Money stuck in PayPal even after 180 days

[fernendo]

My stealth account reached it's european £1900 receiving limit with a £700 balance. I got someone to create me docs which I submitted but my account was permanently limited due to "excessive risk" Now 180 days has passed but they won't release the money until I provide them docs. I got the seller to create me some new docs but these also weren't accepted so it seems my money is stuck. I know I'll never get the account unlimited I just want my money.

When I setup the account I used all my real details except I deliberately slightly misspelled my last name and used a pretend address so I wouldn't be linked. Is it worth me doing a name change request so that my account is in my real name then updating my address to my real address? That way I can submit real docs which they will have no reason to reject.

What are your thoughts on this? I don't want the greedy *******s to steal my £700 and never give it back.

[muzzie]

Yes, do that, because there is nothing else you can do in this situation to get your money back.

[fernendo]

Eeek ok I will try it. What do you think my chances are of it working?

I would be persistent in calling them.

More than one user has reported paypal playing hardball in releasing funds.

I believe the user 'wired' has had it happen recently. Perhaps he will be along to advise soon.

[fernendo]

The problem is I had to use a different photo on the 2nd set of docs I submitted because the seller of the docs didn't keep the original photo.

I'm worried if I draw too much non automated paypal attention to the account they will notice the difference in the 2 photos. I wonder how long they keep submitted docs before deleting them?

If I end up using my real name, address and docs as discussed could I get in trouble for the previous docs I submitted? I was thinking that if all my info is real I could always complain to the financial ombudsman in the UK as I believe they have a "voluntary" compliance agreement with PayPal however I'm not sure if using all my real info is legally risky.

[oompaloompa]

yes, I see your point I would worry too about sending created stuff then real stuff.....

although they probably get chancers all the time, I cannot see them reporting you anywhere for it, as to do so publicises their stupid loopholed system anyway, they tend to hide behind a 'no reply' compliance standpoint and just reject without explanation... reason....

at least with your real info you can fight it better maybe, but you can wait and see what others say first before you decide.....

[fernendo]

Thanks a lot for all the replies. Unless anyone suggests anything different I will leave it a few days then

1) Apply to change my slightly misspelled name to the correct one (hopefully this will go through without any questions)

2) Wait a while then provide a copy of my real passport and real proof and address

3) If it still gets rejected keep CALLING, CALLING AND CALLING confident that they no longer have any reason to reject.

4) If it still gets rejected (and there is no reason to seeing as they are real docs) I can take my complaint to the financial ombudsman UK who apparently have "voluntary" jurisdiction over Paypal uk

[fernendo]

Hi guys I just wanted to update this and hopefully someone will advise me

As discussed I submitted my real ID to PayPal in order to get the funds released this was rejected without any reason so I complained to the financial ombudsman in the UK.

The ombudsman said paypal can reject documents without giving any reason

After many back and fourth emails from the ombudsman asking for ID etc they responded with this:-

PayPal issued their final response on <removed>.

Please note that PayPal are entitled to set their own terms and conditions and are allowed to make commercial decisions and I’m afraid these aren’t things this service can interfere with.

On <removed>. PayPal limited access to your account. This limitation was placed because you had exceeded the €2,500 threshold for total incoming payments over a 12 month period. To comply with anti-money laundering regulations, once a customer exceeds this threshold PayPal completes additional customer checks - you were asked to send proof of address and photographic ID.

On <removed>. PayPal received a copy of your photographic ID but having had concerns about the validity of the document you were notified that your account had been permanently limited. If PayPal have concerns about the risk a customer poses they are entitled to protect themselves against this.

PayPal will normally withhold funds for 180 days which they believe to be a sufficient period to protect against any risks your account may pose, but to release funds you still need to provide valid photographic ID.

Section 10.2 of PayPal’s terms and conditions, which you accepted when you started using the account, state that PayPal can suspend, block, limit, close or cancel your right to use your account in its entirety. It also highlights that this can be done without prior notice. Section 10.2 also states they may hold your funds for more than 180 days where they feel it necessary to protect against any risk they feel your account may pose. The terms and conditions also state that PayPal might ask you to submit additional information as part of this process.

PayPal is entitled to limit your account and hold on to your funds for as long as it feels necessary. As I have previously explained, given the documents you sent, I don’t feel PayPal has done anything wrong and I’m not going to ask them to do anything further.

You also haven’t provided any explanation for why you sent photographic ID with photographs of three different people. Please note that if you do want this complaint reviewed by an ombudsman, I think the ombudsman would want an explanation for this if your complaint was to have any chance of success.

If you would like an ombudsman to review your complaint please let me know


So I sent this:-



Please don't close your files as I will need more time

I can't explain the different Identification that PayPal claim to have received which is why I suggested that a 3rd party may possibly have accessed / hacked the account at some point.

I still haven't had confirmation as to whether the name misspelling is an issue or not. If it is an issue then it needs to be corrected somehow as whatever ID I send in will have an incorrect spelling of my last name (by 3 characters). It would be very useful to have a yes or no response from PayPal as to whether this specific issue is a problem or not and if yes then how to go about resolving it. I don't understand why PayPal would refuse to answer such a simple question.

As previously mentioned I can go to the lengths of posting my original ID to the Ombudsman so they can verify it and confirm this to PayPal. This would eliminate any genuine concerns

It would appear that PayPal have a financial incentive not to resolve these issues as they then have the benefit of holding on to the money and generating interest / profit from it.


What do you guys think? I'm just playing dumb and saying I have no idea where the other IDs came from.

I guess if they don't help I could always complain to the CSSF in Luxembourg

If it was a normal account id take them straight to court but as I've submitted "creative" documents I don't think thats a good idea lol.

