paypal help

[kit feral]

Okay guys, I finally got around to figuring out PayPal. I purchased a few awesome things I'd been eying on Etsy, and thought everything was going great.

And then I got an email saying my account had been limited. (And limited, it seems, really means... shut down.)

Now, I'm new to PayPal. Signed up two days ago. And I'm not exactly internet buying savvy. I can't understand the steps to fix it, or really why it happened. I emailed PayPal for help, but they simply sent me back the instructions that are on the site, and apologized. I would call them, but they're not open during times I'm not in school/work for the next few days, and they've put a lock on my last two transactions, which I'd like to have completed.

If anyone's experienced this, or is just really familiar with PayPal (I know there's a few of you out there!) and could explain how to solve this in simple language, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

[James N. Dawson]

I just got an e-mail saying a $700 dollar purchase of a Dell laptop has been made on my account. I don't even remember my username and I'm not sure what password I use with them. There is a "cancel transaction" button, but I'm afraid to click it because it might be a trick to get electronically stored personal info from me. I thought of forwarding it to here, but then I thought that might not be wise, because it could have info I don't want anybody to see---passwords, etc. I thought of forwarding it to PayPal for them to either confirm or deny as a scam, but their e-mail address is hidden, and they have this little tiny box and limited number of characters to try to "describe" the big, complex e-mail in. They have a customer service phone number, but again, what a drag trying to explain what it "looks like" to somebody on the phone. I guess I'll show it to a few people I know savvier than I am and hope they can advise me. What a hassle and drag on my time. Anybody still not understand why I just prefer cash in envelopes dropped into mail slots?
Ah, sweet, luddite, simplicity.

Awkward Stage said:

i got an email from "paypal" last week saying my account had been limited and that strange purchases had been made on my credit card. i found this interesting considering my credit card is always maxed out, so i signed into paypal to look and nothing was out of place. when i clicked the link in the email telling me where to go to fix my account, my internet security told me it was a known fraud. seems to be all the rage right now.

[Elaine]

ANY legit email from Paypal will have your name in it, they don't send generic emails out.

Yes, the phishing things come regularly, but they never ever will be using your real name at the start of the message.

[kit feral]

They did use my name so I'm pretty sure it's legit, but I wish they could explain further why this happened... oh well.

Elaine Moertl said:

ANY legit email from Paypal will have your name in it, they don't send generic emails out.

Yes, the phishing things come regularly, but they never ever will be using your real name at the start of the message.

[Elaine]

Use the 'contact us' button and email them.

I've emailed questions in the past and got answers to them within 2 days.

[kit feral]

I did, actually, and was giving no additional information. They sent me the instructions to resolve it, and apologized. I just really wanted to know what had happened and how I can prevent it in the future.

Elaine Moertl said:

Use the 'contact us' button and email them.

I've emailed questions in the past and got answers to them within 2 days.

[Amy]

I haven't confirmed my bank account either. IS it optional?

[Rick Bradford]

The only thing I know is that, in the past couple of years, PayPal has gotten really trigger-happy with new accounts. There's not a lot of explanation as to why they limit the accounts but I think it's only for a specific time period. Did your communications suggest that the account would be back to normal after x-amount of time?

I think PayPal's kind of a fraud magnet and they've gotten more proactive lately about trying to head it off at the pass...

[kit feral]

no, it didn't... they just said I'd have to confirm my bank account. So I did, and it said things were working again, though it seems to still have a hold on my last two transactions... I'm going to have to call them soon if it doesn't clear up. paypal doesn't seem as easy as everyone told me it was!

Rick Bradford said:

The only thing I know is that, in the past couple of years, PayPal has gotten really trigger-happy with new accounts. There's not a lot of explanation as to why they limit the accounts but I think it's only for a specific time period. Did your communications suggest that the account would be back to normal after x-amount of time?

I think PayPal's kind of a fraud magnet and they've gotten more proactive lately about trying to head it off at the pass...

[kit feral]

... well, first of all, I'm not six, so I'm not going to "get my mummy to help." plus, she can barely send an email.
please don't say anything unless you're going to actually offer useful information.

kitty magic said:

get your mummy to help you!!! thats wat id do!!!

[Elaine]

I forget, was this your first useage of the account? It took almost a week before my payments were smoothed out when I first started, after that I've had NO problems in the past 4 years. Dealing with the e-checks were a little strange, but all the other money transfers, money requests and posts all went smoothly.

If the problem was resolved, you should be fine. I think only the new accounts may have a small waiting list.

[kit feral]

yes, it was within my first couple days of using it. I'm glad to hear it clears up. It says everything should be fine now, but one of my payments is still being held... I guess I'll contact them again and see what happens. Thanks for all your help!

Elaine Moertl said:

I forget, was this your first useage of the account? It took almost a week before my payments were smoothed out when I first started, after that I've had NO problems in the past 4 years. Dealing with the e-checks were a little strange, but all the other money transfers, money requests and posts all went smoothly.

If the problem was resolved, you should be fine. I think only the new accounts may have a small waiting list.

[Elaine]

The e-checks are held till the check clears with paypal so the money is not available immediately, they just notify you that it came in, another notice will come when it clears at their end.

I've had two that were held normally for some reason, not sure if it was the holiday or the fac the person was a new user. All the money does clear though. Just give it a day.