How about the fact that social security is a private number and I am not required to give it out to anyone?
Actually, no where in their user agreement do they state that you are required to give them a social security number. If you don't believe me then read it.
It says the following:
"We may close, suspend, or limit your access to your Account or our Services, and/or limit access to your funds for up to 180 Days if you engage in any Restricted Activities (as further set out in section 9)."
They don't say anything about a social security number being required for identification purposes. They state two things:
"9.1 Restricted Activities. In connection with your use of our website, your Account, or the Services, or in the course of your interactions with PayPal, a User or a third party, you will not:
Refuse to cooperate in an investigation or provide confirmation of your identity or any Information you provide to us"
Providing confirmation of identity can be done in many ways which do NOT require a social security number. If you demand to have your identity confirmed with a driver's license or a similar government issued ID, they should be forced to accept that. Period. Their user agreement merely says that you need to provide proof of your identity.
Section 9 does say the following though:
"Have a credit score from a credit reporting agency that indicates a high level of risk associated with your use of the Services"
This would imply that they would run a credit check on you. They cannot, however, freeze money that you received before they run a credit check on you. That would be a classic example of bait and switch. If they want to run a credit check on you and stop doing business with you, that is fine. However, they have no good cause to hold onto the money you received before they decide to run a credit check on you.
They get away with this because no one fights them. I'm looking into trying to file a small claims suit. Look at it from Paypal's perspective...do they really want to send an attorney to represent them in court or do they want to just give you your $500 or $1000 or whatever is in dispute? Believe me, they won't waste their money. It is money they will eventually have to give you. If more people start slapping them with small claims suits, we might be able to get them to buckle more.
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