Limited asking for SSN after 5 items

rookprop · #1 09-08-2017

Ebay and paypal account about a year old. Listed an item a year ago.
2 months ago, listed common items like blender vacuum, etc. Totalling maybe 500 dollars. Paypal is confirmed up to 500 dollars. No bank accoutn attached. I just used it to pay my inventory supplier a couple times

Today, an item sold for 199.00 The person paid and as soon as that happened, paypal limited me. Email said SIGNIFICANT CHANGES in selling tiems. I only sold 5 items in 2 months.
Can only refund and recieve money.

They want ID, SSN, address, invoices.

Im like WTF, you cant ask me for SSN. If I wanted that, Id get a business acount.

I cant provide ID or SSN. Anyone else get this recently? Ive noticed Paypal is cracking down on everything, even legit accounts.

Thinking I might just call them tomorrow and let them know they cant legally ask for SSN especially when Im only at 500 dollar total mark. Plus my ebay is 100 percent

phaz0rz · #2 09-09-2017

I haven't run into this recently but something similar is reported here at least once per week.

You most likely jumped into selling expensive items too quickly. Or it could have been that one item you listed for $199 was just a particularly bad item to list on a new-ish account. The thing that matters most to Paypal is how experienced the seller appears to be. Since you've only sold a couple items ever and they don't even have a bank account for you, they don't trust you. So they've sent you a request for more information about yourself and your business so that they can identify you and send bill collectors after you if you screw your customers over and run off with their money.

This can be avoided by taking it slow on your accounts. It doesn't matter how old the account is. If you haven't sold an item in 1+ years, you'll have to take it slow when you start selling again or you risk this kind of limitation. Paypal is famous for doing this. At least sell 2 or 3 things in the $5-$25 range before jumping into $100+.

Fishermanzz2 · #3 09-09-2017

Electronics will generally screw you over. PayPal sees that as a risky item. That and the amount you sold. Too much to just jump right into.

thatgirljc · #4 09-09-2017

I had this last week,they asked me the same thing,I sent all info in and they still closed my account, £250 on hold for 180days, I'm guessing something's pinged up on there system that your a banned user,hope you get it sorted xx

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rookprop · #5 09-12-2017

Heres the update: Oh, the items I sold started at range of 50 dollars, then 100, then 240, then 150. No problem until the last item for 140 which was a steam press for clothes All items are household items. But anyway, all I did was call in, didnt give too much info except all I said was, my account is limited and I was just wondering why this is happening. She looked at my account and asked where I was getting the items. Told her it was a resale type warehouse, website etc. She looked over my account and that was pretty much it.
Was on hold for 2 minutes while she removed everything. Now Im up and good to go. No need for ID, invoices, or SSN Guess it helps if the account is in good standing.

**SaiJin** · #6 09-12-2017

Paypal is a private entity and they can ask whatever they want.

Just be careful on how you operate the account from now on. You got lucky this time.

rodolfo · #7 09-18-2017

Please I need help ! Paypal is requesting proof of address driver license and SS# on a stealth age business account...is any way around this ?

rsot · #8 09-18-2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodolfo

Please I need help ! Paypal is requesting proof of address driver license and SS# on a stealth age business account...is any way around this ?

You can reach out to some wise members here for creative documentation. As for SSN...you might be able to use an EIN - have you researched this?

rodolfo · #9 09-19-2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsot

You can reach out to some wise members here for creative documentation. As for SSN...you might be able to use an EIN - have you researched this?

Thank you for your reply. Yes I already have my EIN on Paypal but now they are asking for a SS# also.

MM78 · #10 09-19-2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodolfo

Thank you for your reply. Yes I already have my EIN on Paypal but now they are asking for a SS# also.

There's no way around that......

rsot · #11 09-19-2017

Could be worth ringing them up and hoping for a considerate agent to assist if you have the time OP, otherwise MM78's statement stands.