank account (the same bank account that is connected to my PayPal account) and the ATM said "Insufficient Funds". I was confused by the ATM's message, because the last time I checked my balance I had $125 in that account. I knew that it had something to do with PayPal, because it is the only thing I have set up that can take money from my (savings) bank account.

After investigation, I learned that my PayPal account had been billed multiple times by Skype. I printed out 3 pages of transaction details documenting unauthorized charges from Skype to my PayPal account on August 27th. The information was overwhelming and confusing, and after reading over all the charges several times, I still could not make sense of it.

I also printed out my bank statement, showing 12 unauthorized bank transfers from PayPal. After comparing PayPal and bank details, I discovered that the unauthorized transfers initiated on the 27th pulled actual funds from my bank account on August 28th. Before August 27th, I had $125 and some change in my savings account and $24 in my PayPal account. After the unauthorized Skype charges of August 27th and the actual PayPal fund transfer on August 28th, I had $1.22 left in my bank account and a zero PayPal balance. I have not accessed funds from this bank account since the 26th, and the only charges shown from August 28th on my bank statement are these unauthorized charges.

I was taken for a ride for $148 and some change. I contacted PayPal, and they informed me that funds would be returned to my PayPal account within the next 3-4 days after the bank transfer finished. It has been 3 days, and so far only $40.00 has been returned. I am still missing $108... I have 15 transactions showing "Temporary Hold" and "Open for seller to respond". I am still in the process of recovering the money that was stolen from me.

Company: Skype & PayPal
Country: USA
State: California
City: San Jose
Site: paypal.com

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