Stupid question...Paypal or bank account?

[hcv123]

spoiler alert - you may think twice about using paypal if you follow this link:

http://www.paypalsucks.com/

I found the site years ago when I had the one of two HUGE problems with PP that I've had in the years I've been using it - they cost me $1500. I purchased a 1st issue of Playboy from a seller from I forget where. It was supposed to be shipped overnight. While the "seller" had been quite communicative up to the point I paid her, she was supposed to email tracking information which she never did. Being suspicious already, I called Paypal and asked what happens if I dispute the transaction - I was told the money is "locked" in the sellers account until the dispute is resolved. I said okay, thank you, I'll give it till the morning before I dispute it. When I had no communication by the morning (less than 12 hours after I had sent payment), I decided to play it safe and file a dispute. I did. I don't recall the timeline, but I got an email from paypal saying there was no money in the sellers account to lock - I communicated the conversation I had the night before with a paypal rep. The silence was deafening. Paypal did NOTHING to resolve this for me or get my money back - they aided a thief and communicated incorrect information to me.


Further based on my experiences and those of others I have spoken to, PP seems to have a stupid amount of control, very few rules that they are bound by and virtually no reasonable recourse if they harm you.

[Bpm0014]

I know people who have had their accounts "locked" due to a buyer dispute.

Same here. I was the victim of a scam when I sold my old iphone. He got my iphone, a partial refund, and then told paypal he never even received the iphone. This was 2 years ago and my account is still frozen. I hate paypal...

[jfkheat]

I have a Paypal debt card so when I get large payments I just use my debt card to pay bills and buy gas and groceries.

James

[Leon]

Originally Posted by jfkheat

I have a Paypal debt card so when I get large payments I just use my debt card to pay bills and buy gas and groceries.

James

Is a debt card kind of like a get out of jail free card?

I always transfer anything over approximately $100 to my bank account. No need to have PP control my money for me.

[dplath]

PayPal also offers an option to setup a security key. By activating the security key your account requires that they text you a one time password to use each time you make a payment. A little cumbersome but the extra layer of security is nice.