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PayPal AUP Stories
Some stories of PayPal users that lost money in terms of the Acceptable Use Policy: “Payment to: Paypal; PayPal’s damages caused by Acceptable Use Policy violation.”
Chris Moneymaker
$12,228.55 USD
“So PayPal froze my account last year and said I could access my money in 180 days. Well they straight up stole the money. Money out of my account.”
“Somebody has to stand up to these guys,” Moneymaker said. “I’m going to continue to use my status and my social media channels to expose these immoral and illegal practices and ask others to join my lawsuit against PayPal.”
Source: pokernewsdaily.com
Story by “ROLA”
$19,947.03 USD
“I have had an awful experience with PayPal that cost me $20,000 USD. I would like to share my story to spread awareness and to connect with any other PayPal users that may have had a similarly awful experience.”
On 31 July 2020 a notification arrived stating that the account had been permanently closed and that the funds, $19,947.03 USD, would be placed on a 180-day hold. On 16 February 2021 a message was sent to PayPal noting that the hold had passed 180 days. On 29 March 2021 PayPal replied that the User Agreement provides for damages of up to $2,500 USD per violation, and that the balance of $19,947.03 had been removed from the account permanently.
“I have received the same script over and over again. Not one employee at PayPal was prepared to give me answers to my questions or elaborate on what exactly they claim I violated.”
Source: community Discord server
Story by “Sam”
$21,000
“I have waited 180 days after they locked my account and after 180 days I sent a message to them to know what happens and how to get my money back. They never sent me any email about it and they never sent me an email about how to retrieve my money as they should have. They withdrew $21,000 from my account.”
Source: community Discord server
Story by “Tamisha”
Over $3,000
“It’s time to get our money back. PayPal has taken over 3000 from my account and I am a single Mom. I had money put in my PayPal yesterday and then this morning it’s gone when I woke up.”
Source: community Discord server
Story by “u/shivashanti”
$18,000 USD held, $16,000 recovered
An adult products website had held a PayPal account since 2001. In 2019 the account was limited pending a document review, and $18,000 accrued over two weeks was frozen for 180 days under the AUP. A Better Business Bureau complaint was answered with the assertion that the funds would be released after 180 days, and the BBB closed the complaint on that basis.
“Fast forward 180 days. I log into my account. Shows a balance of zero. It looks like on day 179 of the waiting period PayPal deducted the full $18,000 amount as damages. The memo line literally says assessed damages against PayPal.”
The route taken was arbitration through a mediation service, which took a 20 percent share. PayPal’s first offer was $600, then $1,900. The account holder argued that PayPal’s own written statements that the funds would be released after 180 days were evidence, and eventually settled at $16,000.
“The moral of the story: file with the Better Business Bureau. Make sure to document everything, take screenshots. When they assert that they will return your funds, use that later as evidence in case they seize your money.”
Source: reddit.com
Story by “Jenifer”
$40,000 USD
“After my account was frozen, PayPal has taken the entire money frozen in my account. No communication and no emails about the money. When I enquired I got an auto-generated email, no explanation given. The amount is gone.”
Source: g2.com discussion
And more users report the same thing
The community kept a running list of the amounts members reported losing in the same way. The entries below are the handles and amounts as they were posted.
