Paypal to crack down on usage.

Up to $500 fine for porn, gambling, pharm...

[werty]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - PayPal, the online payments arm of eBay Inc. (EBAY.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , on Friday said it will soon fine people up to $500 for uses related to gambling, adult content or services, and buying or selling prescription drugs from noncertified sellers.

The new policy, which takes effect Sept. 24 and applies to both buyers and sellers, marks the first time PayPal has imposed fines for violations of its use policy, spokeswoman Amanda Pires said.

entire article [reuters.com]

[Essex_boy]

I wonder howw effective itll be?

[JonR28]

There are similar services to paypal for adult sites aren't there? Someone could probably make a lot of money starting a paypal for gambling type service.

[CernyM]

Neteller and Firepay are both big for handling gaming transactions.

[LindaPeacegrove]

They shut me down (using PayPal) and my site was none of the above. No 'make changes'...no specific reason...just in violation of the agreement. Great customer service...not. I had a lawyer go through their agreement and he said my site did not violate their conditions. It was a case of not meeting their new 'standards'. Yet, I see lots of sites like mine using PayPal. Surely, if I don't violate anything they can't pull the rug out without a reasonable explanation. I know they can...but they can't (you know?). The internet seems to operate without business rules...simple business rules of common courtesy. PayPal needs to take a pill.

[PayPalPB]

If you believe PayPal stopped serving you because of an error, we can review your situation. It's hard to tell, tho, because you don't supply any information about the nature of your service. As I'm sure everyone is aware, we'd rather serve you than not. There are a variety of reasons, usually legal or risk related, why it is not prudent for us to provide service.

[LindaPeacegrove]

**If you believe PayPal stopped serving you because of an error, we can review your situation.**
I don't really mind if it was an error or not. It was the fact that I was left completely in the dark until the 'judegment' was handed down. PayPal made it quite obvious that there was no chance for a review. I even called...the two people I talked to could see no reason for the service to be discontinued (after viewing my site). Yet...there was no opportunity to talk to the - I think it was called - 'disputes' department or something like that (actually can't remember), Anyway, my account was on hold for a while...causing lack of revenue...without any reasonable effort of explanation and THEN I get an email asking me if I could take the time to provide customer service feedback on the call centre just as the axe comes down. My jaw hit the floor. Helloooo....left hand takes the wallet while the right hand has the hand out. This was just my experience I know....but it was definitely the worst level of customer service I've receieved on ANY level and in any situation. I'm not bitter....I'm now with another service...I'm just a bit disgusted with the whole thing. PayPal made me feel cheap and bottom-dwelling (no, there was DEFINITELY no adult content on my site). I'm a nice person....an organisation shouldn't do that - or have the ability to do that - without just cause. It's time some of these organisations started to realise there are real people on the other end with real feelings. As I said...my PayPal experience.

[PayPalPB]

I'm sorry to hear about your situation and would like to offer any assistance I can.

The list of areas where we have to be very careful is actually pretty long and is much broader than merely "adult":

[paypal.com...]

[moltar]

Wow, I never knew the list was this big! It all pretty much makes sense though.

[Essex_boy]

It's time some of these organisations started to realise there are real people on the other end with real feelings

- Well said. And mortgages to pay.

[lgn1]

Fine the Buyers. Good luck on winning that one in court. I don't deal in any items that could be subject to a fine, but if they ever tried to fine me for buying something using paypal, they be quicly told that they could shove their fine some place where the sun does not shine.

Needless to say, I would never keep anymore money in my paypal account than I need to make a purchase. I guess that would mean also keeping my paypal and bank account close to being max out also, just incase they try an unauthorized transfer.

[chicagohh]

The list of areas where we have to be very careful is actually pretty long and is much broader than merely "adult"

Wow. I am currently breaking this list. I know of dozens of sites (my competition) that are also breaking different sections of this list. These items that I am selling are banned by PayPal, but are perfectly legal in the US. Also, EBay currently has listed over 300 items specified in the PayPal list. Most of which (if not all) accept PayPal.

Maybe this list should be prominently displayed on the home page?

The new policy, which takes effect Sept. 24 and applies to both buyers and sellers

Does the fine apply to the list of verboten products or to just the big 3 (Porn, Pills, Poker)?

[PatrickStefan]

Last night I had to pull my PayPal account because the eBooks I plan to sell are questionable according to their new Acceptable Use Policy. The overall intention of my eBooks, my autobiography, is acceptable but individual chapters would come under their 'No-No' lists.

I have yet to find a service which will handle my eBooks and if I don't I'll have to scrap the eBook idea altogether. I guess self-publish isn't possible on the internet?

I found one host site, which I like, so far.