PayPal account freezings and travelling

by 55 replies
63
Hi,
I'm putting together membership sites and few days ago I study about payment prosessors and my first plan was to use PayPal before reading tens of horrible storys from Warrior Forum and: www.PayPalSucks.com

Is it really true, that they can freeze your business account for 6 months without any reason or example if someone pays your product with stolen credit card or tens of other weird reasons what you can read from there?

HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE THAT IS YOUR FAULT IF YOUR CUSTOMER USES STOLEN CARD??? You can't control it anyhow and still they froze your account?

How you can trust them if the storys are true and they can STEAL your business and 100% of your incomes anytime?


How about you Warriors? Do you use PayPal with succes or some other payment prosessors?

P.S. This same problem is with Clickbank but different way: They send my money by checks to my address. How I can get them if I'm on the road otherside of the globe?

Also I don't have bank accout in the county listed in their International Direct Deposit (XACH) -program.

Any suggestions?
#main internet marketing discussion forum #account #freezings #paypal #travelling
  • John,

    I can understand your concerns regarding PayPal. The fact of the matter is, they CAN do whatever the want, whenever they want. With that being said though, I have had no problems with them over the past 7 years or so that I have been with them. If you communicate with them and express your personal concerns, I am sure that they can help you out.

    I also know that sometimes their customer service can be a little less than helpful, but for the most part...you will find the answers you seek.

    People get mad because PayPal can be a pain, and they are absolutely right. However, often people don't take the extra effort and communicate with PayPal on a consistent basis. If you let PayPal know your traveling plans ahead of time, they will explain to you your options.

    I have had to deal with many late night phone-calls with MANY customer service reps, and it can wear you out. To me though, the sheer convenience that PayPal provides as a payment processor is unmatched. As long as you are not doing something crazy and illegal, you should be alright. Like I said though, make sure you talk to someone and explain all of your concerns...if they can't answer your questions...make them connect you to someone who can.

    As far as clickbank goes, I am really not sure.

    HTH,


    Jim
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Funny problem is that when I'm travelling, my main and biggest travelling plan is allways that:

      "There is no travelling plan at all"

      Example last time I was 3 months in Asia just hanging around and diving without any plans. The main reason for this kind of living is that you newer know in the mornings what exiting is going happen that day and where you are next evening

      And I don't know how FREE your time is on the road if you have to report to PayPal what you are doind, when, where and why
  • The first thing to understand about the site you mentioned is that it's an affiliate site for a competing product. It's kind of like a GM dealer running a fordsucks.com site.

    The next is that some of the 'horror stories' are old, dating back 6+ years. PayPal did screw some things up back then but they worked it out and it hasn't been repeated.

    The next is that some people who've been burned have played fast and lose with PayPal rules. These people will present a lopsided view on the incident.

    Next, PayPal is subject to stringent US and other countries' money transfer laws that are designed to curtail activity by drug dealers and terrorists. These laws and regulations complicate things, especially larger transfers of funds.

    PayPal does have significant customer service and operational transparency problems. However, communication can help alleviate many of these troubles.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Another option could be to use Windows hosting with a static IP and use a remote desktop connection.

    Running Internet Explorer on the server over the RDP connection, and let PayPal know ahead of time the IP address that the connection will be coming from.

    In this way you'll be consistently connecting from one IP so should mitigate the risks of PayPal freezing your account because you won't be using IP addresses from many locations whilst travelling.

    Sure, this way will cost a little per month - but it doesn't have to be expensive - and it will give you piece of mind.
  • Emergency plan:

    Hi again,
    My plan is to be atlest one year on the road.

    If I'm using these programs to run my membership site: Worldpress + WishList WP or aMember + JROX JAM (affiliate program) and PayPal...

    and I'm travelling in let's say in Pjongjang, North-Korea or in Madacascar Africa and I use some strainge computer to sign up my PayPal-account to fund my Master Card and...

    PayPall Freezes my account...

    What I can do? I have to have some emergency plan. If you have a laptop with you with all programs inside (or your laptop is in your coders hands in your home country) can you quicly change whole system to another payment prosessor?

    How about affiliates and their comissions after that? Is there anyway you can change whole system to another payment prosessor as a emergency plan?
  • I still think for peace of mind your best plan would be to have a Windows dedicated server/VPS hosting plan. You could even move your existing sites to it to save outlay.

