PayPal think I’m not a real person
31/08/2010 at 16:34
Following on from last week’s request from PayPal for additional verification, to comply with EU law, they’ve now decided my name is not my name.
Addressing me by email with my PayPal registered name “Chris Dawson”, they say “After reviewing your PayPal account, we noticed that the registered name is not an individual, personal contact name. Please note that at least one of your first names as stated on your passport/driver’s licence needs to be registered in full on your PayPal account. Therefore we ask you to complete a name change.”
I’m not sure what I should change my name to, but it needs to match the documents I provided as proof of identity. The trouble is different companies address me in different ways and none of them match the “Christopher Ian Dawson” which is on my Passport and drivers licence – The passport alone isn’t sufficient evidence that I exist, PayPal also want a matching proof of address.
My phone bill and utility bills are addressed to “C Dawson” and my bank statements go to “Mr C I Dawson”. I have a couple of other documents which PayPal don’t accept (VAT Registration, Mobile Phone Bill) with “Chris Dawson”, but I don’t have a single acceptable proof of address with my full name on them.
I was on the phone to PayPal this morning and they’ve told me that the compliance team don’t accept incoming phone calls but that they do need a proof of address in my “real name”. I pleaded my case with the PayPal rep I was talking to and just have to cross my fingers that the compliance team will let me keep my name. If not I’ll let you know if I have to become “‘C’, formerly known as Chris”.
If you’re also having trouble providing the proof of ID that PayPal require let us know in comments below.
Dan Wilson says
4:38 pm on 31/08/2010
I attempted to regsiter for a PayPal Top-up card a few months back. I was informed that my address and identity couldn’t be verified. I was told, when I called, this would be because I’m not on the electoral roll.
This opened up another issue, I told them. I had only voted the week before, so I must surely be guilty of electoral fraud.
Seeing as I cannot send them proof of ID and address by mail/fax etc, I don’t have the card, which would be a handy thing
Richard says
6:15 pm on 31/08/2010
Chris, can I ask, is it a Premier or Business account you have with PayPal? I’ve had a Premier and looked at upgrading to a “business” account some while back and unless you need the extra muliple user facilities there’s no difference. I didn’t think it worth the effort after all these years as there’s just me.
Chris Dawson says
6:17 pm on August 31st, 2010
I’m a sole trader and have no use for a business account so opted for a premier account, although as you say there’s not a lot of difference.
Am wondering if the verification would be more or less trouble as a business?
Richard says
6:31 pm on August 31st, 2010
Ah well, puts my theory out of the Window then, I thought it might be because you’re on a business account.
I wonder if they’re going through everyone or just some accounts doing this, can’t see they’d be enough hours in the day to do everyone. I don’t have a passport or driving license either, so I’d be stuffed.
Although when I went into business some years back I made sure my business bank account name matched exactly the same as that on PayPal. Can’t recall where I read it but I knew it could cause problems. Just added a T/A (trading as) name on the end of it. Touch wood zero problem in nearly six years after going though whatever verification there was at the time.
Sue Bailey says
7:03 pm on 31/08/2010
I suggest you change your name to Mr Mount Comp. Problem solved.
Martin - The Whirlpool Bath Shop says
7:24 pm on August 31st, 2010
Surely by now Chris you have given a bit of the old razzle dazzle to at least one Paypal employee, you must have a number on your mobile
Chris Dawson says
7:33 pm on August 31st, 2010
I might know a couple of people, but I don’t like to pull strings. It’s much more educational to go through the normal channels the same as everyone else.
DBL says
7:45 pm on 31/08/2010
I think I’ve told you before Chris, ‘You’re not real’ :p
I may have the same problem though being as I don’t have ID anymore.
JohnC says
7:47 pm on 31/08/2010
My real name is Eric Bay, it causes me no end of verification problems.
Chris Dawson says
7:49 pm on August 31st, 2010
So all your customers really do buy from e Bay
JohnC says
7:57 pm on 31/08/2010
I couldn’t stand the shame of being Eric Bid, though.
