PayPal: Convenient or Crooked?

7 replies
As a freelance writer, I use PayPal to collect payments and I also use their invoicing system. They're convenient and I even have a PayPal debit card that is super convenient. I don't use a bank and PayPal seems to suit all of my needs nicely. I can even check my balance via the iPhone PayPal app.

I've only encountered one client who had a serious problem with PayPal. He refused to use them, even going so far as to pay extra to have the money for the project wired into my bank account from his.

My question is: "Why?" I've heard the horror stories about PayPal, but why do people have a problem with them? I've heard of frozen accts, etc. What would cause them to freeze your account? Surely the accounts that were shut down were doing something illegal or nefarious in some way, right?

I want to hear first hand accounts of people burned by PayPal. Not so-and-so told me, or 'my cousin said'. I mean, I don't care who comments, but I'd like to hear real stories from individuals who have actually experienced a problem with PayPal.

Thanks. I love PayPal. They even call me when I spend too much on the debit card to see if it's really me spending. That's great customer service. So why do they have a bad rep amongst some IMers?
#convenient #crooked #paypal
  • Profile picture of the author JonathanSEOGuy78
    I would say both. everyone uses it so its convenient, but they are ridiculous and unfair at most circumstances
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  • Profile picture of the author Recession_Proof
    Originally Posted by The Content King View Post

    As a freelance writer, I use PayPal to collect payments and I also use their invoicing system. They're convenient and I even have a PayPal debit card that is super convenient. I don't use a bank and PayPal seems to suit all of my needs nicely. I can even check my balance via the iPhone PayPal app.

    I've only encountered one client who had a serious problem with PayPal. He refused to use them, even going so far as to pay extra to have the money for the project wired into my bank account from his.

    My question is: "Why?" I've heard the horror stories about PayPal, but why do people have a problem with them? I've heard of frozen accts, etc. What would cause them to freeze your account? Surely the accounts that were shut down were doing something illegal or nefarious in some way, right?

    I want to hear first hand accounts of people burned by PayPal. Not so-and-so told me, or 'my cousin said'. I mean, I don't care who comments, but I'd like to hear real stories from individuals who have actually experienced a problem with PayPal.

    Thanks. I love PayPal. They even call me when I spend too much on the debit card to see if it's really me spending. That's great customer service. So why do they have a bad rep amongst some IMers?
    Woooooo! Right up my alley, as a dropshipper I can tell you. I have burned so many accounts at PayPal it would make your head spin. In the dropshipping business (unless you actually managed to get it 100% right the first time), it's a right of passage.

    Since there are too many reasons to list why you could get burned. I will say one and leave room for others to tell their horror tales:rolleyes:

    Reason number 1 for getting your account frozen!:


    Trying to list on eBay (it's usually always eBay that brings out the PayPal monkeys) as if you were Newegg.com or something especially in Electronics. With 20,000 items listed, brand new account, no feedback.

    It's like sending up the Bat Signal, saying "Hey look please limit my account"
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  • Profile picture of the author spectrefax
    I think some IM'ers avoid paypal if they have had experiences with frozen accounts. It's my understanding that if you have a jump in sales they will freeze your accounts until they can review your account for fraudulent activity (even if you are completely legitimate).

    Messing with a person's money is a quick way to be blacklisted in the mind of IM'ers.
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    • Profile picture of the author Recession_Proof
      Originally Posted by spectrefax View Post

      I think some IM'ers avoid paypal if they have had experiences with frozen accounts. It's my understanding that if you have a jump in sales they will freeze your accounts until they can review your account for fraudulent activity (even if you are completely legitimate).

      Messing with a person's money is a quick way to be blacklisted in the mind of IM'ers.
      Damn right Spectre, even if you have been with them for years. It's part of their plan(working capital). Example, they freeze 100 or so large accounts at lease like $50,000 or more. That is $5,000,000 positive in the black that they can show on their books. Then in 6 months they release it back to you, after making any gains on it (of course!) The cheeky little monkeys
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    • Profile picture of the author The Content King
      Originally Posted by spectrefax View Post

      I think some IM'ers avoid paypal if they have had experiences with frozen accounts. It's my understanding that if you have a jump in sales they will freeze your accounts until they can review your account for fraudulent activity (even if you are completely legitimate).

      Messing with a person's money is a quick way to be blacklisted in the mind of IM'ers.
      No, I can completely understand the blacklisting. So (hypothetically), if I offer a WSO and it sells out and I make $50,000 in one swoop (A guy can dream, can't he?), PayPal will freeze my account?

      Is this just rumor or does anyone have a link or hard evidence? I'm just curious. I love PayPal, like I said, but I would hate to be blindsided in case I do see instant success of that magnitude. In this business, you never know when you'll come up all 7s.
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      • Profile picture of the author spectrefax
        Originally Posted by The Content King View Post

        No, I can completely understand the blacklisting. So (hypothetically), if I offer a WSO and it sells out and I make $50,000 in one swoop (A guy can dream, can't he?), PayPal will freeze my account?

        Is this just rumor or does anyone have a link or hard evidence? I'm just curious. I love PayPal, like I said, but I would hate to be blindsided in case I do see instant success of that magnitude. In this business, you never know when you'll come up all 7s.
        You can do some forum research on this topic. I don't have any available links to threads at the moment, but from the ones I've read, a lot of freezes had to do with large increases in sales.

        These threads are one reason I went with google checkout for my first project.
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