Paypal request for documentation
AngryTurtle
Posts: 1,591 ✭✭✭
I am a very small time user of paypal, have had an account for 15 yrs, and use it every few months, always I think as a purchaser. I suddenly have come under the crosshairs, with an account freeze until I provide copies of drivers licence, and some other things ( I forget what exactly). I would rather go without Paypal than send them all this.
Anyone else get hit with this? Any other services out there to use other than Paypal?
0
Comments
Sounds like a scam. Be careful.
I agree... don't click a link in that email.
No, its not a scam. Paypal security center says the same thing. Typed the web address myself, did not click on any links.
Yes, it's not a scam. Paypal does require this information in order to comply with IRS rules. If you hit the magical reporting numbers they have to have that information to send the proper info to the IRS. I had to provide this some years back. Just make sure you go to the PP web site and log in before you provide any info. Get customer service help if needed.
bob
I recently was required to "validate" my Paypal account information but there was no DL# requested. Perhaps they need more confirmation from an occasional user?
They're trying to protect their buyers. I went through the same thing. Comply or go elsewhere. Ebay requires an electronic payment method. One option on ebay is to accept credit cards directly. I advise against accepting CCs directly.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
I doubt I have hit any magic reporting threshold numbers, I probably do a few hundred dollars annually in purchases! Its interesting that I do probably 100x that on credit cards a year and I am pretty sure that I have never provided all this to the CC companies.
I would try calling them.
Send the email to Spoof@PayPal.com and see what you get back.
Might be a sign of things to come for most all ebay sellers. Category(ies) you are selling in might also have an affect. Coins and currency likely have a higher scam rate. I say the request from PP is legit.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
Legend had the same issue a few years ago.
They decided to leave eBay / PayPal.
As an ebay seller I got hit with an account freeze but provided them the documents they were looking for and got unfrozen. I would just call them and work it out. Plus over a certain amount especially pm sellers may require an anti-money laundering plan.
I think that was more detailed because they had well more than $100K listed on ebay and high sales. They wanted invoices and or documentation on where they got the items...
be careful. if legit .. ask why they need all that info
As a buyer, PayPal has no legitimate reason to ask for that information. As a seller, if you surpass the sales level set forth by the IRS rules to make it mandatory for PayPal to file a 1099 form, then it is a legitimate request.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
Recently got an account freeze while buying some Iran and Pakistan coins. They wanted to know the "nature of the transaction". Finally figured out I wasn't dealing in WMD. Buffoons.
The pardon is for tyrants. They like to declare pardons on holidays, such as the birthday of the dictator, or Christ, or the Revolution. Dictators should be encouraged to keep it up. And we should be encouraged to remember that the promiscuous dispensation of clemency is not a sign of political liberality. It is instead one of those valuable, identifying marks of tyranny.
Charles Krauthammer
It must be some kind of thing that triggers PayPal did this? I don't think they do this randomly.
it is an unknown thing. their flagging system is paranoid for an unknown reason.
what, in general, were you trying to buy when they locked your account and asked to upload more info?
(I've been nailed multiple times on a single account and that was over the course of a month or two. it's not a scam as logging in directly shows the account lock and info upload request.)
As I recall, dont think I was trying to buy anything. Got an email out of the blue saying something to the effect that you need to respond - there have been changes to your account - there were not any changes, (other than them blocking the account) it was a form letter.
Tried opening a new account using a different email address, made one $30 purchase, that account got nailed the next day. I use paypal so little, that I have not tried to address it with them. I agree with Coindeuce: "As a buyer, PayPal has no legitimate reason to ask for that information."
with buyers, they have issues with fraud in general and fraudulent chargebacks.
I would not be happy if they sent me a letter out of the blue, but the wrong step is to challenge them in any way. You did that with the new account. It just makes them more scared and defensive.
"No one has a problem with paypal until paypal has a problem with them."
Yes. And the triggers are probably more complex than one would think. Sometimes the customer service agents may not understand exactly why either due to this complexity.
So far I've been comfortable releasing the information that PayPal has asked me for. I'm more than happy with the service.
the lower level people are lost on this. I got people in the anti-fraud on mine since it was repeatedly locking me despite my uploads. I grew tired of repeated upload requests and gave it to them over the phone to numerous people. Needless to say, it still locked me one or two more times. The person helping me was making some "changes" with the last one said to have a "80%-90%" chance of taking care of it. Great. The best they had was 80%-90%... and it still locked me again.
Since there is some interest in this subject here is the official Paypal request:
**Why is my account access limited?
Your account access has been limited for the following reason(s):
Sep 30, 2016: We need to confirm some of your account information.**
Required Response: Photo ID, Proof of Address
yeah that is one of the typical requests
they'll also request all kinds of other crazy stuff like utility bills. they'll save the wacky stuff for future lock requests.
As a buyer I don't have problem with paypal. I only has problem with paypal as a seller but looks like paypal also changed to make it little harder for buyer to file a claim.