Pat Sherlock says
9:32 pm on 31/08/2010
Chris,
You’re not alone !! We seem to be going through a few hoops to get several PayPal accounts verified and re-verified ….and then verified just one last time …to be sure, to be sure !!…what a pain.
Pat
bob says
9:59 pm on 31/08/2010
Your lucky your name is not
drew peacock or mike hunt
Sue Bailey says
7:17 am on September 1st, 2010
Or this guy:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/laurencook/meet-mr-mike-litoris-nv
John says
8:58 pm on September 3rd, 2010
I heard on the radio once a guy who had no end of problems – his name was Mr Dick Cockhead! No joke!
Cassie says
12:21 am on 01/09/2010
I haven’t had to do this yet. I have a premier and a business account. I have no passport and my driving license is registered to a different address, and like you all my bills come in to different names. I can see this will get very messy.
Thing is – how do they know if I have stolen someones identity, I mean they don’t know what I look like, I could have stolen a passport and set up a utilities account in that name to my address
Davey says
2:04 am on 01/09/2010
Get over it ebay the company is Shite !
northumbrian says
8:23 am on 01/09/2010
we are a limited company registered at company house
you would not believe the bother were having[though then again you might just],
registering our company number and email with paypal.
our company number is quite clear on the company house website paypal have even gave us the link so we can find it ,when we try and enter it they say it is not valid
lol
Martin - The Whirlpool Bath Shop says
8:32 am on 01/09/2010
This thread is both amusing and disturbing.
northumbrian says
9:27 am on September 1st, 2010
they have even sent us an email asking we give them permission to change the company number at their end and its still not changed,
not to mention the trillion emails explaining the how tos of just about everything paypal other than what we are wanting to do
lol
northumbrian says
9:40 am on September 1st, 2010
we too think this is disturbing
for years we have heard the doom and gloom end of the world and ebay merchants,and dismissed them as barmy,
we now think the cracks are starting
paypal does not get the basics right ebay support promises phone backs and never do,
little things we know, but a good window on how things are now done
Martin - The Whirlpool Bath Shop says
9:39 am on 01/09/2010
I’ve just logged into my personal account for the first time in weeks and it’s asked me to update my info, it’s insisting I enter a company registration number and won’t let me leave it blank.
northumbrian says
9:41 am on September 1st, 2010
we have been trying for months lol
Cassie says
12:02 pm on 01/09/2010
I have this morning had my paypal balance returned to “on hold” for 21 days at a time, or until Positive feedback left. Reason given – so Paypal can make sure of buyer satisfaction blah blah blah… wouldn’t mind if I was a newbie, but I’ve had the Paypal account for over 4 years and my ebay account has over 1000 100% positive feedback over a 4 year period too.
BigPoppa says
1:10 pm on September 1st, 2010
So you’ve had no issues with any buyers etc and Paypal have done this?
Cassie says
2:28 pm on September 1st, 2010
No issues at all, no charge backs, no disputes, no negatives, hardly any low DSRs. I am stumped as to why this has happened. My items are low cost (all under £50) and not high risk categories.
I rang Paypal and was told it is their policy to place a hold on certain accounts deemed as risky. Although why I am now a risk I don’t know. My selling volumes have decreased if anything as I am moving more over to Amazon and my own website as I can’t keep up with eBay’s constantly changing rules.
Bryn says
3:17 pm on 01/09/2010
They cant read the documents I have faxed twice and wont provide a postal address. Dont have a scanner and dont want one
They have issued instructions on how to change the name on the account but not said why that is necessary
amfm says
5:17 pm on 01/09/2010
Hi by accident my last name is missing a letter and i am unsure how to correct it without having all funds tied up any advice Chris (be you real or not) or anyone please?
As i am about to open a website and dont want loads of hassle if i use paypal as my ‘basket’ or ‘trolley’ or whatever its called.
