Paypal Security and customer service Issues

If you're among the roughly 16 million people signed up to use PayPal, you know how handy the online payment service can be, and chances are, you've never had a problem.

That said, customer service and security issues have long been a trouble spot for the company. I'm sure many of you are familiar with the dodgy emails requesting you to confirm details etc..

But we are webmasters, sat at our desks god knows how many hours a day interacting with others, exchanging opinions, knowledge on everything 'www'.

What worries me is 'Mrs Jones' from the next street who browsers Ebay and uses paypal for her payments. Would she be aware of these opportunists coaxing her bank details from her? And what support would she get from paypal if her pension suddenly disappears into cyberspace..

Paypal's customer service and security issues highlight the fact that while PayPal looks like a bank, it has carefully avoided becoming one. Banks must abide by regulatory and internal audits, and by other rules. There is no regulation that says they [PayPal] must work with you to resolve the problem.

So here's a few tips for online transactions.

How To Pay It Smart

• Read the fine print. If you see a privacy or service term you don't like or understand (a demand for your Social Security number, or e-mail-only customer service), reconsider signing up.
  
  
• Protect your passwords. Use different passwords for multiple accounts, make them tough to guess, change them often, and never share them. Broken passwords lead to most fraud.
  
  
• See what others are saying. Check a favorite auction site's message board, or visit AuctionWatch or the Online Traders Web Alliance for user opinions. AuctionBytes also has payment service reviews at its site.
  
  
• Don't use a debit card. And think twice about giving the service your checking account information. Using only a credit card keeps your exposure low, and you can contest fraudulent charges. You may, however, have a spending cap.
  
  
• Don't keep large sums in your account. That way, if the service freezes your account, you're not out the cash while the problem is resolved.
  
  
• Read your e-mail. Don't assume a message from your payment service is spam. It could be your only warning that something is wrong.

Pass this on to Mrs Jones

__________________

This is a very good post Shellspeare and I'm very glad you put it up for all of us.

Most of you probably know my stance on the use of paypal for online money transactions but for those who don't, well, I don't trust them is all.
I would take all of the safety measures Shell has spoken very seriously and be sure to mind them whenever you see or think to use paypal.

Alot of the scam information on their buisness can be found here,

http://www.paypalsucks.com/

I'm not saying don't use paypal, it's your money and you are free to make your own choices, but because it's your money you would want to be safe with it right?
So just be careful, and as Shell put it, mind the small print.

__________________
Give your forum the ultimate launch into life by entering it into our Forum Incubator!
POF - 1

ok.............. very good advice, thank you.

__________________
: Exquisitely Erotic : an adult community forum

Here's another tip:

Regardless of whether its paypal, adsense, a message from your bank or something entirely else -- DONT CLICK THE LNKS.

Instead, open up your browser (its prob open a already ) and manually go to the site by your bookmark or typing in the official domain in the address bar. Paypal and other sites will display any important messages upon logging in. Its a good way to avoid being scammed.

__________________
My Best-Board journal chronicaling my adventures in admining!
Latest Entry: Revenue Forecast: Good!

Thanks for letting us all know shells

@ Straga: Cool link lol

hhmmmm... I never knew this....

__________________
: Exquisitely Erotic : an adult community forum

I disagree (kinda!)

I would to refuse to deal with a bank who forced me to conduct business through my email, I would rather assume they're all scams and never click such an email ever.

But they are not a bank so how else could they contact you?

__________________

^ ^
phone or though their website

Ahh but that's you contacting them... the way they contact you from their site is via email.

__________________