Posted on 02/29/2012 11:41:51 AM PST by STARWISE
PayPal is making changes to its privacy policy that will go into effect on April 1, 2012. The online payments unit of eBay is also adding extensively to its "Identity Authentication" section that all buyers and sellers must agree to as part of the User Agreement.
PayPal said it was making changes to its Customer Identification program "as a result of changes in the law."
Somewhat ironically, an alert reader noticed that PayPal users are unable to opt-out of AdChoice, a program that allows PayPal and other eBay entities to share information about visitors' past activities with its partners in order to serve up targeted advertisements, both on and off of eBay websites.
When attempting to opt-out of AdChoice on PayPal, the following error message is displayed: "We're sorry, we can't change your preference at this time."
As part of the changes that take effect beginning in April, Section 2.3 of the User Agreement addresses the types of information PayPal collects and currently reads:
Identity Authentication. You authorize PayPal, directly or through third parties, to make any inquiries we consider necessary to validate your identity.
This may include asking you for further information, requiring you to provide a taxpayer identification number, requiring you to take steps to confirm ownership of your email address or financial instruments, ordering a credit report, or verifying your Information against third party databases or through other sources.
Effective Date: April 1, 2012, Section 2.3 will read as follows:
You authorize PayPal, directly or through third parties, to make any inquiries we consider necessary to validate your identity.
This may include asking you for further information, requiring you to provide your date of birth, a taxpayer identification number and other information that will allow us to reasonably identify you, requiring you to take steps to confirm ownership of your email address or financial instruments, ordering a credit report, or verifying your Information against third party databases or through other sources.
We may also ask to see your driver's license or other identifying documents at any time. If you use certain PayPal Services federal law requires that PayPal verify some of your Information. PayPal reserves the right to close, suspend, or limit access to your Account and/or the PayPal Services in the event we are unable to obtain or verify this Information.
PayPal is also amending its Privacy Policy and recommended users review the updated policy in its entirety. The amended Privacy Policy is effective April 1, 2012 for existing users and effective upon acceptance for new users.
Among the changes is how PayPal collects information about users. "We have amended this section to address how PayPal collects data from your computer, mobile phone or other access device," according to the notice. "We may also collect information about your use and interaction with our website, application or the PayPal Services."
PayPal also have amended the section on cookies "to reflect our use of session and persistent cookies, Local Shared Objects (commonly referred to as "Flash Cookies") and the use of pixel tags," and amended the marketing section "to address opting-out of notifications via our application and SMS messages.
More information is available on the PayPal Upcoming Policy Updates page.
I will never use PayPal again.
ping
I should add that according to ebay rules, sellers aren’t even allowed to HINT that they’ll accept a check, money order, or cash-on-pickup. But the buyer has no such restrictions and can suggest it, and then the seller is free to agree.
It’s a great place to buy. They’ve got everything. Good solid vintage stuff made in America. Clothing you can buy for the kids without cringing at the immodesty. Tools. Real estate. Cars.
But don’t encourage or support Paypal if you can avoid it. Most sellers will agree to alternatives if you suggest it, many don’t like Paypal but can’t say so.
You want to read something really scary, check out the anti-paypal sites on the internet. Horror stories. Or even the community forums (Paypal discussion board) on ebay. You’ll be scared straight!
Here's a heartbreaking case of botched communication, thanks to an eBay customer and PayPal policy.
This letter was sent to the blog Regretsy by a reader named Erica, telling of a transaction turned tragedy.
I sold an old French violin to a buyer in Canada, and the buyer disputed the label.
This is not uncommon. In the violin market, labels often mean little and there is often disagreement over them. Some of the most expensive violins in the world have disputed labels, but they are works of art nonetheless.
Rather than have the violin returned to me, PayPal made the buyer DESTROY the violin in order to get his money back. They somehow deemed the violin as "counterfeit" even though there is no such thing in the violin world.
The buyer was proud of himself, so he sent me a photo of the destroyed violin.
Picture at link plus the rest of the story.
eBay is a minority owner of Craigslist, but doesn’t control
as a matter of fact they have sued Newmark over some policies
That hold gives them the money to hold for 21 days in which time is put to interest. It is an income source for PayPal. Interests rates being what they are these days the money is tiny but it is not nothing. Banks do that sort of thing to you as routine.
has went ?
But apparently not enough concern that you won't share with what card you pay and the limit on your card, not to mention how much you've spent on eBay.
TY SWEETHEART. Sharing this with my 5000 friends on facebook!
I gave generalities about the card....not specifics. You couldn't charge anything to it without a lot more information.
BTW, very apt username.
I believe that the numbers are relevant to the point I was trying to make.
I've been poor - to the point that I literally ate out of garbage cans as a child, and now by that standard I'm rich (although I don't meet Obama's standard of $250K per year yet). I LIKE RICH BETTER
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