Paypal or BidPay?

[Joy]

Was goin to sign up for either one of these in order to accept payments for a couple things im selling (non-ebay...craigslist, here etc). However my last experience with Paypal was horrible. They sent me a letter and email stating I needed to provide them with everything EXCEPT my shot records (sarcasm) to verify that i am who i am...SO what about bidpay...wat type of harassment do they put you through in order to accept a payment??

[pixielee]

I work for fraud at PayPal ... and yes, sometimes we limit accounts of what turns out to be completely honest sellers and buyers, to verify identity, and confirm you really are selling/shipping/buying the items - This is done for the security of all the parties involved - identity theft, phishing emails and just "good ole friends and family who know your passwords" cause alot of fraud activity - you should be thankful that they are so diligent about the security instead of seeing it as harassment -

perhaps you should contact BIDPAY and see what kind of security they offer you as a buyer or seller - Do they cover you if you send your item and you were paid with fraudulent funds ( stolen credit cards pay for millions of items everyday ), are you covered if you buy something from a fraudulant seller who never really sends you anything you paid for? Does bidpay protect your financial information so the seller never sees it?

Those are a couple things you want to know when deciding what payment methods to accept or pay with ...

[Joy]

I notice Bidpay mentions the below in order to setup so you can receive funds:

Bank Account Information:

Approved transactions will be deposited by ACH into your bank account.
Only USA bank accounts may be used by BidPay Sellers.
Please ensure all bank account information provided is accurate.

Does anyone know what it means by APPROVED transactions??

[BrettW]

I notice Bidpay mentions the below in order to setup so you can receive funds:

Bank Account Information:

Approved transactions will be deposited by ACH into your bank account.
Only USA bank accounts may be used by BidPay Sellers.
Please ensure all bank account information provided is accurate.

Does anyone know what it means by APPROVED transactions??

it means transactions that are approved fully between the buyer and seller (fully legit completed transactions)

[Joy]

it means transactions that are approved fully between the buyer and seller (fully legit completed transactions)

meaning that they contact the buyer/seller and have them both acknowledge receipt and cost of the product before they release the funds to you??

(sorry im slow so i have to repeat it to myself in other words to see if im understanding correctly..)

[BrettW]

pretty much yea


but that doesnt gaurntee anything due to the nature of ACH debits and credits the buyer and/or seller have 30 days to dispute the transaction and get there funds back(a fact that the funds ARE GAURNTEED TO BE REFUNDED doesnt help), which is why i dont trust paypal or bidpay

because its so easy for an account to be debited they have to make it equally as easy to reverse such transactions so per customer request an ach can be reversed 100% for certian, i know this i have worked in claims for a major bank (i have since been promoted to a different department)

[pixielee]

I dont know about bidpay, but PayPal will protect the seller from reversed bank account charges, and chargebacks on a creditcard payment ( buyers have 180 days with most credit cards to dispute a transaction ) .... To get PayPal seller protection, all you do is make sure the transaction says Seller Protection Eligible, Ship ONLY to the confirmed address provided in the transaction details page, and provide tracking so we can see it was delivered. If the item is over 250.00 it needs a signature ... very simple ...

I would assume bidpay offers some type of protection to make the transaction "approved" as well ...

The key is for anything you sign up for anything is to throughly read the entire terms and conditions top to bottom

~ pixie

[BrettW]

I dont know about bidpay, but PayPal will protect the seller from reversed bank account charges, and chargebacks on a creditcard payment ( buyers have 180 days with most credit cards to dispute a transaction ) .... To get PayPal seller protection, all you do is make sure the transaction says Seller Protection Eligible, Ship ONLY to the confirmed address provided in the transaction details page, and provide tracking so we can see it was delivered. If the item is over 250.00 it needs a signature ... very simple ...

I would assume bidpay offers some type of protection to make the transaction "approved" as well ...