I guess I'm lucky! (Knock on wood) I do 6 figures both ways on paypal per year with 2 accounts and have never been asked questions or had my account frozen!
more likely concerned about funding terrorists
I had that happen late last year. In short Basically here is why : Paypal has seperated from ebay and are now required to follow IRS requirements of financial institutions banks , etc. They have to have additional information to meet IRS requirements on each client they have that uses this for processing payments, both as a seller and a buyer if you have enough to merit it. They were going to freeze my account if I didn't comply which I did, and everything is okay , and has been since I got it resolved. Honestly , anyone who sells on ebay and uses payment systems like Paypal best make sure they are doing the proper reporting in accordance, or they will catch it.
They asked me for stuff like where i kept my coins, how much i had in inventory, they wanted copies of my invoices from the US Mint and other suppliers, they wanted bank account statements, and so on. I gave them what I think they actually needed for IRS reporting purposes but didn't didn't give them anything else and threatened to close my account. They removed the restrictions and I've sold over $1 million since then. They didn't ask for any of it until i sold a few silver bars and other bullion items. I'm imagining you have sold bullion recently.
Why are they requesting this of a purchaser?
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Did the same to me but closed my Acc because I was selling to much a month was $30K then went to $50K then $80K in a years time sent them all of the rec, invoices and so on then they said we don't want to chance it was to much $$$ we even told them to keep it for 30 days then we can pull it out if we need it. No dice they closed the Acc. Oh well there loss. Hope it works out for you.
Hoard the keys.
WOW, can't believe it.
they have issues with buyer fraud & fraudulent chargebacks.
I'm also wondering if they are slowly getting to all the kids in the neighborhood, but who knows.
too much positive feedback for them?
Very interesting thread for sure .
I'm an LLC and have a linked business checking account, so I don't ever think this would arise, but I know anytime I received notifications of a freeze I simply ignored it .
It appears with the split that there are a lot of bugs and issues to be worked out .
The part here I don't understand from PP is that if you have an account already then you have to have it linked to a bank account in some fashion (checking or savings) . At least that is what I remember from many years ago .
Since you have a bank account, then obviously your identification and address are already confirmed within that banking institution.
PayPal is wonderful and can be horrible depending on each situation.
One thing though that I know for sure is that I'm not sending any of that type of documentation without having 200% certainty that I am speaking to them directly on the phone an even then I'm pleading my case noted above .
I'm not shocked truthfully as the scam artists are out in full and the government is also getting totally involved in these wired financial transactions.
Sorry for your problems and please update us with your final resolution of the matter .
my info hasn't changed in years.
they were contacting me through the info in the account -- that info that hasn't changed in years.
I, as a buyer, was still put through the wringer multiple times in a 1 - 2 month period, all with the same buying habits and amounts, resulting in them requesting all kinds of stupid info to "confirm who I am."
If they weren't sure with the contact to the long established info in the account what makes them, or me, think that supplying some uploaded new info is going to be any better? There are lots of people with fake identities who are ________ ________. (use your imagination)
They could eliminate 50% of the bad selling if they eliminated pre-sales.
Paypal is going overboard to ensure a seller can and will deliver. Can't imagine how much paypal eats in losses each year.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
Ive had to supply paypal with over 30 documents this last year. Photo of driver's license was one of them, as well as my invoice copies to and from suppliers and my anti-money laundering policy. Have to play by their rules.
WOW, sounds like lots of people have to provide documents to paypal. I used paypal a lot for ebay buying and selling. So far no this kind issue at all. Would that something related to the part of world that some people do business with? I buy mostly from US and sell to US and Asia mostly.
I use PP all the time.... as a purchaser. I have not had any issues with them.... and if I did receive such an email 'out of the blue'... I would be working the issue by telephone... and not a telephone number in the email. Cheers, RickO
usa only during the time of repeated lockings, and I've only ever bought maybe 2 items from Canada in about 15 years.
items purchased and purchase amounts were all within my buying habits of the previous two years.
I'm dealing with the same PayPal issue. They wanted photo id, invoices, receipt proving ownership, utility bill, ss card, and to add a credit card even though I have my bank attached. If you don't or can't provide them with everything, they won't do anything and will keep you locked out. I, too, made the mistake of getting another account and was shut down as well. PayPal is ridiculous. If you want to buy, checkout as a guest on ebay. If you want to sell, you're screwed. Cause not accepting PayPal is a huge red flag and should sound a huge alarm, evidently.
Yes, this sounds legit. I probably provided all this stuff years and years ago. I get a W2 from Paypal every year.
Have you purchased a lot of bullion? I know that at one time (I haven't looked to see if the provisions are still effective), if you purchased a certain (relatively small number) of modern bullion pieces, it was required to be reported under the Patriot Act. The alleged goal in enacting that provision was to stop money laundering and to thwart the use of bullion as untraceable currency for terrorism.
Invoices? Yikes. What if you are a collector just selling a few things you've had for years or are selling a gift/inherited item? And an anti-money laundering policy??? For that I check my pockets before dumping my jeans in the washing machine.
Did you ever in person been asked for ID for your CC purchase, I can see why they want it.
Purchased a piece or two of modern bullion, that was a couple of years ago, but no have not purchased a lot of anything. I dont use paypal alot, thats why i have not tried to call and plead my case. Also I dont expect to make much progress on the phone!
The most "out there" paypal activity that I have been involved with is a case i opened against a seller in mexico for a counterfeit, resolved pretty well in my favor by PP> Even that was a year or more ago.