Paypal locked...linked to bogus account not mine

[poorboy]

I've had my Paypal account for almost 9-years. I only use it to purchase things on Ebay or occassionally receive funds for items sold on Ebay...I'm not a business..just a normal civilian consumer. Out of the blue my PayPal account became locked at about 0530pm yesterday evening due to being linked to another account they claim. I had just used my PayPal VISA a few minutes earlier for a $12.00 purchase.

Problem is...I've never had another paypal account. I've argued with every dept that I can get on the phone all morning trying to get some info and help. They tell me the second account mine that's linked to was started in 2008 and that if I pay the $70.00 negative balance on that acccount...that they'll unfreeze my account. I refused and told them that I felt I was being extorted and would never pay a balance for an account thats not mine.

They say they'll start an dispute/investigation. Is this enough?

How did this happen? What do I do? NO ONE with PAYPAL is helpfull at all, they're all about collecting $70.00 and offering no understanding or help at the same time. I'm extremely frustrated!!! Here's a copy of the email from Paypal that came as well:

Notification of Limited Account Access RXI059

Hello DXXXX DXXXXX,

We see that your PayPal account registered at XXXXXXXXXXXXXX@XXXXXXX.com is
connected by one or more pieces of personal information to another PayPal
account registered at XXXXXX@XXXX.com, which is currently
negative -70. Before we can remove the limitation from your accounts, you
first need to resolve the negative balance on the associated account.

You may choose to complete a payment in one of the following ways:

• Call us at the phone number provided below and complete a payment over
the phone or provide authorization to transfer funds.
• Send a check or money order to the following address (please indicate the
associated email address in the memo):

PayPal Accounting
PO Box 45950
Omaha, NE 68145-0950

• If we do not receive a response from you within 14 days, funds from your
PayPal account with a positive balance will be deducted to resolve the
negative balance on your associated PayPal account.

For more information on reasons why we limit access to accounts, please
refer to the 'Closing Accounts and Limiting Account Access' section of our
User Agreement.

You can contact our Customer Service at 1-866-648-5870 for further
assistance.

Please reference the Following Case ID Number: XX-XXX-XXX-XXX

Thanks,
PayPal

Please do not reply to this email. This mailbox is not monitored and you
will not receive a response. For assistance, log in to your PayPal account
and click the Help link in the top right corner of any PayPal page.

PPID PP522

[rsot]

XXX out the other e-mail as well. My only 2 cents here is that your account seems to be done for good. Even if you pay the other one off (not saying you should), they will close both as a result of potential delinquency. I hope they do a proper investigation but Paypal can be notoriously slow. This happened to someone earlier in the forum (2 or so weeks ago) but haven't been following that thread.

Might want to search it and follow it. Not much else comes to my mind.

[NTP]

"If we do not receive a response from you within 14 days, funds from your
PayPal account with a positive balance will be deducted to resolve the
negative balance on your associated PayPal account."

That's the part that gets me. If you are positve that you are in the right and that there is no way the other account is yours, I think I would seek guidence from a lawyer. They may be able to limit your account for 180 days, but taking money from you to pay on another's debt is stealing. I would really think that they would have to show proof on how the account was related to yours.

[topseller]

They will not investigate anything. Your account is dead. Move on and open up a new stealth account.

[oompaloompa]

you could pay it, if you really thing the account will make you more more than $70, othewise ditch it.

[NTP]

@topseller - I agree that he needs to start account(s) using stealth procedures. But in the meantime, if I knew I was in the right and expecially if it's in his real name, I would fight it.

[pod]

This is bound to happen from time to time I'm sure. I image lots of real accounts get linked by PayPal error but the average Joe will bend over or fight until they have no fight left.

You are guilty in their eyes and that's all they need. Don't pay a penny. Its an of admission guilt and you will be out the money and account. All they are doing by saying pay and they will unlock account is trying to get the money. total BS - No way will they let you pay and reopen account.

Your only hope is to prove you are not connected to other account. And I bet it wont be easy. They wont do squat, you will need to do all the work to be sure... But this has to happen lots so you may have a chance. They may just be standing their ground right now by policy. Try and get you to admit connection in a vain hope to get account opened again. that way they get paid.

Fight it as much as you have the energy to do so but under no circumstance pay another persons bill. It will just show them you are at fault.

You've had the account for almost a decade so proving who you are is easy. proving the other account has nothing to do with you will not be so easy.

[rsot]

The other postsi n this thread show it well. It's a catch 22 - problem is they have your real ID (I think) and going into delinquency will allow them to access your credit history - not worth it imho over 70 bux.

Push back hard, keep the battle light and press but don't let it slide into delinquency. With real info about yourself out there, 70 bucks is not worth letting them get to your credit history.

As for NTP's guidance for a lawyer, yes if it comes to that you should take the stance but all about reward vs. fee....sadly Paypal has the high ground on you and that's what makes it so evil.

[oge]

Hey this could be true if anybody friend, family used your computer to check thier PayPal account...............instant link.

[janckson]

I am in the exact situation as you are and received the same exact email. It's been over a month and a half now and they have not yet taken any money out, despite stating that they will within 14 days. So I assume they cannot legally pull the money without hard evidence. Do not pay! Paying admits to guiltiness.


You have to obtain a subpoena against Paypal in order to receive information about the other account. I was told over the phone they were going to investigate the fraudulent activity but never got back to me. I don't know what will happen with my account, but I'm playing the waiting game and hopefully get my money.