The key is for anything you sign up for anything is to throughly read the entire terms and conditions top to bottom

~ pixie

that refers to check and credit card transactions, but theres nothing even paypal can do to prevent ach reversals, NACHA governs thoes

[YPG]

I was confused but then very pleased with the way PayPal handled it when they had locked My account during verification because I had some conflicting info on there. Called up, told them a few things for verification and was good to go. The rep was very pleasant and helpful.

[pixielee]

that refers to check and credit card transactions, but theres nothing even paypal can do to prevent ach reversals, NACHA governs thoes


you are correct, however if the seller has followed the seller protection policy, then the seller will not have the funds reversed from their account. The buyer is responsible for funding the money back to PayPal.

[d4v3m4n]

dont use either

[r0fl]

paypalsucks.com

I've used paypal for about 7 years, the past month i started selling quite a bit on ebay. they've locked my account 4 separate times in 2 weeks. everytime they want more information. after i get my account out of lockdown i'm clearing out my funds and telling them to **** off

[ofgorsi]

paypalsucks.com

I've used paypal for about 7 years, the past month i started selling quite a bit on ebay. they've locked my account 4 separate times in 2 weeks. everytime they want more information. after i get my account out of lockdown i'm clearing out my funds and telling them to **** off

Same thing happening to me. I am tempted to saying bye but everyone uses it.

http://PayPalSucks.com/images/logo.gif

[thesonofgray]

paypalsucks.com

I've used paypal for about 7 years, the past month i started selling quite a bit on ebay. they've locked my account 4 separate times in 2 weeks. everytime they want more information. after i get my account out of lockdown i'm clearing out my funds and telling them to **** off

Would you prefer them to want less info?

[Joy]

paypalsucks.com

I've used paypal for about 7 years, the past month i started selling quite a bit on ebay. they've locked my account 4 separate times in 2 weeks. everytime they want more information. after i get my account out of lockdown i'm clearing out my funds and telling them to **** off

interesting site...and similar thing happend to one of the last times i used paypal and shortly after someone bought something from me using a stolen credit card and the chargedback my acct and since i NEVER kept money in that paypal acct for various reasons..it left that acct negative and i didnt restore it to value either..i left it as it. gotta be kiddn me..them telln me i had to restore to positive after i basically gave away my item..ha! yea rt...exactly y i dont use them anymore..even if i needed to sell something and the buyer was out of state and didnt agree to any other payment options i'd rather keep mine..at least i wouldnt b losing out on anything

[thesonofgray]

paypalsucks.com

interesting site...and similar thing happend to one of the last times i used paypal and shortly after someone bought something from me using a stolen credit card and the chargedback my acct and since i NEVER kept money in that paypal acct for various reasons..it left that acct negative and i didnt restore it to value either..i left it as it. gotta be kiddn me..them telln me i had to restore to positive after i basically gave away my item..ha! yea rt...exactly y i dont use them anymore..even if i needed to sell something and the buyer was out of state and didnt agree to any other payment options i'd rather keep mine..at least i wouldnt b losing out on anything

I would take everything you read on that site with a grain of salt.

First, I have a strong suspicion that the owner of that site is affiliated (or was previously affiliated) with a PayPal competitor (although he says otherwise; the owner's name isn't that common and if you Google the entire and uninterrupted name, you find some interesting references to [now defunct] credit card processors).

Second, you can take ANY major company like eBay/PayPal that has millions of customers, make a site for people to complain, and watch the b*tching commence. I'm not saying PayPal is some holy company or anything, I'm just saying that the "horror stories" found on sites like those are the exception, not the norm - but are presented as the norm.

Third, the ridiculous amount of ads on the site really helps to discredit it. I understand that running a site costs money, but c'mon, that's just too much.