[PayPalBusted]

I think I would count your losses and move on. Your biggest mistake here is submitting your ID with three different pictures. No idea why you would do this, makes no difference now, but that was your biggest mistake and mostly likely why you will have to count this money as a loss.

[Play]

OK OP, let me tell you something. People working for the financial ombudsman (and I know a lot of them) are actually intellectual individuals who have the mental capacity to think carefully about each individual case their handed with.

When your write things like:
I can't explain the different Identification that PayPal claim to have received which is why I suggested that a 3rd party may possibly have accessed / hacked the account at some point.


You wont stand a chance. Why on earth would a hacker, hack into your account, to submit documents on your behalf??

Anyway, If I were you, I would move on. You made the mistake of leaving such a huge balance in your account, knowing the EU regulations will not allow you to surpass a certain limit, and you would have seen this warning message sprayed all over paypal's website when you signed up, to inform you to lift those limits. Now deal with the consequences and move on.

[GreenBean]

I think this may have cost you money.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by Play

When your write things like:
I can't explain the different Identification that PayPal claim to have received which is why I suggested that a 3rd party may possibly have accessed / hacked the account at some point.


You wont stand a chance. Why on earth would a hacker, hack into your account, to submit documents on your behalf??

That was a good bit of hilarity

[fernendo]

Originally Posted by PayPalBusted

I think I would count your losses and move on. Your biggest mistake here is submitting your ID with three different pictures. No idea why you would do this, makes no difference now, but that was your biggest mistake and mostly likely why you will have to count this money as a loss.

I did it because the seller on here who created the ID deleted the photo so it was IMPOSSIBLE to create more docs with that photo. A very annoying and frustrating situation but obviously nothing I could do about it as totally outside my control.

[fernendo]

Originally Posted by Play

OK OP, let me tell you something. People working for the financial ombudsman (and I know a lot of them) are actually intellectual individuals who have the mental capacity to think carefully about each individual case their handed with.

When your write things like:
I can't explain the different Identification that PayPal claim to have received which is why I suggested that a 3rd party may possibly have accessed / hacked the account at some point.


You wont stand a chance. Why on earth would a hacker, hack into your account, to submit documents on your behalf??

Anyway, If I were you, I would move on. You made the mistake of leaving such a huge balance in your account, knowing the EU regulations will not allow you to surpass a certain limit, and you would have seen this warning message sprayed all over paypal's website when you signed up, to inform you to lift those limits. Now deal with the consequences and move on.

LOL I know they aren't stupid and it's a long shot but here's the justification.

If a 3rd party obtains my username and password after the account is limited and wants to withdraw the balance to their account they will need to submit ID first hence why they would do so. If I was trying to steal money from peoples account I would have no hesitation in doing this.

I couldn't think of any other explanation to give them. What would you say if you were asked why multiple IDs were submitted? Not reply? Well where is the fun in that?

You might say not do it in the first place sure but what other choice did I have the original photo was deleted by the ID seller which is very annoying but outside of my control. I DID discuss this tactic on here first and I was advise to give this a try.

Lets flip it around. Why would I submit phake ID when I have real ID that doesn't make any sense either does it?

As for leaving the balance I wouldn't say this was a mistake simply unlucky. I TRIED to keep the balance as low as possible but I got a HUGE surge in payments JUST BEFORE I hit the limit (I didn't know how close to the limit I was)

I wasn't to know this would happen and I also wasn't to know that the original ID would be rejected.

Also at the time I didn't know that ID would still be required if they closed / limited your account I thought ID was only needed to continue using the account e.g if you hit your limit you can close account and withdraw OR provide ID

I'm glad this story has made you laugh it's one of them strange and unfortunate situations that life throws as you. I hope I have clarified it for you and yes I am trying my luck but what do I have to loose?

Just submitting a complaint to the FOS has cost paypal time and money.

[oompaloompa]

well it would normally be ok if very similar photo, you sent them with at least similar photo right? not one ginger guy, one black guy and one japanese woman right??-(joke) because my DL and passports could easily be different people due to hairstyle changes and photos years apart...

because the exact same pic would be odd too, for different IDs.....

wait, this FOS stuff, is that good advice...are you giving FOS your real details?

[Play]

Originally Posted by fernendo

Just submitting a complaint to the FOS has cost paypal time and money.

Paypal have all the time and money buddy. Especially now that their accumulating interest on your hard earned money.

If FOS have your details.... oh gosh!

Paypal don't like surge in payments on new accounts anyway. I could sit here and criticise your entire plan, but put basically your whole tactic was 'not like the average person' should I say, it was very messy.

Hopefully you learned from the mistake.

[GreenBean]

OP!

Answer this:

Why did YOU not retain the photos yourself.


Are you aware the only justification for all you are doing is on your side and you have dug deep holes with the fibs.
Be aware that you could be told to go away by paypal...

THEY will justify their position as preventing f***d.... fill in the blank yourself.

Be careful.

[fernendo]

The reason I didn't retain the photos myself is because I NEVER had a copy of the photos. The seller provided the photos I wasn't given anything except the docs.

** Update **

I made a complaint to the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. They gave me a PayPal directors email address and requested that I contact him in the first instance. I did this and they promised a reply within a month. They failed to reply so I was about to escalate then magically without any response or contact the funds were released and I was able to withdraw!

To all the people here that helped and advised me thanks a lot I appreciate your help very much. To all the people that did nothing but mock and criticise me "F" you I got my money back through determination and support from the good people on here.

Good work Fernándo

Another example of persistence paying off.

[shootemup321]

That was a good story I laughed a couple times from the comments but I'm glad you got your money back.

[x2ruff4u]

If this was a US account which I'm not sure matters talking to them seems to always work for issues like these.

[fernendo]

No it's a UK account. I got stuck in an endless loop of being told the ID was rejected but no reason as to why given