    Then connect via RDP (remote desktop), and access PayPal from that one server. That way PayPal will only ever see one IP address that you're coming from and you don't have the worries involved with trying to change loads of payment links to other payment processors.

    Other payment processors may not let you withdraw funds as easily as PayPal, and depending on the payment processor, if you stray away from the big names like WorldPay, PayPal, Clickbank, 2CO, etc, you may lose sales as some customers prefer to use the bigger, more trusted names.
    • [1] reply
    • Thanks for tip! I'm really newbie about all technical stuff, almost braindead, so I don't know what is "Windows dedicated server/VPS hosting plan or RDP", but I'm going to find it out.

      Thanks.
  • - If I use 1ShoppingCart, they don't support PayPal recurring billing for membership sites = you lose customers = you lose money + you still have to open merchant account?

    - Clickbank supports monthly PayPal + credit card billing for membership sites, but they send checks what I can't get when I'm on the road

    - PayPal can froze my account if I use weird computers



    We are living in really complicated world nowadays
  • Hey,
    I dont think I understood.
    Isn't a windows server used for hosting sites.
    How can it be used to access the internet? OR am I missing something?

    bye,
    faraz
    • [1] reply
    • Having a Windows VPS server means you have root access, i.e. you can actually log in to the operating system on that server.

      So in this case you would just remote desktop onto the server and log in to Windows where you can run any program you would normally be able to run under Windows, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox or whatever.

      Tim
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • And still If they freeze your account for any reason, what is the fastest way to safe your LIFE and business and affliates life and business, when you are on the road?
  • What other solutions are there? Is there anything you can use other than paypal?
    • [2] replies
    • Right now I'm studing it, different ways to handle membership payments: I'm looking system that I can create membership site's "Premium Membership" with montly payments.

      And it's important that customers can pay with PayPal + credit card.

      - Clickbank will do that, but I can't get my Checks when 1 year on the road
      - 1SoppingCart don't support PayPal recurring billing
      - 2CO don't support PayPal recurring billing
    • A Windows dedicated server is a server you rent lock-stock-and barrel. Instead of just renting a portion of a server computer with a bit of space, you rent the lot. You have more administration and maintenance tasks though, so you're probably better going for a "managed server" where the company you rent the server from will carry out a lot of the maintentance/update tasks for you.

      A "VPS" server is s virtual server. Basically they take one physical server, and split it into several virtual servers. each virtual server acts as if it's a separate physical server. This means that resources like memory and disk space on one physical box can be shared between several virtual servers.

      RDP is the protocol used, in this case by Windows machines, to send the desktop from the server to the computer you're connecting from. Everything that happens within that "remote desktop" is really happening on the server, and it's just the display sent to you, and your keyboard and mouse movements sent back.

      Yes, a Windows server IS used for hosting sites. It is, by definition of hosting sites on the Internet, connected to the Internet. A remote desktop can be initiated which sends the server's desktop to a computer you connect from using RDP, and your mouse and keyboard movements carried out within that session back to the server.

      When you use that remote desktop, through it you can start Internet Explorer (or even install FireFox, Google Chrome or your other browser of choice and use that instead). When you do that, it's actually loading and running on your server. So if SlowhandJohn was to do this, he could then connect to PayPal from just one IP address.

      If you're from a country that Clickbank will send their new weekly bank transfer direct deposits to, they're probably your best bet. You have to hit a threshold of regular sales to qualify, so it might worth moving some of your links across to them now, so you can hit the threshold before travellling and consistently continue to do so.

      That way you can use PayPal for the rest, and if you have problems with one or the other you can switch the affected links to the non-affected payment processor?
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • If you're happy with your current host, ask them if they do Windows VPS servers - chances are they will.

    They'll normally cost slightly more than Linux hosting (but not too much more) as you'll require to pay for a Windows license.

    Wordpress will work fine - you just need to make sure you have PHP on the server, chances are when you rent a web server it'll be there - again ask the host up front, and make sure you get a managed service if you're not too sure on the technical front - that'll give you a lot more support and help than an unmanaged server.
    • [1] reply
    • I don't have a current host, because right now I'm putting together my first membership site and my table is clear. What is your suggestion for me (host/Windows VPS), totally newbie with all tech?

