Katrina Relief Fund account frozen by PayPal - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 5th Sep 2005, 01:47

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2005/09...gawful_paypal/

RTT · 5th Sep 2005, 04:20

The amount of bad publicity PayPal are getting over this is amazing

Edit: forums.somethingawful.com says PayPal will be refunding all of the donations. Hah.

Firehed · 5th Sep 2005, 04:44

I stopped using paypal as often as I could after they stole several thousand dollars from me. I do truly hope this hits mainstream media (well, more mainstream than sites with titles containing "News for nerds"), as they'd be up a creek.

Who_me_33 · 5th Sep 2005, 05:21

That is just sickening, an individual trying to raise money for the reliefe efforts, and being screwed by paypal. Hopefully some one will pitch in with a credit card system, and he can use that.

DougEdey · 5th Sep 2005, 09:14

Hopefully the people that were running his (now soggy) online system will come forward and help.

I'm sure the forum members would be happy to help out.

webbyman · 5th Sep 2005, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firehed

I stopped using paypal as often as I could after they stole several thousand dollars from me. I do truly hope this hits mainstream media (well, more mainstream than sites with titles containing "News for nerds"), as they'd be up a creek.

what happened?

Master Ninja · 6th Sep 2005, 16:16

I am a goon, and the horror stories that SA has gone through with Paypal are nothing short of incredible. It's a fine system as long as nothing goes wrong, but all it takes is ONE person to complain of suspicious activity and you can consider your money gone, even if the charges are unfounded. SA has over 50,000 members, most of which are regularly active, so with that volume it doesn't take long for complaints to appear.

Seriously, I think Lowtax has put up with 10000x more crap than the average forum administrator simply because of the nature of the community. While it's funny to see how people feel they are entitled to do whatever they want without consequence over the Internet, it's sad to think that he spends an ungodly amount of time sifting through e-mails that wish death upon him and his wife/daughter.

Tim S · 6th Sep 2005, 16:27

Lowtax rocks, seriously. Much respect for what he's done at SA.

devenfore · 7th Sep 2005, 01:06

I had problems with PayPal also. About a year or two ago, they decided to 'randomly' verify me. I had to FAX (they wouldn't take an email) my Drivers License, Birth Certificate, Bank Statements, and more! I also had to spend hours on the phone talking to their stupid people to get my account back... Note that in this case there WASN'T any reports of fraud or anything, just a "random check". Anyone using PayPal should consider simply getting a Merchant account... Or at least using some other service...

That being said, I still use PayPal rarely and haven't had issues since.

Also, I feel bad for SA. Man, the Halloween Special Flash still has a place in my heart.

sui_winbolo · 7th Sep 2005, 01:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by devenfore

I had problems with PayPal also. About a year or two ago, they decided to 'randomly' verify me. I had to FAX (they wouldn't take an email) my Drivers License, Birth Certificate, Bank Statements, and more! I also had to spend hours on the phone talking to their stupid people to get my account back... Note that in this case there WASN'T any reports of fraud or anything, just a "random check". Anyone using PayPal should consider simply getting a Merchant account... Or at least using some other service...

That being said, I still use PayPal rarely and haven't had issues since.

Also, I feel bad for SA. Man, the Halloween Special Flash still has a place in my heart.

UH, you sure it was PayPal? That sounds exactly like the Paypal Scam that's going around.

http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthrea...5&page=1&pp=20

Nexxo · 7th Sep 2005, 13:48

No, this is indeed how Paypal operates... It's very different from how a scam works. Communication takes place through the usual Paypal site that you log into, rather than via a link or in response to an e-mail sent to you.

Tim S · 7th Sep 2005, 13:59

PayPal just assumes that all of its customers are thieving scum until they prove themselves otherwise. Disgusting business practice in my opinion.

sui_winbolo · 7th Sep 2005, 23:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexxo

No, this is indeed how Paypal operates... It's very different from how a scam works. Communication takes place through the usual Paypal site that you log into, rather than via a link or in response to an e-mail sent to you.

