Author Archives: Guest

How Paypal Ruined My Business

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Hi my name is Barry and this blog post is to tell the world how Paypal has ruined my business and my life.

About 4 years ago I started using eBay and Paypal to make a living full time in the UK.  Everything worked great – yes, there were a few problems as I had never worked for myself before, i.e packages going missing so a couple of customers complained, but as the more experience I got the better my service got and I was making a lot of money so decided after 3 months that i could make a decent living and provide for my children and wife full time using eBay and Paypal.  I was preparing to set myself up as a proper registered business and was looking at shops to let to expand my business as there was no room working from home anymore.
Whilst I was looking for a storefront, a friend asked me to sell his girlfriend’s Chloe handbag on eBay.  I listed the handbag and eBay quickly removed it for copyright infringement saying it was fake.  I emailed eBay and resisted, saying the handbacg was real and I could even provide a credit card receipt from New York USA.  eBay’s response was to remove it again and ban my account for 1 month.  I phoned eBay and complained (this was back when you couldn’t talk to Paypal on the phone but i got the head office and Powerseller number as I had been a Powerseller before i was banned) and then after kicking off on the phone that turned into a 12 month ban then a lifetime ban.  I know I shouldn’t have kicked off on the phone but I was very angry as I wasn’t selling fake items, then it turned into a lifetime ban from eBay, now this is where today’s problems start.  Within 10 minutes from getting a lifetime ban from eBay, Paypal sent me an email saying they were also closing my account and no longer wish to do business with me, giving me the famous parting of ways schpeel.

So I left eBay and Paypal and ever since have been trying to make money without using eBay, which is very hard and I ultimately failed.  I tried Amazon ebid, etc which are no good.

So now I find myself on benefits and would like to start my eBay business up again so I can come off benefits and work for myself.  I emailed eBay in December 2010 and they said yes I could have my account back and reinstated me (I was surprised as i had emailed them every six-months since and they said no, you are banned for life) i thought yes my problems are over but sill had Paypal to sort out.

So I am allowed to use eBay again, but here’s the problem these days to sell on eBay you need to use Paypal so if you don’t have Paypal you can’t sell on eBay, if eBay allowed Google Checkout or NoChex etc, then I would just use them but they don’t as eBay owns Paypal.

I have emailed Paypal over and over and get the same automated response: “Your account is permanently limited this decision can not be removed”, etc.

So as of today i have complained to the financial ombudsman service, I have emailed Paypal daily and I am collecting every piece of information on my situation that I can to give to my solicitor to see if there’s anything that can be done.

Basically I need eBay but to use eBay you need Paypal, I have offered to have a retained balance, etc, but Paypal will not respond

If anyone has had a similar situation please reply if you can help please I need your help to get this situation sorted asap.

 

Barry runs the new blog, PayPalUKProblems.blogspot.com

How I Successfully Write an Article

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When I want some information I search the web for the relevant information.  A Google search comes up with hordes of them in a page, as we all know.  I scan through the titles and the trailing lines below and that gives me an idea which has the actual substance.  It is so simple.

Writing for the web is entirely different from writing a book or essay or any other academic epistles – here you need to be concise, comprehensive, clean, current, correct and cheerful.  It has to be a complete package with what the reader is looking for, yet not waste any body’s time – because a web surfer does not have much time in hand.

It is important to give your message right from the word ‘go’.  Yes, the first few lines either make your article or break it, so pay attention there.  If it is a “How to” or “where from” article say so in the title to catch the reader’s attention immediately.  You have succeeded in your first step of article writing.

The first paragraph should lead your reader to go to the next paragraph and so on.  Do not jump from one subject line to another; lead gently but firmly.  The reader is enthused and wishes to now more now, so write on.  Sometimes bullet points or sub-headings do the trick; these give the reader an exact idea of what lies ahead.

Make sure each bullet or sub-heading deals with a particular subject and is a continuation of the previous paragraph.  Nevertheless, this paragraph must have new information on the same subject; something added on which is important.   Short and correct sentences are welcome to readers, but again with substance.

