Anybody else have experiences like this. Paypals fraud system is giving me a hard time. Customer Service says they think it's because I'm in Puerto Rico making multiple purchases. Of course there is nothing they can do to override the system. Once again at the mercy of a dam computer. Technology is going to be the end of us. Book recommendation: In The Absence of the Sacred by Jerry Mander. GOOD LUCK ALL!!! We're going to need it!!! JUST GET ME OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS!!!!

Edited by ejcfree on 03/23/2011 08:05:25 MDT.

What exactly do you mean by "giving you a hard time"?? What is the Paypal system allowing / not allowing you to do?

Ben,
I should have been more specific. The post was made in frustration. I'm all calmed down now. I went out to the beach and thrashed around in the 6ft closeout waves for a bit. My payment options and amounts have been limited. After making a few purchases Paypal would only let me use an e-check (5 days to clear) to pay $75 for a pack on a deadline here. The two calls I made that evening resulted in the advice to try again later. This morning I tried, to no avail. I determined that I could make credit payments to anyone of $49 or less. So I come up with brilliant (well maybe not) idea I would just make two payments totaling $75. I made the first but was not permitted to complete the second. I was feeling pretty bad for the guy selling the Jam in a hurry, but I was forced to back out (though it looks like he's got more interest). I spoke to another Paypal person (actually in the USA) who blamed it on my being in Puerto Rico. I was really frustrated by the whole thing and I did lose my sense of humor briefly. Really, I've spent enough and have all I need to get out there this season. Well thats it, the whole story.
Take Care, Eric

Edited by ejcfree on 03/28/2011 18:47:51 MDT.

Eric:

That sucks. Probably Paypal at fault. But could it have been your credit card company (bank) that's the one blocking your subsequent charges? It's good when your bank looks out for you -- but sometimes, they can be a bit too "helpful".

OTOH, if it's Paypal that's discriminating against an entire US state or territory -- versus blocking suspicious individuals -- then maybe it's time to get a lawyer -- or the ACLU -- involved. Sounds like the makings of a class-action lawsuit.

Edited by ben2world on 03/23/2011 16:06:59 MDT.

I had someone hack into my Paypal account last year. They took out $500 and it took 6 months for Paypal do NOTHING! I would call on a weekly basis and would speak to numerous managers. No one dig a thing. I finally contacted B OF A and my money was restored and finally resolved. All the time that I was dealing with the two companies, I had the person who hacked me, threatening me with bodily harm, telling me that he/she knew where I live and would come and get me. Really that is true!...I chuckled knowing that this would not happen. Long story short. I am NOT a fan of Paypal at all. They suck!!!!!!!!!!

It isn't clear if the OP is from the continental US visiting Puerto Rico or resides permanently in Puerto Rico. If the former, did the OP inform their CC issuer that they would be traveling? Placing account freezes due to foreign transactions without prior notification is pretty standard practice. Since it sounds like the issue is with CC backed payments, and not e-check (sounds like bank account backed funds) the issue may be with the CC issuer.

The other reason I suspect it may not be Paypal is when I had my Paypal account hacked last year, Paypal Fraud caught it and they froze the entire account and I could not even log in until I called customer service - I cannot see why if a company suspected an account was compromised that they would still allow partial functionality like it seems is possible in the OP's case.

Edited by rmkrause on 03/26/2011 00:52:22 MDT.

I've got a little to add. First: Thanks for your sympathy Ben. Ken and Ryan sorry to hear of your troubles. Although I've not communicated with my credit card issuer over this particular issue I don't believe that they are contributing to these restrictions. My annual trips (sometimes six months) to Puerto Rico have extended over 20 years. At times in the past they have declined to accept charges after arriving in PR, but they respond instantly to a Customer Service call and then approve the transaction. They have also frozen the card when I hop in the truck and start to drive cross country, but again a phone call and I'm back in business. Also, the next day after the Paypal troubles, I made a credit purchase directly to an online merchant, so clearly no card issues. This is all Paypal. I am very disappointed in the ability of Paypal Customer Service to resolve the problem and to even inform me of what was going on. The representatives, although pleasant and sympathetic, were useless. If they did know what the issue was they would not tell me and they professed a total lack of power to do anything. The last fellow I spoke with (the most knowledgable and the only one here in the USA) had never heard of purchases restricted to under $50 and blamed it on "foreign transactions". I don't know if you all realize this but Puerto Rico is part of the USA, passports, military service, welfare etc. Sure, fraud is rampant and I appreciate being protected, but there needs to be a way to resolve these types of difficulties.
Take Care, Eric

PS Ben, As to a lawsuit. I don't have the wear with all to pursue something of this nature. If you know an interested lawyer or want to run with it yourself, I'll make a deal with you. 30% of the first million and 60% after that. ; )

Edited by ejcfree on 03/28/2011 18:57:03 MDT.

Nice photo. It looks similar to a Scots Pine Marten?

Hope you get sorted out btw.

Thanks Mike,
I've been told that it is a pine marten. The picture is from the low country of Grand Teton NP. I was privileged to watch a pair of siblings play in my vicinity for 15 minutes. They were super cute, making guttural noises and rolling all over each other. Quick moving and hard to photograph. Here's another.

Edited by ejcfree on 03/26/2011 14:40:03 MDT.