Oh I see, it sounded like he got something like an email.

5th Sep 2005, 01:47	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Katrina Relief Fund account frozen by PayPal http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2005/09...gawful_paypal/ __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

5th Sep 2005, 04:20	#2
RTT bwarp Moderator Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Berkshire Posts: 12,981	The amount of bad publicity PayPal are getting over this is amazing Edit: forums.somethingawful.com says PayPal will be refunding all of the donations. Hah. __________________ This post is non-negotiable. All terms and conditions apply. Arguing on the internet is like competing in the special Olympics. Even if you win you're still a retard.

5th Sep 2005, 04:44	#3
Firehed Why not? I own a domain to match. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An hour north of Boston Posts: 12,576	I stopped using paypal as often as I could after they stole several thousand dollars from me. I do truly hope this hits mainstream media (well, more mainstream than sites with titles containing "News for nerds"), as they'd be up a creek. __________________ hire me @ eric-stern.com - web developer and php ninja pics @ my smugmug :: Twitter @firehed :: blog @ firehed.net 40D\|580EXII\|285HV\|AB800\|70-200f/4LIS\|17-50f/2.8\|150f/2.8Macro\|50f/1.8 MacPro @ 8x2.8GHz, 10GB FBDDR2, 3TB HD :: MBP @ 2x2.2GHz, 4GB DDR2, 320GB HD

5th Sep 2005, 05:21	#4
Who_me_33 Supermodder Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 422	That is just sickening, an individual trying to raise money for the reliefe efforts, and being screwed by paypal. Hopefully some one will pitch in with a credit card system, and he can use that. __________________ Speeding doesnt kill people, quickly slowing down does (top gear) The next sentence is true. the previous sentence is false.

6th Sep 2005, 16:27	#8
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Lowtax rocks, seriously. Much respect for what he's done at SA. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

5th Sep 2005, 09:14	#5
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	Hopefully the people that were running his (now soggy) online system will come forward and help. I'm sure the forum members would be happy to help out.

6th Sep 2005, 16:16	#7
Master Ninja Multimodder Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 182	I am a goon, and the horror stories that SA has gone through with Paypal are nothing short of incredible. It's a fine system as long as nothing goes wrong, but all it takes is ONE person to complain of suspicious activity and you can consider your money gone, even if the charges are unfounded. SA has over 50,000 members, most of which are regularly active, so with that volume it doesn't take long for complaints to appear. Seriously, I think Lowtax has put up with 10000x more crap than the average forum administrator simply because of the nature of the community. While it's funny to see how people feel they are entitled to do whatever they want without consequence over the Internet, it's sad to think that he spends an ungodly amount of time sifting through e-mails that wish death upon him and his wife/daughter.

7th Sep 2005, 01:06	#9
devenfore LANCandy Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: USA Posts: 284	I had problems with PayPal also. About a year or two ago, they decided to 'randomly' verify me. I had to FAX (they wouldn't take an email) my Drivers License, Birth Certificate, Bank Statements, and more! I also had to spend hours on the phone talking to their stupid people to get my account back... Note that in this case there WASN'T any reports of fraud or anything, just a "random check". Anyone using PayPal should consider simply getting a Merchant account... Or at least using some other service... That being said, I still use PayPal rarely and haven't had issues since. Also, I feel bad for SA. Man, the Halloween Special Flash still has a place in my heart.

7th Sep 2005, 13:48	#11
Nexxo ...like a geek! Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 15,088	No, this is indeed how Paypal operates... It's very different from how a scam works. Communication takes place through the usual Paypal site that you log into, rather than via a link or in response to an e-mail sent to you. __________________ "You actually hope to achieve your ideals, I just use mine as an excuse to hate everything" --specofdust "There is no Real Life, only Away From Keyboard" --gpw111 "...my wife says I can't have any trolls, cause they argue with the dog and eat the fish" --KayinBlack

7th Sep 2005, 13:59	#12
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	PayPal just assumes that all of its customers are thieving scum until they prove themselves otherwise. Disgusting business practice in my opinion. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)