Remember your readers may be an eight year-old searching for information for his or her school project, or a twenty something wanting to know how to deal with a particular problem, or even a grandmother/grandfather wanting to know more about how to handle troublesome grand kids.  So keep your articles wholesome, well meaning, clear and you must enjoy reading it yourself – then you can be sure your reader will enjoy it too.

 Most important is to deliver on what you promise in the title – the article must contain information and guide or whatever you promise in your title.  If you waver off from the actual topic, you will lose your reader for good.  Keep to the topic and cut off all the side lines which may come up in your mind about the same.  The extra information, not related to the immediate line of information can make another article.

The mood and style of writing is important – it helps to keep the reader going.  A cheerful manner of imparting information makes the reader look forward to more from you.  The reader will automatically talk about it to others and share his or her source – that is article.  Your content and style passes on to the readers and you get more traffic – that is what you want, isn’t it?

About The Author: Elias Cortez is a freelance writer and the editor of www.topnetbookpicks.com – a website which provides detailed reviews and information for popular netbook models such as the nb305-n310 and the top netbooks for 2011.

Guest Post: Any publicity is good!

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Since this is the internet and we’re fighting for survival here – if a site mentions something about your website, whether its good or bad, it’ll help you in the long run.  Because even if someone says something negative about your website – people will want to flock to your website to see why they’re talking bad about it.  Which means, its like someone giving a bad review on a new game that has implemented similar features of another game.   So, people would say that the game is a copy-cat of the other one, even though it has unique content that the other game doesn’t has to offer.

So, do you think negative publicity is good? Even if the publicity has the chance to tarnish your site’s reputation? Well, then that I’ve learned over the years is that you can’t please everybody – people have different views on different subjects, and thus, they’re going to argue their point about if a website is bad, or if a website is good.

Do you think its wrong for webmasters to scheme this tactic, or is it a good way of marketing?

A publicity stunt can be done in many ways – such as, coming up with something that isn’t true,  sparking viral discussion from others, but then again, that’s what we call rumors – and those usually circulate among the internet these days.

How do you think publicity plays in the form of a website? Do you think receiving bad publicity can break a website, or do you think bad publicity can indeed spark more interest in a website? Let’s discuss the various ways publicity can work in your favor, how it can’t, and it shouldn’t be done.

For for information on this blogger, please visit www.virtualpetlist.com, which is an online discussion forum for online pet games, from Neopets to Rescreatu!

Guest Post: Be careful who you work for

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Hey everybody, my name is Alexander and I have spent most of my career working on the computer, primarily on the internet. I began working with computers when I was about 11 years old, you’d be amazed at how I progressed over the years, and how quickly as well. The main idea behind this post, is to let all you (Randy’s blog readers) know how dangerous it could be, getting involved with working from home on the computer, when you choose to work with the wrong people. I am going to use an example, that happened not long ago (Just over a year or so).

So my main line of work is Information Technology, this position just so happened to be for managing the Internet Web Servers for a community strong within the Virtual Pet Gaming industry, defined by websites such as Marapets.com and Neopets.com. I spent a couple of years working with the owner of this community, free of charge as the website was not intended to generate revenue. So, my duties were to monitor and take care of the structural integrity of this computer, that hosted the website. This is a pretty easy job, but seemingly complicated for those whom do not have the acquired skills to take care of Internet Web Servers.

One day, the website went down, the entire server at that, it was out of my control. At first I believed that the owner had forgotten to pay his bill, but soon after we realized he had been hacked. Not only was the server hacked, but his personal accounts as well (Gmail, AdSense, Etc). Might I remind all internet users, to never use the same password for everything, it’s not safe! So, what happened is the owner of the website targeted me, as the only person who had access to the system, to be the person who compromised all of his accounts. I gave my input, and showed my innocence, but he needed somebody to blame because there was no evidence of who had done the attacks. He made numerous claims that he had direct proof of my wrongdoing, but in truth, all evidence that was said to have existed, was destroyed when the system(s) were compromised.. Meaning, a name will never be put to the face of the Hacker who destroyed this once thriving community.