Any advice i have been reading your latest posts with interest
Thanks so much
Chris Dawson says
6:30 pm on September 1st, 2010
When/if PayPal ask you for proof of ID tippex out the offending letter before sending
Seriously I’d just phone em and ask for it to be corrected, or alternatively the instructions I was sent are:
1. Go to the PayPal website and log in to your account.
2. Click the “Contact Us” link.
3. Click “Send us” under Email us.
4. In the “Choose a Topic” box, select “My Account”. In the “Choose a Subtopic” box, select “Name Change”.
5. Click “Continue”.
6. Select the type of name change you would like to make and click “Continue”.
7. Follow the online instructions.
You have an advantage – at least you know what you’d like your name to be – I have yet to decide
northumbrian says
5:41 pm on 01/09/2010
Alf Uckham is now in charge of paypal support
Joe says
6:39 pm on 01/09/2010
I might be wrong but I think you need to have a business account to use PayPal Express Checkout on your website. I’m pretty sure this is the only reason I upgraded to a business account.
I’ve not had quite the same issue but when I was on holiday a few years back I forgot to pay my eBay seller fees and eBay tried to take it from my PayPal balance but couldn’t, so they tried to take it from my bank account. Because I have a personal bank account attached to my PayPal account they tried to take it from my bank, but using my business name instead of my personal name, and the bank rejected the payment request. As a result PayPal removed my bank account from my profile and it’s still showing as ‘unverified’ but I can’t verify it as it tells me it’s already been through the verification process.
Brewery tour, anyone?
northumbrian says
6:51 pm on September 1st, 2010
we have 2 unverified ,verified bank accounts too ,because some silly sod tried to get payment via the bank account rather than the paypal balance that has always at least a £1000 float ????
something to do with a subscription or trial of software
Chris Taylor (Doc) says
9:45 am on 02/09/2010
Northumbrian: I had the same problem updating my company number, I called paypal and they changed it for me.
It seems there should be a Zero placed before the registered business number.
Only paypal can change it, which is a bit daft, but they say it’s a bug.
Hope that helps :O)
northumbrian says
11:55 am on September 2nd, 2010
thanks doc
paypal have gave us that twaddle too ,though we have SC in front of our co number because were in Scotland ,that really blows their wires lol
Chris Dawson says
10:00 am on 02/09/2010
Well PayPal appear to have taken it upon themselves to change my name (without me requesting them to) and closed the enquiry telling me it’s complete!
They now send me emails to “Christopher Dawson” instead of “Chris Dawson”.
To be honest in my opinion it’s a total waste of time and resource by PayPal to comply with some bureaucratic EU twaddle that’ll make no difference whatsoever. I mean if I go around calling myself “Chris” instead of “Christopher” do you think it’ll fool anyone into thinking I’m two different people?
Dan Wilson says
9:42 pm on 02/09/2010
I’ll start worrying when you start calling yourself Christine. ;o)
Gerry007 says
11:45 pm on September 2nd, 2010
Now, now……please, only in private, remember what’s happening to our foreign secretary/minister!!.
Chris Dawson says
12:57 pm on 03/09/2010
I’ve got my name back!!!!
After being known as “Christopher Dawson” for 24 hours I telephoned business support on an unrelated matter and at the end of the call they asked if there was anything else they could help with. I said yes I was unhappy with my name change so they said no problems and swapped it back to Chris Dawson
Kind of makes a mockery of the whole id verification thing though!
Martin - The Whirlpool Bath Shop says
2:06 pm on 03/09/2010
What a monumental waste of share holder money.
James says
5:20 pm on 03/09/2010
This is all making a mountain out of a moll hill. PayPal is basically a bank, so they have do these checks.
JohnC says
5:24 pm on 03/09/2010
They do indeed have to do identity checks, but they are not barred from doing so intelligently.
John says
9:06 pm on 03/09/2010
I’ve had my co & vat number and all info in for a couple of years. Seems this is fine, as I have had no request to change, although a week or so I had a call from pp informing me of the verification checks!
northumbrian says
6:59 am on 04/09/2010
James
we dont mind paypal asking for details and information ,we will provide any information they are entitled to,
its paypal not accepting that information, and the waste of time and effort that annoys us