Comments on: PayPal, A Customer Service Nightmare

By: Andy Polaine

Andy Polaine — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:02:34 +0000

No, I basically gave up on it. I use the credit card they won’t allow in their system for PayPal purchases anyway, I just don’t log-in to my PayPal account to make the payment, which goes to show how absurd it is.

Obviously that only works if the merchant is accepting PayPal payments by credit card though.

I really think the staff at PayPal are probably underpaid and under-trained minions. I don’t think it’s worth even calling frankly. I’ll be happy when Google give them a run for their money.

By: Nedly

Nedly — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:31:13 +0000

I’m having the exact same problem. I called their support line, and they give me a line about it being something to do with the CC company. So I contacted my credit card company, and they know nothing. Have you had any more luck since this post?

By: Andy Polaine

Andy Polaine — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:06:24 +0000

I don’t really worry about them confiscating my account. My issue was simply trying to add a valid credit card and that their customer service was absolutely terrible.

The thing is that, like many services, it’s not when things go well that tells you the quality of the company. It’s when things go wrong that you find that out.

Compare PayPal to a problem I was having with Go Daddy (also terrible customer support) and the way that Dreamhost, my webhost, handled it. Bear in mind that the problem I was having wasn’t even Dreamhost’s fault, but they were trying to help out:

“Well, if things don’t work out with Go Daddy, give me a rundown of what is going on (and what still isn’t working) and I’ll do my best to help
you get this resolved. I want to make sure you get the help that you
need - and I’ll do everything I can to make sure that you get it. After
all, that is what I’m here for, isn’t it?”

The personal response by someone who had bothered to read the previous exchanges makes all the difference.

By: Shanti Braford

Shanti Braford — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:46:24 +0000

I've had PayPal balances as high as $15k and never had a problem.

If concerned about them confiscating your account balance, a Merchant Account would surely be the best bet.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:36:00 +0000

Yes paypal makes the phone company lookk like a pleasant phone call. They are the worst of the worst, no worse cust service if you had to find it, unless maybe ebay. It’s a shame they dont allow survey companies to survey there service and make it public, im sure there’s shares would plumet the next day. Paypal + Ebay very scary, once you have a problem, your usually finished. I dont hate lots of thing, maybe Hitler, Tojo, Taliban and that’s it, but now i add PYPL customer service to the short list.