One of the major deterrents of pinheads using PBR is that they don't use Paypal. I've finally had enough of Paypal, and I completely understand why business' are moving away.
In September this year, Paypal sent out a request to all members to update their accounts and provide security verification. This appeared to be just another level of security to protect users, but it is not. It is a way Paypal move the risk of fraud from them, to you - the user.
Since the security "upgrade", I have not been able to transfer money from my bank account to my paypal balance without calling Paypal. This has happened on five occasions. The first two occasions, the friendly but stupid "agent" finds the problem, and then within 10 minutes, it works. Until I need to do it again. Then I have to call "customer don't care" and start all over again.
Yesterday, was the last straw.
For the fifth time, I had to call paypal. The first "agent" simply did not understand English. I asked to be escalated. The second told me the problem is with the Bank. Which it is not. I asked to be escalated again, as I'm dealing with morons. After waiting 20 minutes on the phone, the third and final "agent", who told me that "I'm the highest level of support" is next in line. It took her 10 minutes to work out that her headphones were not plugged in, as I could not hear her at all. You would think with the massive profits Paypal makes - they could afford working headphones !
So this absolute IDIOT told me to clear cache etc etc - Which I told her I had done. Then she stumbled across a second bank account I added, (as Paypal blame the bank) and STRAIGHT AWAY, she told me that "this is definitely an issue with your bank". But I was using the other account with the same results. Having an IT background, I asked to talk to an IT person, instead of a robot. But she is the highest support I can have access to. After going backwards and forwards, she FINALLY has an epiphany, and proclaims that Paypal had placed a "security risk" on my account. When I asked what that was, she told me "someone is trying to hack into your account". According to this luminary IT guru, the IP Address I'm using has been flagged as being "hacked" by THEIR system. I told her I use Win 10 with Firewall enabled, and when doing ANYTHING involved with money, I fire up the VPN software on my work PC. I use this technology to protect myself, and it works with every single E-Commerce, Banking and financial system 100%. Except Paypal.
Her answer was unbelievable - "You need to turn off your Firewall, Anti Virus, and VPN"
To prove this woman is a complete idiot, I made her wait 15 minutes while I disabled all security and then rebooted my machine. While she waited on the line, I followed her instructions to use another method to transfer the money, and again, it failed, with EXACTLY the same error at my end "Internal Server Error" and "You cannot transfer funds at this time".
She then makes the claim that I must be using another PC - Which is total crap. Then she accused me of residing in "Hungary" and then "Sunbury". The IP addresses I'm using are flagged by Paypal as being "hacked". So I'm blocked from transferring money from the bank account to paypal. Yet previous to their "security update", none of this was an issue. I'm in Hungary, with an Optus land line that I'm calling from, with a "hacked IP Address".
She then moves back to the "security update" where I had to "agree" to the terms.. She told me that the IP Address "security restriction" will be lifted in 24 hours. I asked her why I can do all my banking, E-Commerce etc etc with my AV, VPN and Firewall all running. How can the IP Address be the problem when I receive emails from paypal every time I transfer funds - but she could not offer an explanation other than "Paypal is working hard for you to identify potential risks". Hogwash. I told her that no business will do business with Paypal if their mandatory requirement will be to disable personal security on their devices to move the risk from Paypal to the consumer.
I created a support request on the paypal forums, with exactly what the "agent" had told me, and it was swiftly removed by their admins. I complained and they re instated it, editing my comments.
24 hours later, still the same errors at their end.
So what are the benefits of using Paypal, now that the risks of fraud have been moved to the consumers, AND they want to introduce a fee when you pay for items that you don't have the funds in your paypal account ?
There is also no "customer feedback" survey that all legitimate and respected institutions use to gain customer experiences.
