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Possibly how paypal trace us......
 

I think I found some worrying information.........

OK, let me start by explaining how money are transferred to your bank account from paypal.

I will begin by explaining the normal way (2-3 days).
This is done by Paperless Direct Debit (paperless DD) otherwise known as linking your paypal to your bank.
Paperless Direct Debit is only available to organisations using the AUDDIS service, and of course Paypal is using it.

Since 2008 because of AUDDIS, the Direct Debit Instructions (DDI) are going directly through BACS (Bankers Automated Clearing Services), and this explains why payments will go through even without a direct debit in place, or even in a savings acount which accepts BACS.

So this summarize the 2 Paypal withdrawal options as follows.
Normal way 2-3 days: BACS
Fast option 1 day: CHAPS (Clearing House Automated Payment System)

The Possible Problem:
BACS has a service called AWACS (Advice of Wrong Account for Automated Credits Service)

How AWACS works?

If the beneficiary account information contained in a Bacs Direct Credit payment is incorrect, the receiving bank will make every effort to locate the correct account.
When the correct account is successfully identified the payment is credited to the account and the correct account details are sent electronically back to BACS and from there electronically via Bacstel-IP to Paypal

This is done to ensure that the payment reached the correct destination, but also for paypal to amend its records, so all future payments will automatically reach the correct account.

I would guess that banks let the payments go through if the account numbers are correct because misspelled names, name variations etc would cause a havoc, but all it takes is for paypal to go through AWACS error reports and we are busted!! :>

I think that if the direct debit is in place there is no AWACS error because the bank is expecting the payment....and this may also explain why current accounts work better/for longer than savings accounts, but I'm not sure about this....I need to look into it further.

I hope I'm wrong.....but I will work something out to prevent this just in case. :spy: