Paypal asking for ID

mead18

I barely use Paypal (except for 99p a month payment for Apple storage). Had an email from Paypal saying I needed to log in and verify some account details and they've already temporarily limited some features. I logged in (NOT VIA THE EMAIL) and saw they were asking for photo ID and 2 other identity proofs. This annoyed me and I decided there and then to close my Paypal account which happened almost instantly.
 (Another thing tickling the back of my mind was remembering Martin saying you could lose your section 75 rights if you pay via Paypal and credit card).
Anyone else been asked to verify identity recently? Have you done so?

Exodi

Any reason why a financial institution checking your identity has annoyed you?

Financial institutions are obliged to perform KYC (Know Your Customer) checks and the like which ultimately protect the consumer (e.g. if I pretended to be a Nigerian prince and convince you to send me your lifes savings, surely you'd expect the financial institution to have at least verified who I really am should you report it)? You wouldn't want a world where I can open a bank account in the name of Bilbo Baggins from The Shire would you?

Closing your PayPal account in response seems petty - do you have a bank account? They would need to have ID'd you as well, so do you intend to close your account with your bank also?

Yes, I'm generally asked to verify ID whenever I open a new account with a financial institution - I happily oblige, it certainly doesn't ruin my day.

flaneurs_lobster

A financial institution has asked you to verify your ID.
You didn't want to do this so you closed your account.

Now you are asking if anyone else has been asked to verify their identity?   Yes.

And did they comply?   Yes.

What are you hoping to gain from this enquiry?

If it's an online storm of rage about the devilish fiends of PayPal wanting your deepest secrets for their nefarious ends then I suspect you will be sadly disappointed.

AstonSmith

I suppose the difference in my mind is that they weren't storing any money with PayPal, so they were acting more like a payment processor. Has Worldpay asked any of you for several ID proofs before it'd let you pay? Would it be reasonable for them to?

boingy

PayPal are not a financial institution.

danny13579

AstonSmith said:

I suppose the difference in my mind is that they weren't storing any money with PayPal, so they were acting more like a payment processor. Has Worldpay asked any of you for several ID proofs before it'd let you pay? Would it be reasonable for them to?

You're kind of comparing oranges with pears here.

Having a PayPal account allows people to store money, the fact that OP hasn't stored any money there doesn't really matter, they have the account so they need to provide the ID if they want to continue using it.

OP can still pay for stuff using PayPal without having a PayPal account.

Middle_of_the_Road

mead18 said:

I barely use Paypal (except for 99p a month payment for Apple storage). Had an email from Paypal saying I needed to log in and verify some account details and they've already temporarily limited some features. I logged in (NOT VIA THE EMAIL) and saw they were asking for photo ID and 2 other identity proofs. This annoyed me and I decided there and then to close my Paypal account which happened almost instantly.
 (Another thing tickling the back of my mind was remembering Martin saying you could lose your section 75 rights if you pay via Paypal and credit card).
Anyone else been asked to verify identity recently? Have you done so?

Everyone has, or will be asked to comply with these demands unfortunately. 
It seems there are countless criminals operating accounts, throughout our towns and cities.

The banks have been fined on multiple occasions for enabling money laundering, and it's now fallen on everyone else to prove who we are, and where our money has come from.

I understand the feeling of intrusion, if you're not familiar with the situation, and it's a pity some find it necessary to reply in a supercilious or abrasive manner.

Anyone who's had a single bank account for decades will never have been met with these requests before, so I see no need for the lectures.