Closing down a paypal account

skyranger

Hi guys

My girlfriend wants to close down her paypal account after having a bad experience with a dispute in which she lost a bit of money. Usual Paypal freezing accounts on unauthorised card transactions by the seller. She is a bit upset and wants to close down her paypal account. She has paid up with ebay but she is a bit worried that someone could issue another dispute in future over a few goods she has sold. She doesn't want to be left in limbo because Paypal just access her account without her say so. Soooo...

If she closes her account down with Paypal, are they allowed to access her bank account again in case another dispute comes in (i've told her that they are rare and she was unlucky but she is a bit paranoid) or some how demand money etc. We're just covering off bases and I want to reassure her.

Thanks

mclaren_2

to close the account, log in, go to the options and its in there at the bottom about account closure.

paypal are NOT allowed to go to your bank accout as this would be both illegal and theft. the bank will not authorise them entry without your permission

skyranger

Thanks - didn't think so. So what would happen if someone filed a dispute (i'm interested in this too). She sold a ticket to a concert she couldnt go to. Posted it off special delivery etc but not heard back from the buyer. Its been posted according to royal mail but she is worried that they might put a dispute in (I can't see why) and she will get letters from paypal etc. I am going to show her this thread so she can feel reassured

mclaren_2

skyranger wrote:

Thanks - didn't think so. So what would happen if someone filed a dispute (i'm interested in this too). She sold a ticket to a concert she couldnt go to. Posted it off special delivery etc but not heard back from the buyer. Its been posted according to royal mail but she is worried that they might put a dispute in (I can't see why) and she will get letters from paypal etc. I am going to show her this thread so she can feel reassured

well if she sent it special then you willl have a tracking code so you give this to paypal - they still will side with the buyer due to paypal awful polocys.

i would forget about it, honestly, i would forget about it....

Maranatha

Hi,

Paypal expert here. Okay, you get two types of Paypal buyers, verified and unverified. Verified is protected against clawback, so you can sell to them and no problem apart from a Paypal dispute of course. Unverified is the real problem one. You can suffer from a dispute and clawback.

Stipluate auction buyers must be verified with a confirmed address. It wont get you out of all trouble, but helps.

Disputes are okay within reason, no one minds a genuine one. The trouble with Paypal is that their abitrators don't tend to read all the screeds of evidence you put to them and normally decide in favour of the buyer. Dont take what they say as gospel. There is a contact us page on the site. Phone them up if you think they are wrong and the decision will be reviewed and reversed within 24-48 hours.

Clawback is something else. Paypal have a policy that they wont clawback for misuse of a credit card etc. if 45 days have elapased. Great you think, but if the buyer gets onto his credit card and does a straight clawback, they can clawback months afterwards. In other words, the credit card company screw the money off Paypal. Then Paypal will freeze the sum in dispute. That means they show that amount as pending, but do not take it off your account or credit card. You have an oportunity to respond with evidence in the form of e-mails, delivery slips etc. Paypal then have up to 30 days to decide on the matter after consultation with the credit card company. They will inform you by e-mail and if they go against you, then the outstanding money is shown as money you owe to Paypal. A negative balance if you like. They then like you to pay it within reasonable time. If your still in dispute or dont like the way Paypal have gone, again revert to plan B and phone them up. They can reverse the decision pretty quick and confirm this by e-mail. On the other hand if they still decide your going to have to pay and you decide your not going to, be prepared for a debt collecting agency to knock on the door. I know a guy that stuck to his guns and they did this to him. He explained it to the agency and never heard another word but don't count on this.

Finally a tip - IF you pay, repay someone or do anything via Paypal, do it via a credit card, not direct from the bank to Paypal. That way if someone screws you, then you can do a clawback yourself. It doesn't always go down well with Paypal and they may expel you, so be reasonable.

I hasten to add there views are mine and do not constitute financial advice in any form.

Maranatha

Forgot to add, even if your girlfirend closes her account, it won't make any difference to Paypal. If they find against her, they will still chase for the money. Like someone said above, I am sure she has nothing to worry about with the other item. I have a feedback in the hundreds and it's only like 1% that I have problems with. Normally the expensive items like laptops.

With the item she did have to fork out over, why not phone Paypal and sort it out over the phone? They are okay about things and do see reason. Unlike their e-mail people, who are a complete waste of time.