Anyways, happy interneting. :wavey:

[pixielee]

mailing the item with a tracking number to the confirmed address provided keeps all that from happening ... why would anyone place an item in the mail without insurance and tracking anyways - as the seller you are responsible - paypal is simply processing a payment for you and they offer protection with very simple guidelines - as does bidpay, fraudersters mail out stolen checks everyday to pay for items too, those checks when reported get reversed from sellers bank accounts - and there is no protection - the money is just gone - i talk to people all the time who its happened to -

and as for being asked to verify you really have what you are selling, unfortunately internet fraud is HIGH - 1000s of people everyday give out their ebay and paypal account information by responding to spoof emails, those accounts are used to list fraudulent items, and to get the money from them - most times the real account owners have no idea their accounts have been used - sometimes inadvertently an account may get limited twice but generally then its pretty easy to resolve -

nothing is 100% - again its just really important to throughly read all the terms and conditions of any service you use - including talking to the bank about depositing checks and money orders - use a little common sense and also remember dont ship things to fraudulent countries ( nigeria and south africa are real big right now - the phillipines can be too )

[intlschizo]

BIDPAY! PayPal is the worst thing out there. I've been on eBay for going on eight years, and every time I sell something more than $100, I hold my breath! PayPal is notorious for doing everything they can to not have to hold to their Seller "Protection" Policy. I only use PayPal because eBay buyers don't trust anything else. :td: In all the years I've had my account, I've lost about $3,000 to crooks. And PayPal doesn't do a damn thing about it. They treat YOU like the criminal. I can't tell you how many times I've had to submit the same info OVER AND OVER AND OVER because PayPal froze my account for "suspicious" activity (read: you sold a $70 trinket).

Here's a good one: my last transaction w/PayPal, I sold a computer for $600. Buyer decides he doesn't like it, so he files w/PayPal and claims he never got it, even though he signed for it. When that didn't work, he filed a false chargeback w/his credit card company. Well, I should be okay, right? WRONG! His CC company gave him $250 (for what, I have no idea) and guess whose account it came out of? That's right, MINE! So even though I had online tracking proof (plus insurance) I still lost $240. Now anytime one dime hits my PayPal account, I empty that sucker out!

[pixielee]

but i bet you didnt ship to the confirmed address ... or one wasnt provided and you shipped anyways

do you know how many computers/electronics are "bought" everyday with stolen financials off eBay, craigslist, and all the other places?? Stolen financials that were gotten because people reply to spoof "phishing" emails everyday ... 1000's and 1000s

Do you know how many of those "buyers" asks the seller to ship to some foreign country and say things like - its for my friends bday or wedding or some crazy story - and the seller ships it there - 99%

Do you know how many sellers have never even read the terms and conditions of the service they signed up for - even though every single person checks that they read it at sign up ??? less that 1% !!!

i assure you there are 3 ( 3 1/2 ) simple steps to seller protection -

1 - The transaction details page list the transaction as Seller Protection Eligible
2 - ship to a confirmed address
3 - provide tracking
3 1/2 - and inc. a signature confirmation for sales over 250.00 ( not insurance, that doesnt prove an item was delivered anywhere )

- - If you do those things you are protected - You can't even lose a chargeback case with the credit card, because the "confirmed" address is the address that matches the credit card billing address -

If you did all that, and still were held responsible - send me a private message with you PP email address and i will check into it for you ...

and BidPay is stopping service soon .. early 2008 i believe i just read last week -

and PS .... i assure you PP does not investigiate "only" because you sold a 70.00 trinket - -

[audiofx81]

I agree paypal is terrible, doesn't give a crap about those getting payments (sellers), who pay their fees (us sellers). I lost a dispute on a verizon phone i sold a while back, Guy gets the phone and leaves good feedback. About a month later disputes it saying i sent him a broken phone. After a month of my balance being negative since paypal sticks their paws in I lose the case. I was furious! I actually called sat on hold for 2 hours, yes 2 hours to get a paypal rep. They stated he sent in proof the phone was defective. I asked 2 questions, 1) What type of proof this was 2) Would this proof show i sent it broken. They answered the proof is only between paypal and the buyer, HAHAHAH. Imagine that, PayPal world no need to disclose to all parties. Any how end of the rant, just saying be careful they don't give a crap about you.

