Pat, this also happened to me some time ago. When you finally get through to PayPal, ask them to contact the 3rd-party watchdog they employ. They have been guilty of arbitrarily put a hold on accounts without contacting the cardholder. When it happened to me it took more than an hour on the phone to get it straightened out. In my case, they put a hold on my card because I had not used it in several months.
What was very frustrating was that PayPal (at the time it happened to me) would not permit the watchdog company to contact cardholders outside of the USA if there was any reason for an account hold.
What was very frustrating was that PayPal (at the time it happened to me) would not permit the watchdog company to contact cardholders outside of the USA if there was any reason for an account hold.
It happens to me every 2 months. Very frustrating and at times rather embarrassing because it looks like I'm over-extended on my CC.
Here is the problem. The card is run for PayPal by a 3rd party watchdog as Bill stated above. Every so often the card will be flagged for suspicious charges. If you were located in the U.S. you would get a phone-call where they would review your past few transactions and all would be fine. This is where the glitch comes in...
They WILL NOT phone Canadian card holders...instead they just suspend your card until you call them.
Here is the phone number you have to call to have it reset:
1-712-328-3852
I have taken to putting this number in my cell phone so I can have it reset wherever I may be at a particular time.
Here is the problem. The card is run for PayPal by a 3rd party watchdog as Bill stated above. Every so often the card will be flagged for suspicious charges. If you were located in the U.S. you would get a phone-call where they would review your past few transactions and all would be fine. This is where the glitch comes in...
They WILL NOT phone Canadian card holders...instead they just suspend your card until you call them.
Here is the phone number you have to call to have it reset:
1-712-328-3852
I have taken to putting this number in my cell phone so I can have it reset wherever I may be at a particular time.
hehehe
From this post I'm beginning to think that they ARE picking on me. Seriously...it happens every two months!
From this post I'm beginning to think that they ARE picking on me. Seriously...it happens every two months!
PayPal can not reset the card. They will tell you multiple times that they have done so but it just won't work. You HAVE to call the number I provided above.
Although she said they did try to call me (I'm seldom home in the afternoons)They can't reset the card, only PayPal can do so.
The card has already been reset multiple times. It doesn't need to be reset they need to remove the hold. If they stated that they tried to call you (they didn't, they only do that for U.S. residents) then obviously they had flagged it for suspicious behavior and put a hold on it.
Did she go over your recent purchases with you? If so, then I would be willing to bet that they have removed the hold and you will be able to use it just fine now.
The card has already been reset multiple times. It doesn't need to be reset they need to remove the hold. If they stated that they tried to call you (they didn't, they only do that for U.S. residents) then obviously they had flagged it for suspicious behavior and put a hold on it.
Did she go over your recent purchases with you? If so, then I would be willing to bet that they have removed the hold and you will be able to use it just fine now.
They called me once here at home. It was about 6 months ago maybe. I freaked!!!! but they just wanted to make sure the purchases made were mine. They were, hold released and all was fine.
When you find doing what's right hard to do - you've got a problem.
When you find doing what's right hard to do - you've got a problem.
Pat, like many customer service dept.s, PayPal has their share that will say just about anything trusting you don't know any better. When they get caught they simply say that it was not their misunderstanding or that it is the first time it has come up.
Xena, the card is convenient for those of us that prefer to use it to pay our eBay fees in USD as it means we don't lose on exchange and we can take advantage of the cash-back program that they have (even if they find a way to penalize Canadians who use it in this way). I also found it handy on a recent trip to the USA - its accepted like any credit card even though it is properly a debit card.
Monique - no, they haven't singled you out. lol Seems to me that this situation was one of the very first "whines" I had on this board shortly after it opened. It was farther back than I thought but here's the thread:
http://forums.ebay.ca/thread.jspa?messageID=100036181&forumID=44#100036181
Xena, the card is convenient for those of us that prefer to use it to pay our eBay fees in USD as it means we don't lose on exchange and we can take advantage of the cash-back program that they have (even if they find a way to penalize Canadians who use it in this way). I also found it handy on a recent trip to the USA - its accepted like any credit card even though it is properly a debit card.
Monique - no, they haven't singled you out. lol Seems to me that this situation was one of the very first "whines" I had on this board shortly after it opened. It was farther back than I thought but here's the thread:
http://forums.ebay.ca/thread.jspa?messageID=100036181&forumID=44#100036181
You can choose to have your ebay fees billed in CAD or US dollars.
With a PayPal debit card you get 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Over the past year they started gouging Canadians by adding on a 1% transaction fee every time you use the card to pay for something in Canadian dollars. So now you only get .5% cashback on your purchases.
However, if you choose to be billed your ebay fees in U.S. dollars and you pay with your PayPal debit card rather than directly from your PayPal account, you will get 1.5% cashback on your ebay fees.
With a PayPal debit card you get 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Over the past year they started gouging Canadians by adding on a 1% transaction fee every time you use the card to pay for something in Canadian dollars. So now you only get .5% cashback on your purchases.
However, if you choose to be billed your ebay fees in U.S. dollars and you pay with your PayPal debit card rather than directly from your PayPal account, you will get 1.5% cashback on your ebay fees.
No, most of my selling accounts are paid in USD although I still have one in CAD for selling personal, non-business stuff.
To your second question, yes but the PayPal debit card withdraws from your USD balance (if available) and gives you 1.5% cashback. Why not use it and get a little extra back? I have always looked at it this way - if eBay and PayPal can nickel and dime us, its up to us to claw back those nickels and dimes wherever we can.
To your second question, yes but the PayPal debit card withdraws from your USD balance (if available) and gives you 1.5% cashback. Why not use it and get a little extra back? I have always looked at it this way - if eBay and PayPal can nickel and dime us, its up to us to claw back those nickels and dimes wherever we can.
I'm not certain Xena, but I think it has been discontinued for Canucks (I haven't checked lately). Those of us that have them were grandfathered and do get replacements but I was told some time ago they were not accepting applications from Canadians. If anyone knows differently, please post.
