buyers using unconfirmed/unverified Paypal accounts

rare_stuff

Why do people who buy on ebay and pay via paypal not bother to verify/confirm their account details? it's quite a simple process, and in my opinion the only reason to remain unconfirmed is so that claimbacks can be made at a later date as the seller is left without any protection.

I don't worry too much when the item is only a couple of quid, or if the buyer has hundreds of feedbacks. But if they have less than 50 feedbacks and they're all within the last couple of months it sets the alarm bells ringing when they have bought something for over 50quid.

I have in the past refused to send until verification/confirmation has been made with paypal. But what do others do in this situation? And why would anyone prefer to remain unverified?

I did state quite clearly in my listing under payment instruction and in the details

We will only dispatch to a PayPal verified address. Please ensure your PayPal account status BEFORE committing to purchase. If payment is received via PayPal from a non verified address we will not dispatch until either your PayPal account has a verified address or you send payment by Cheque, Postal Order or other acceptable payment is arranged.

frivolous_fay

Look at it the other way... why bother to get your address confirmed if sellers are willing to post to you regardless?

It only becomes a problem when a seller like you refuses to post to an unconfirmed address. (With good reason.) A lot of people send to unnconfirmed addresses... and with low value items the risk is probably minimal.

Avoriaz

rare_stuff wrote:

Why do people who buy on ebay and pay via paypal not bother to verify/confirm their account details? ..

Because we all start off innocent, naïve and possibly foolish on ebay and don’t see the importance of it at first.

Some learn the hard way.

Others are luckier and learn from this and other forums.

I was lucky. My first big ebay purchase was about £80 for two tickets to a concert 4 months in the future. I paid by cheque. I was lucky. The seller was honest and sent me the tickets when he received them. He even sold them at face value and the concert was fantastic - Bruce Springsteen at Crystal Palace in 2003.

Looking back I was crazy and I am now a lot wiser.

I agree with your listing policy. I do something similar now.

nightswimmer

rare_stuff wrote:

Why do people who buy on ebay and pay via paypal not bother to verify/confirm their account details?

For some people it's not so easy. I don't know if it has improved, but when I signed up to PayPal a few years ago, it took a few months to finally get my account verified.

frivolous_fay

Confirming an address is simpler than verification.

JohalaReewi

rare_stuff wrote:

Why do people who buy on ebay and pay via paypal not bother to verify/confirm their account details?

Because not everybody can.

From Paypal's own website...

Currently, our system cannot verify most non-US credit card billing addresses.

https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_help&nodeid=25805&leafid=71181&prior_transaction_id=760008&answer_id=16777217

https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_help-ext&nodeid=25434&leafid=95953&prior_transaction_id=760136&answer_id=16777218

frivolous_fay

JohalaReewi wrote:

Because not everybody can.

From Paypal's own website...

Currently, our system cannot verify most non-US credit card billing addresses.

Paypal's own website as useless as ever...

You can get a 4 digit code from PP, arrange for them to ring you, key in the number, Bob's your uncle - confirmed.

JohalaReewi

frivolous_fay wrote:

Paypal's own website as useless as ever...

You can get a 4 digit code from PP, arrange for them to ring you, key in the number, Bob's your uncle - confirmed.

That is interesting. How does that confirm your address

or do they post the 4 digit code to you?

windswept

because your telephone number will be linked to your address. I assume it has to be a landline.

honeypop

The address I use is unconfirmed as Paypal confirmed my home address but I like things to be sent to my work address so I can sign for them if need be.

If parcels were delivered to my (confirmed) home address I'd have the hassle of having to arrange to collect the item from the sorting office in opening hours which is almost impossible for me to do.

JohalaReewi

I have 3 addresses registered with Paypal none of which have been certified but I am a verified UK account. still