      Membership site's content, marketing and business plans are ready, just program solutions what I'm going to use is still open: I mayby use: WP + aMember + JROX JAM + PayPal or WP + WishList WP + Clickbank = I have to open bank account in other country witch might be really complicated progges

      Thats why I'm right now studying best solutions for my business that I don't use wrong ones what can cost me a lot in future when business crows...

      or when I'm next year travelling in midle of the jungle in Africa or in Timbuktu without interent connection and I'm 100% married with my MasterCard and payment prosessor freezes my account because of weird reason (example somebody use stolen credit card to pay my product), then I'm going to DIE because of internet marketing without food, water or emergency flight tigets to home
  • I meant to add that you'll also need to ensure that the server comes with MySQL - as with PHP it should do as a webserver. If not, it's an easy install (as is PHP) - but with a managed server you can ask the host to do this for you.
  • ive read the horror stories too but when you think of how many customers they have it really is the minority
  • Well it all depends, if paypal thinks you doing something that you are not suppose to be doing they will freeze, I personally have not have any problems with them, but if preferably there a better merchants out there you can use, but paypal is best for 1st time comers and who is new to internet marketing, well that's my say not sure if I am right.
  • Paypal "froze" my account the other day. Well, they made it so I couldn't send money to others or withdraw funds. I have had a paypal account since they started and have run 300k in subscription sales in them on average the past six years or so. The other week I did a "launch" and did 150k in subscription sales in 24 hours.

    That spike alerted their risk team and they "froze" the account. Sent me an email with a phone number.

    Any other merchant would have likely done something similar.

    I called the phone number in the email and talked with someone for about 15 minutes. When I was done they "unfroze" the account and added a 3% reserve hold on it for the next few months.

    I was very happy with that. I've used other credit card merchants in the past and faced a standard 10% reserve. I was afraid they were going to luck my money up for 90 days or something, but they didn't.

    Clickbank may have a 10% standard reserve, not sure. Ask around and see. But I also have had a long history with paypal with very few chargebacks. 5 all of the last 12 months with thousands of transactions all together. I try to overdeliver for my customers and answer support emails within 24 hours.

    So that is my experience with paypal. hope that helps.
    • [1] reply
    • John,

      I took care of the "pay by check" problem that you face as I live in another country. Yet, my bank is in the US. Call the bank, explain CB's screwup and ask them for a direct deposit address for your checks to be sent to. Then, turn this over to Paypal. Checks then go straight your bank and get deposited. Next, open an HSBC account!
      • [1] reply
  • If you're travelling to North Korea then you won't have a problem because they will take your computer from you at the point of entry.

    PayPal can be a problem, but I haven't had any real problems. My account is in the UK and we often travel. We lived in China for 3 years, and we are now based in Hong Kong.

    If you are concerned about it let them know in advance.

    Other option go to 2CO.com and sign up for an account there, you can also sign up for their debit card, and all your sales can be transferred by them to your card.
    • [1] reply
    • I have been 4 times in Pyongyang, North Korea, and yes they will take your computer and also your mobile phone or Nokia communicator to the litle nice yellow envelope with your name on it But you can get it back later when you leave the country

      Last time we smugled one mobile phone in many different pieces and different bags and collect it up in hotel room. When we open it we found North Korea's armys secret mobile net and there was text message in the phone:

      "Your mobile phone operator don't have contract to this network"

      I'm not a communist, just travelling to extreme-situations is one of my hobby.

      That would be really nice idea and their depit card seems to be brilliat, but 2CO don't support monhly payments from PayPal -customers = you lose customers = you lose money
      • [3] replies
  • I believe communication is the key to having a good relationship
    with any business or service you use so email them about your site
    and/or any concerns you have etc before placing a paypal order button
    on your membership site.

    Also now that clickbank allows recurring payment setups, why not
    give your membership site customers both options ie. paypal & clickbank
    order buttons and yourself 2 ways of receiving payment
    • [1] reply
    • WOW, nice idea!

      If I go to customers shoes they might think it's too complicated, if I also have 2 dirrerent affliate programs to same procuct (Clickbank + JROX JAM/PayPal -ways), or then it's just extra service?

      My main business plan is that customers became affilates too after free or cheap 1$/month test period.
  • Slowhandjohn,

    To solve your problem of travelling and always using other peoples
    computers, you could always use gotomypc.com . This is a fantastic
    service that lets you log into your pc from anywhere else in the world,
    even from dial up connections.