PS: I did get the phone back, it was damaged along with water damage inside. So i ended up with a broken phone back and no cash.

[thesonofgray]

If you did all that, and still were held responsible - send me a private message with you PP email address and i will check into it for you ...

That's really nice of you alyxx. :tu:

[annieb727]

At this point, Paypal is probably your only option - Bidpay will no longer be doing business in 2008. I was surprised to see it came back - I used it a long time ago, and it went out of business several years ago...then a few months ago I saw it was active again. Interesting...but I wouldn't do business with Bidpay - they can't seem to make up their mind.

[intlschizo]

but i bet you didnt ship to the confirmed address

WRONG.

or one wasnt provided and you shipped anyways

WRONG.

If you did all that, and still were held responsible - send me a private message with you PP email address and i will check into it for you ...

Not on your life. Why would I trust a PayPal employee?

and PS .... i assure you PP does not investigiate "only" because you sold a 70.00 trinket - -

WRONG.

*edit* Ah, just remembered another PayPal goodie. Buyer buys my iPod, claims it was "not as described". Sent me back a DECK OF CARDS. PayPal sides with him because the tracking number "proves" he sent my iPod back. Case closed! I even tried to file a police report, but where I was living at the time, the police wouldn't let me even file an incident report. That's when I started doing the ATM dash - money hits my PayPal account, money immediately comes out of it.

[pixielee]

[QUOTE=intlschizo;1639837]WRONG.
Not on your life. Why would I trust a PayPal employee?


- Your absolutely right - Never trust people who offer to help you -

- i would not have helped you anyways - i just really find it amusing to offer people help, then in the end i can go HAHA i was only kidding -- geesh idiot, stay negative and go to collections then ...

I am curious about your police report though .. they wouldnt allow you to file a report for stolen property?? When your police department refused to file a stolen property report for you, did you attempt to contact buyers local police department?? ( Ive personally filed one one against a buyer and know its very much possible - see even employees have trouble with buyers - i got my items returned that the person had already hocked in a pawn shop )

You should also file a report that you have been a victem of internet fraud ... Id give you the link but i am just a lowly PayPal employee who wouldnt dream of really helping you ... so look it up yourself -

Perhaps you should call Judge Judy, or just consider taking the buyer to small claims court

My Edit :
I couldnt help but edit and come back to this "and PS .... i assure you PP does not investigiate "only" because you sold a 70.00 trinket - - WRONG"

This one i am 100% sure on - it was not ONLY becuase you sold one little 70,00 item you consider a "trinket" - what "trinket" cost 70.00?? IPODs are certainly not trinkets, nor cell phones ... both of which you have mentioned selling and are most likely the cause of being investigated -

[pixielee]

PS ........ this thread has nothing to do with SPRINT and seems to be getting a little snippy ... i think it should be closed!

[intlschizo]

Id give you the link but i am just a lowly PayPal employee who wouldnt dream of really helping you

You're right. You ARE a lowly PayPal employee basically telling me "Yeah, this is what you did, even though I have no effing idea what I'm talking about because I know nothing about your case." So bugger off.

[pixielee]

laughs ...*pats your head* .. its ok little boy .. we all believe now that you followed all the rules and mean old PayPal just took your money for the fun of it ..** nods nods ** yup ... with all the bitter, defensive behavior, we just know you are the one who is right

[intlschizo]

That's right, I am. And I'm a female.

*takes your hand and breaks your wrist*

[legendz411]

For what it is worth, I have only used Paypal to pay for items, and I have never had a problem with it.

I use Verified Credit Card Paypal and every transaction I have done has been 100% flawless. Granted, my Visa debit/credit card probably offers MORE protection then Paypal, but I have also, very rarely dealt with fraudulent sellers. It always seems to be the buyers that are more fraudulent.

Honestly, it isn't Paypals fault that they may or may not suck. It is the risk you run when you play with eBay. Particularly as a seller.

