I first started using Paypal while I was living in the USA about 10 years ago. A few years ago I returned to the UK where I changed all my information and, and around 2003 I moved to Indonesia where I am now living. Over the years I have problems with them and several times I have had to send them copies of my passport etc. Whenever I visited Indonesia, before I took up residence here and did any business with them, they always blocked my account. Eventually I informed them that I was constantly visiting here and the blocking appeared to stop.

My main complaint at the time was that I was unable to extract my funds to an Indonesian bank and all my UK banks and credit cards I had cancelled. Thus I had to transfer funds to my daughter in the USA, at a cost of course so she could retransmit the funds to me, at another cost. A few week ago, I received some funds from the UK to my Paypal account. I used a small amount to pay for my web hosting without any problem. Then, out of the blue, when I tried to log in, I received a notice that my account was blocked because of "some suspicious activity in my bank account attached to Paypal." This sounded a little strange as, before I left the UK, I had cancelled all my bank accounts and credit cards there. On top of the blocking, I was prevented from logging in with a stupid notice, something like "Your account has been randomly selected for investigation…" They then asked me for the number of my bank account. After 6 years of not using it, I had absolutely no idea of the number. I asked my relatives in the UK to visit the bank, which they did but the bank refused to give them any information.

I telephoned Paypal and explained the situation that I was unable to log in as I could not ever produce the bank account number. The girl explained that she would email me and explain how I could solve the problem. A day later I received an email from Paypal instructing me what to do. The first instruction was "Log into your account." I called back to Paypal informing them that I was unable to log in while they kept asking me for the bank account number. I was assured that I would receive an email with instructions as to what to do. The next day, the email arrived and guess what? Yes. "Please log into your account," GRRRRRRRRRRRR. Over $40 wasted on phone calls.

I wrote an email to them explaining the situation and included "I AM UNABLE TO LOG INTO MY ACCOUNT." Several times. I then received the following:

Dear Sheldon Archer,

We're sorry, but we cannot restore full access to your account until we

receive additional information:

• Change your password and security questions.

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Case Number: PP-883-001-338

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Yours sincerely,

Alan

PayPal Account Review Department

Of course in order to do that I would have to LOG INTO MY ACCOUNT. GRRRRRRRRR. I sent off another email explaining the situation.. I then received the following:

Dear Sheldon Archer,

We're sorry, but we cannot restore full access to your account until we

receive additional information.

Please change your password and security questions

Please use the link below to access the Limited Account Access Details page

for your PayPal account and follow the instructions to complete the Change

Password and Change Security Questions and Answers requirements.

The link they referred to did not work

Case Number: PP-883-001-338

How to provide your information

You can either upload or fax your information to us.

To upload:- Log in to your PayPal account.

• Go to the Resolution Centre.

• Under 'Steps to Remove Limitations', click 'Resolve'.

To fax:- Please use the fax cover sheet provided by PayPal.

• To print the cover page, LOG INTO YOUR ACCOUNT and click the 'Fax

Documents'

Obviously nobody in Paypal can read. So, I sent another email to them. At the same time I contacted the last payment sender and asked him to claim his money back. This was refused as it was more than 45 days (because Paypal had been messing me around for so long)

I received another email asking for a copy of my passport which I faxed to them. Next I received this:

Dear Sheldon Archer,

We recently requested information from you after noticing an issue on your

PayPal account. We have reviewed your account and made adjustments to the

steps required.

Hurray, they had finally dropped the bank account number requirement. "Things were looking up," I thought

I logged into the account and went to the "resolution." section. There they gave me several steps to follow in order to resolve the situation. These included a UK photo ID showing my full address; a copy of a UK utility bill in my name. I tried to explain to them in yet another email that I had not been living in the UK for more than six years. They already had a copy of my passport. All my documentation was now Indonesian. Fell on deaf ears of course. Next I received this:

Dear Sheldon Archer,

We have reviewed your PayPal Account, and due to the excessive risk

involved, we would like to begin parting ways in a manner that is least

disruptive to your business.

Option 1. If you owe refunds to any of your buyers, you can use the money

in your PayPal account to refund them.

To refund your buyers:

1. Log in to your PayPal account.

2. Click "Contact Us" at the bottom of any page.

3. Click "Contact Customer Service."

4. Under "Choose a Topic," select "Sending/Receiving Money."

5. Under "Choose a Subtopic," select "Refund/Cancel a Payment."

6. Click "Continue" and follow the instructions to refund payments.

That suited me fine as I was sick of dealing with them. I logged into my account. I clicked "contact." Guess what? There was no link to "customer service." I tried various other ways of returning the money but nothing worked. I emailed them again explaining this and received the following:

Dear Sheldon Archer,

Thank you for contacting PayPal Customer Support.

I can sense the importance of this matter to you. Allow me to help you get

to the bottom of this issue. Please be advice that you must have sufficient

funds in your balance before issuing a refund.

Sending a refund is really easy and free! Here’s how.

1. Log in to your PayPal account

2. Click ‘History’ near the top of the page.

3. Find the transaction you would like to refund and click the ‘Details’

link of that transaction.

4. At the bottom of the page, click the ‘Issue Refund’ link.

5. Enter the amount to be refunded and click ‘Continue’.

6. Confirm the information and click ‘Issue Refund’.

Please note, you’ll only be able to click on the ‘Issue Refund’ link if;

• You’re issuing a refund within 60 days of receiving the payment

I could not do it as Paypal had now kept me waiting more than the 60 days limit. I then received this:

Dear Sheldon Archer,

Thank you for contacting PayPal regarding the transaction id

0AW42878VG215840H.

Upon checking Mr Archer, it shows that the case has been closed into your

favour and the funds have been released on your PayPal Account. The case

has been automatically closed because it has been filed 45 days after the

initial payment of your buyer. However, if you would wish to issue a refund

to your buyer, you may follow the steps that has been sent to your by the

previous representative.

If you need further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us back.

It is my pleasure to assist you. Thank you for choosing PayPalYours sincerely,

Arra

That sounded great. They had finally given up all this rubbish over nothing. I duly logged into the account and guess what? It was still restricted as before. So, I sent to Paypal another email explaining the situation. I received this:

Dear Sheldon Archer,

Thank you for contacting PayPal.

I checked your account and the Account Review Department has reviewed your

documents and has decided to permanently limit your account due to the risk

involved with your activities.

The decision is final.

After 180 days, you can withdraw the funds from your account. You may also

request a wire transfer for the outstanding balance on your PayPal account.

Obviously their left hand has no idea what their right hand is doing. Their customer service is non existent and I will never do business with them again. If you Google Paypal you will see the huge number of sites featuring complaints similar to mine. If you are a Paypal customer and it hasn’t happened to you yet, don’t worry, it will do!