So all-in-all, to this day I have been cleaning up the mess, contacting blog owners and press release websites just to prove my innocence, to have my name and personal information removed from their websites, so that my name could be cleared within online communities. Nothing is worst than googling your name, and returning results all over the place with your personal details claiming you made attacks against your employer. The internet is a big place, and word travels fast. It’s very complicated to remove something from the internet, once it’s been posted.

So be careful who you work for, be careful what you do and most of all be careful what you put online, you never know who might find it! Also, once again, never use the same password for anything. Thank you for your time Randy, I appreciate you allowing me to make this post, and I hope that we can work together in the future!

How Paypal Operates In Court

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This guest-post by Drew is a followup to our post “How to get your money back from PayPal“.   You can read Drew’s first entry here: Getting my money back from PayPal

Hello all:

Looks like i am screwed and tattoo’d sideways.

  1. Yes, i have a case against Paypal and all. it is quite clear they are in the wrong.
  2. Paypal responded to the BBB and Nebraska attorney general’s office with nothing but their User Agreement and a DENIED.
  3. I figured out how Paypal conducts it.  They drag it out to the 6 months and release the money.  This is even after you file claim against them.

Here is how you can view a few examples. CLICK HERE for the case search for Iowa.  Enter Paypal in as defendant and search. you will find a few.  Everything is always the same method. and i figured it is the same way in every state.   Paypal stalls and stalls until the deadline has run out and then they release the money… they are some pricks.

So basically this is what Paypal will do if you file a case against them in small-claims court:

  • You file a court action..
  • Paypal respond with the User Agreement.
  • Court sets hearing date.
  • Paypal files motions for change of venue (fails every time).
  • Paypal files for continuation.
  • 6 months has expired and Paypal releases funds.
  • You now have no more case because you got your money and are forced to dismiss the case at your own expense, losing the court costs.

I am weighing this moment whether or not to file.

Getting Your Money Back From PayPal: Take ‘Em To Court!

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This guest-post by Drew is a followup to our “How to get your money back from PayPal“.  Drew is currently fighting to have his funds released by PayPal.  You can read Drew’s first entry here: Getting my money back from PayPal

After I sent PayPal the formal letter asking for them to release my funds, etc., Paypal called me this morning, and said So What, give us documents between my vendors and their wholesalers. I said it’s not legal, so on and so on, and informed the person I will go ahead and start the legal process, first by filing all the complaints.

These are the basic steps I took to file my lawsuit against PayPal:

  • Write up a brief, 2-3 pages in length, outlining the case being filed, points of interests, legal issues, damages, rectification being sought. Once all completed, make 4-5 copies of it all.
  • Go to county courthouse, or federal courthouse. Go to Clerk of Court’s office
  • File lawsuit brief in small claims, or other appropriate offices.
  • Have clerk of court notarize some of the copies, to deliver a copy to the defendant or their legal representation. In Paypal’s case, 1 copy to legal dept in California, 1 copy to legal representative of the state residing in (in my case, Overland Park Kansas, even though I am in Iowa)
  • For Iowa, the filing fee is $35.  Federal court, filing fee is $85.
    Filing fee’s for each jurisdiction are different.
  • Although not required, make Lawsuit Public – Paypal will hate that tremendously.  Plus it will cost them much financial resources, just for the initial presence in court.

I am quite sure that Paypal got my email this morning after i finished all the complaints with the FTC, SEC, federal reserve, California attorney general’s office, and the California justice dept.  A lot of stuff, but i am ready to play the hard ball game, that will cost them a lot more than it is worth.   I am seeking 72 hours for their representatives from 1 state away to appear in court or face default judgment.

My legal points are as follows:

  • Paypal voided their TOS & agreement when they asked me to conduct criminal activities to get what they want.
  • Paypal is operating as a financial institution with power of seizure, without legal authority to do so.
  • Paypal is committing felony fraud (possible laundering activities going on as as well, since it seems to be widespread and ongoing), but just my own money is $2,253.36
  • Paypal is refusing to release funds, not belonging to themselves, which is called grand theft.

If they would not have ask me to commit a crime, then their contracts are legal. but once they asked me to commit a crime, their contracts became null and void. That is law.

*note, by asking for me to commit a crime, I can also ask for punitive damages. When they did that, it opened them up to being liable