Oh, how I hate PayPal, let me count the ways. . .

[wingsandsword]

So, I decided earlier tonight to renew my Community Supporter Account. It had been lapsed for years, but I thought I'd get a Copper Subscription for a few months. A tiny chunk of extra money in my paycheck from some overtime hours meant I had a little left over money to spend on something nice. I thought I'd give some to ENWorld since I spend a fair amount of time on here anyway.

I go to pay, and the only way I can apparently pay is PayPal.

*sigh* I was afraid of that. PayPal never goes well. I don't remember the last time I used PayPal and it didn't go wrong.

So, I try to pay. I pay my $9.99 for a 4 month subscription. PayPal says the payment worked. I check my bank account online, there is a pending transaction for $9.99. I go and immediately start using the search feature.

While browsing around, ENWorld suddenly tells me I can't use Search anymore. I look up and see my CSA has been deactivated.

I check my e-mail: Nothing.

On a hunch, I check my Spam folder. GMail marked two e-mails from PayPal as spam.

Apparently my account has been decided to be subject to "random" extra security checks. The same checks that happened last time I used PayPal, the reason I hate to pay for anything with PayPal, and the reason I don't shop on eBay anymore (since eBay basically insists everything be paid for through them).

They want me to re-verify my bank account numbers with them. . .on an account that I haven't used in quite some time, but was still on my account. The account is still open, but I haven't used it for banking in some time. Since I use PayPal once every few years, it's not exactly the first place I update things when I move or change any information. I paid for the CSA with a debit card on another account and another bank I added when I logged in tonight. So, I log into my old bank online and get their routing number and account number straight from the bank. . .and PayPal says it's not valid. Grrrr.

The last time something like this happened was two years ago. I was in Military Intelligence school for AIT in the Army at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. I was buying some gaming miniatures on eBay to have shipped back to my home for when I got back. Apparently PayPal decided I would need extra verification for this transaction too, and at that time they got downright invasive about demanding proof of residence at where I was shipping the merchandise to, an explanation of why I was ordering from a computer with an IP address on the other side of the country, and demanded to speak to me on a landline phone that they would call me on and ask me authentication questions over the phone. The eBay seller turned out to be a FLGS with a brick & mortar store and a conventional merchant account, so I called them and paid over the phone. It took me over two months to get PayPal to unlock my account from that "random" check. Left me with a very bad taste in my mouth for them.

I don't remember the last time I had a good transaction using PayPal. I really, really wish ENWorld had a non-suck payment processor they could use, because right now they are the reason I don't have a CSA.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

You have given me renewed incentive to never ever use PayPal again. I last used them many many years ago when I was a regular eBay'er completing my RPG collections.

It all worked well back then, but since then the litany of bad experiences others have with PayPal just sours my desire to use them.

My hope it that EN World makes an iPad app frontend that allows in-app purchasing for memberships. My iTunes account will be wide open.

 

[wingsandsword]

Maybe ENWorld could come up with a partnership with a FLGS or two that have actual merchant accounts.

I would think that there would have to be a FLGS or two out there that would love to partner up with ENWorld for the free advertising of being able to sell subscriptions.

Perhaps they could find some workaround that lets those stores sell subscriptions for ENWorld to those who don't want to use PayPal. Maybe it would be a little like those prepaid subscription cards you can buy for various MMOs, where you are buying a physical token item that lets you have an online perk for a third-party website.

 

[Fast Learner]

For what it's worth, I use PayPal regularly and haven't had a single bad experience in years.

 

[catsclaw227]

I use paypal just about every day for things like amazon, ebay, literally all my online shopping.

I've never had a problem once. Now, this might be because I have had a paypal business account for about 8 years. I also have a Paypal debit card that I use for all "credit card" purchases because it simply debits my bank account if the funds aren't in paypal.

Not one problem in 8 years.

 

[Fast Learner]

I suspect it's like picking a new bank: if you tell you're workmates and friends "I'm thinking of switching to Bank A", a number of them will tell you that they had a horrible experience and there's no way you should go there. Tell them you're going with Bank B and you'll get similar horror stories from different people, and same with Bank C, etc.

When someone screws up with your money they very quickly become the devil, and every single financial institution screws up with some peoples' money sometimes. There's no one who consistently does a perfect job, unfortunately.

 

[Elf Witch]

I had some issues with paypal then I got a verified account and that solved all the issues.

I have had to change my bank account info twice in the last two years because of fraud. I find the best way to handle it with paypal is to add an account first then delete the old one.

I buy a lot through paypal and have not any issues in several years.