    That way you are always accessing paypal per se from your pc at home,

    It works fantastic, there's a free trial to try it out and because of it being
    so big a deal Citrix bought them out a couple years back.

    Essentially, it gives you a secure full screen connection to your home pc.

    Cheers,

    Rob
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • My home computer is this same laptop with I normally take with me when travelling.

      So one solution would be to buy new base-computer to home and make sure that there is electrisity and it's on the internet 24/7 for 1 year. If there is going to be electric blankout, I can't access to my computer, or mayby I can use some kind of emergency generator
  • This is interresting! I'm also very new to all this and the plan was to create a website to sell my product... but now I think I'm going to wait a little bit, at least until I've done a research on how it will be best for me to get my money. I don't like the idea of not being able to travel and still monitor my account!
  • I have accessed my PayPal account when on vacation in Aruba and other places and have not had my account frozen. Is this a common occurrence?

    TomG.
    • [1] reply
    • I don't know how common it is, but it's still happening. So I'm trying to find a ways to avoid it, because I'm going to be on the road at least 1 year or more.

      If 100% of my incomes are coming from my site and somebody freeze my accout it would be really nice to stay alive in minus 35 cesius in Mongolia
  • From my 1st post in this thread:
    I just realised that mayby I can open a internertional bank account via internet to some country what is listed to Clickbank's XACH-program and take MaterCard/Visa/AMEX to that account. I have heard that in some banks you can open accounts also via internet if you deliver your passport copy to them by e-mail.
    • [1] reply
    • I investigate this and it seems that it's not possible in countrys what are on Clickbanks list, only in Latvia or somehere
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • You can read this report free of charge if you want to learn how to unfreeze Paypal account.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Thanks a lot for this info! I just read all information and it's nice to see that in this case limited account was no broblem if you do legal business with your own ID and you have all nessessary documents ready for them.

      I just get idea that before I go on the road I will restore all possible documents example to free hotmail -account (document that I own the bank account, passport copy, home address document, business documents etc.)

      Thanks a lot!
      • [1] reply
  • I think you should consider hiring a virtual assistant to manage your account while you're travelling.
    You can give them limited access to your Paypal account, and they could also manage customer support for you.
    • [1] reply
    • Where you can find a virtual assistant and how you can trust? They have free acces to your money.
  • I use logmein remote access when I'm travelling so that I can log straight on to my computer at home and use that for paypal etc. You don't have to worry then re being in a different country

    Paypal is fine, I've used them since 2003, with no problems, You just need to play by the rules

    Also u can give a VA very limited access to your paypal account

    Kim
    • [1] reply
    • My plan is to be on the road atleast 1 year or more, so if there is going to be example electrical backout to my "home business base computer" or it somehow looses internet connection or some broplem with modem, I can't get acces to my computer and PayPal -account.
  • Today I asked about this issue from my friend, who is working in law company and know a lot about corporate taxes and international laws.

    In internet marketing tax question is complicated and interesting, because the shopping situation happens in virtuyally in cyber-world, if your server is in Madacasdar or HongKong, then your selling activity/progges also happens in that country not in your home country.

    Example If my company own's second company: internet marketing company 100% legal way in Panama (Tax 0% or something like that) and this comapany sells digital products to customers via selver what is example in New Zeland, also bank account and product is there (Membership sites), so...

    New Zeland Tax officials and covermen't can't take taxes from your company, because it's from Panama and there is law that every incomes for that company made from outside Panama is 0%.

    Also if your own comverment try to tax you about your companys earnings, that's international criminal activity from coverment, because they do double taxing (because in Panama, there is also small tax for your company).

    If it's your own incomes, then coverment can tax you, but you don't have any incomes, it's corparate incomes.

    Mayby that's why almost 100% of all internet poker companys are registered to Panama or other tax heavens 100% legal way.

    My point is not to say: "Don't pay taxes!"

    I'm just investicating this because if I use Clickbanks "Money to your bank accout" -program, I have to open international bank account anyway to the country what is their list (I need this, because if I'm on the road, that's only way how I can get money out from my business)

    Anybody knows more about this issue?
  • if you log in fro many other country but not the one you registered paypal from YOU WILL BE SUSPENDED!!!! BEWARE!!!
    i havent this thought myself, such was the answer from PAYPAL SUPPORT to my concern about PAYPAL login/traveling
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
Join the discussion

Next Topics on Trending Feed