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Ask HN: PayPal refuses to remove credit card after permanently limiting account
Recently I opened a PayPal account because I wanted to pay for something online. Imagine my surprise that immediately after I completed the registration for PayPal they permanently limited my account for breaching their Terms of Service. I called their customer support to enquire on this and found out it was because I was using a VPN connected to a different country. I was informed that sending photoes of my identification card for verification would be able to resolve this but just found out this morning that the appeal was rejected. Further calls to customer service is just being stonewalled with saying there's nothing they can do.
Here's what limiting my account does:
- unable to use PayPal's service
- can't close the account or open a new one
- unable to remove my credit card
To be honest I don't really mind if I can't use PayPal anymore but am very concerned that I can't remove my credit card information. In a message to me they mentioned they would still charge my card if there are any repayments to be made. While the account doesn't have any pending purchases due to being limited immediately, I am very worried that they would charge or fine my card continuously for any small thing in the future. While I'd like to believe they wouldn't charge my card for no reason, I lost a lot of faith in them after they limited my account for no reason either.
So my question is there anything I can do to protect myself from PayPal? I considered just calling my bank and telling them to block any charges from PayPal. One thing that worries me sick though is that in their message to me, they mentioned they would use any legal means necessary to collect any debt from me. Are there any people or organisations I could seek out for help on this?
Some extra info:
- I'm not a US or EU citizen so I don't have any protection from laws there unfortunately.
- I tried to purchase a subscription for an AI image generator, NovelAI. So I wasn't buying any illegal stuff.
- I used to have an account with PayPal using the same email. I never had any issues with it but decided to close the account a long time ago as I didn't use it much anymore.
- superchroma 4y agoPersonally, I would cancel the card, just to be sure. The recent ruckus about PayPal threatening to charge people who violate their TOS doesn't inspire confidence, and I've seen too many anecdotes of people who get hit with charges.
- Battery3942 4y agoWouldn't blocking any charges from PayPal be enough? It would be pretty scary if they can still somehow charge me despite that.
- oldandtired 4y agoNo, as I found out in a recent problem myself. Cancellation of the card is a necessary part of the process.
- oldandtired 4y agoSpeak to your bank and as [superchroma] has suggested cancel your credit card and fully aprise your bank of what has happened. Document everything, get all documents certified by a court or JP (if that is available in your particular area) and then send it via certified main to yourself for a permanent record and if they decide at some time in the future to be naughty then you have at least an official record that could be submitted in evidence in any applicable matters. Such processes can be useful, especially any officially recognised documents. Finally, avoid doing business with them in every way and avoid doing business with every company or vendor who only uses PayPal and let that company or vendor know why. You may be small fry in a big ocean, but even small fry (if enough are involved) can cause big problems with the big fish.
- Battery3942 4y agoDamn, all this trouble just for a simple purchase. I'll contact my bank to cancel the card then. I'm not exactly sure if I have anything to document though. My initial conversation with them was thru the phone so there's no record for that. Even the messages I have right now is just them requesting my ID and them telling me the appeal was unsuccessful. I really regret using PayPal right now...
- Double_a_92 4y agoWhat exactly will PayPal charge your card with?
- Battery3942 4y agoAny kind of administrative charges or dormant account fees if they decide to charge them in the future. If I get hit with those I can't even close my account now. There's also the recent backlash on the $2,500 fine issue. I know they removed it but I really don't feel safe with this situation at all.
- archsurface 4y agoEveryone else in the world is currently closing their PayPal accounts.