Question regarding new email regarding 21 day hold

[massivesystem]

So I have had my Ebay and PP account since July 10. From the begining I never had any payments held. I have sold a dozen items from time to time. My Ebay and PP account are clean no neg, complaints etc. I have 16 postive feedback.

My DSR is

Item as described 4.91
Communication 5.00
Shipping time 4.82
Shipping and handling charges 5.00


Today I received a Email from PP stating:
Your payments will be held in a pending balance
We're writing to let you know about a change to your PayPal account.
Starting Nov/13/2010, money from payments you receive will be placed in a pending balance for up to 21days. By doing this, we're making sure that there's enough money in your account to cover potential refunds or claims

Why so late in the game? I don't mind the hold, I understand that some people get it right off the bat and others don't but 5 months later after selling and receiving payments from buyers?

Is this strange or what? Is this normal ?

[HurricaneHuntr]

its random.... i've had them added on perfect accounts, and then 2 months later its removed... i even had a limited account... go into the 21 day hold thing, and come out of it during the 180 days LOL

[massivesystem]

I will just keep under the radar as I have been in reagards to selling and keep my account clean and I should be fine

[Jeak Custoe]

As far as I can tell, the holds aren't anything to be concerned about. What I mean is you shouldn't limit your selling because of the paypal holds.... the real concern is the limits from ebay, your DSR's and your positive feedback.
This advice is only (ONLY) if you're a new seller who is gradually increasing the number of sales you make each week. I have an ebay account with no limitations pulling 400 dollars or more a week. The paypal holds are still there, but with shipping labels and positive feedback I'm burning through to the cleared money pretty fast. This is all out of an account thats just about 2 months old... I'm saying this to make the point: the paypal holds are routine, they aren't looking carefully at your account because of them. Just keep working to get positive feedback and high dsr's and they will stop holding the money, sooner or later. Good Luck!!

[jeffweico]

The 21 day holds are normal. It happens on a lot of new accounts. Also, as in this case, it also happens on newer accounts. It can even happen on an old account if it was not used much and then all of a sudden you start selling.

I'm sure that at one time, PayPal started looking at how they were losing money due to scam artists, and a significant percentage came from new accounts, or accounts that were established but only recently began selling. So the 21 day holds were the answer they came up with.

This isn't personal. It does not mean that you are being watched. After a few months, they usually lift the holds.