On February 10 at approximately 6:17 PM EST while at my computer I received an email from PayPal that skype had been paid $50 Euro which equals $66.43 USD. While reading the email several more emails were received approximately a minute or two apart. I contacted Paypal and after going through their menus was finally connected to a live person who was advised these charges were unauthorized. He advised that my PayPal account had be put on limited account status and acknowledged it at 7:02 PM EST via email.
By this time a total of 34 payments have been made to skype for $50 Euro. I was informed by Paypal that they would investigate the matter and would give me a decision within 10 days as to whether I would be reimbursed. My Paypal account is linked to by Credit Union Checking account and Amex Card. The credit union was closed and I was unable to contact them to alert them to the fraudulent charges.
I however contacted Amex and learned they have received a number of charges against my credit card. They were very professional and advised they would not honor the requests for payment and cancelled by card and advised they would reissue me a new card. I checked my credit union account on line and there had been no charges against my checking account at that time. I retired for the night thinking I had taken all the actions I could at that time.
Early in the morning of February 11 I checked my email and saw where Skype had been paid an additional 7 charges of $50 Euro after my account had been placed on restricted access by Paypal. I again contacted Paypal and was assured that my agreement with skype had been cancelled and received an email to that effect at 3:23 am on the 11th.
At approximately 6:00 am I checked my credit union account and found that it had been debuted a total of 5 charges of $66.43 USD. The Credit union put Paypal on a fraud alert and assured me they would make no further payments to Paypal from my account and that I should deal with Paypal to get reimbursement.
All of these actions taken by me were to no avail since on the morning of February 12 I checked my checking account and learned there had been additional debits made. A total of 22 debits totaling 1461.46 had been paid to PayPal, 17 of these payments after I had advised both PayPal and my credit union that the charges made by skype were fraudulent.
On February 11 I accessed my Amex account via the internet and noted that there had been 19 charges to my credit card by PayPal again in the amount of $50 Euro equaling $66.43 USD each for a total of $1262.17. I again contacted Amex and disputed all the charges. It appears Amex is in the process of charging back these unauthorized charges. Only time will answer that.
The biggest problem is the debits from my checking account after notifying PayPal the Skype charges were unauthorized. The credit union refuses to charge back the debits and advise me I must deal with PayPal to get my money returned.
I have closed my checking account and credit card account linked to PayPal to prevent further abuse. While the loss of this money will not put me in the poor house I cannot handle being a victim. I now have a new hobby making PayPal and Skype pay for their disreputable actions.
Also of note I have sent no less than 3 emails to Skype requesting an explanation and to date no response. And to add insult to injury they disconnected by internet long distance service. Reason for emails is they have no customer service telephone number, and Paypal either had no telephone number for them or refused to provide it.
Strange indeed for a telecommunications company not to have a customer service number. I have received a number of email responses from skype, they however appear to be automated responses with no substance. Skype is owned by EBay and EBay owns Paypal is there a conspiracy to defraud.
Kenneth
Calabash, North Carolina
U.S.A.
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