That said, I recently closed down my Paypal account because of all the negative rep on the web. I became genuinely afraid of losing my personal information, (or money) to someone else. Despite never having a problem and despite my mother, (who has been an eBay buyer/seller for 8+ years) never having an issue.


Just saying, all anyone ever posts is the negative stuff. It isn't ALL bad, but I will concede that Sellers have it WAY worse. Best advice I can offer is *Always ship confirmed + Signature (where applicable), *Always ship insured if your playing with a large ticket item/sum of money, *Never ship outside USA, (even across the pond)

[intlschizo]

Ah, you just reminded me of another PayPal story...the guy in Hawaii who filed a complaint three days after I shipped his package. I had no idea how long it took to ship to Hawaii, but apparently he did. The package was in transit, but didn't reach there until AFTER PayPal ruled in his favor. I appealed it, won, and PayPal was like "Oh, there's no money in his account...but as soon as he brings his account to zero, we'll refund you!" Which, of course, he never did.

As a buyer, I totally understand why buyers prefer to only use PayPal. As a seller, I hold my breath every time and pray I have an honest buyer - which, for the most part, I have.

[legendz411]

Ah, you just reminded me of another PayPal story...the guy in Hawaii who filed a complaint three days after I shipped his package. I had no idea how long it took to ship to Hawaii, but apparently he did. The package was in transit, but didn't reach there until AFTER PayPal ruled in his favor. I appealed it, won, and PayPal was like "Oh, there's no money in his account...but as soon as he brings his account to zero, we'll refund you!" Which, of course, he never did.

As a buyer, I totally understand why buyers prefer to only use PayPal. As a seller, I hold my breath every time and pray I have an honest buyer - which, for the most part, I have.
exactly.

More often then not, if you have an honest buyer you are 100% safe using Paypal. They may or may not suck with fraud claims, but those should not happen to often if you are a conscientious seller.

No matter what system you use, if the buyer is willing to cheat the system, he will succeed long before the system can rectify it. Paypal, I have to believe, tries their best to prevent and solve issues of fraud.
I can see where all the hate comes from in Paypal, but honestly, don't leave large sums of money tied directly into the account and most of your problems will be solved. Just transfer the money to your bank asap to prevent fraud if you are truly worried.

[jillianbee]

I have never used Bidpay, but I have one of those Paypal horror stories. GRRR! My husband sold 3 wii's that we had purchased at Target. He shipped them and had received positive feedback from the buyers however paypal FROZE his account with $1000+ in it! I was FUMING. It was hell to go through to get it unfrozen. He had to prove his identify and give them his SSN and a bunch of other info! I couldn't believe it. They also froze both of our ebay accounts in the process and I can't get mine back. :(

[legendz411]

I have never used Bidpay, but I have one of those Paypal horror stories. GRRR! My husband sold 3 wii's that we had purchased at Target. He shipped them and had received positive feedback from the buyers however paypal FROZE his account with $1000+ in it! I was FUMING. It was hell to go through to get it unfrozen. He had to prove his identify and give them his SSN and a bunch of other info! I couldn't believe it. They also froze both of our ebay accounts in the process and I can't get mine back. :(
To be perfectly fair, identification fraud always spikes dramtically high during the holidays. They seems to have a pretty good reason to freeze the acct. on the suspicision that it is having fraudulant transactiosn run on it.

[jillianbee]

To be perfectly fair, identification fraud always spikes dramtically high during the holidays. They seems to have a pretty good reason to freeze the acct. on the suspicision that it is having fraudulant transactiosn run on it.

You're right, but this was during the summer. I guess they probably have problems with people selling Wii's that don't really exist, with the high demand and all, but there still was no reason for them to freeze his account with the money in it.

[rdwing]

Exactly...I've been chargeback'd against by a user who didn't real a full auction,

[ofgorsi]

Since bidpay died... you have no other choice than paypal :D

[parrott84]

I have never had problems with Paypal...other than the fee's. The cost a little to much in my opinion, but that's what everyone does. If you limit yourself and dont take Paypal then you really limit your market. Anyway, that's my thoughts on it.