Paypal - changes to the rules

[paulears]

I got one of those "changes to your paypal account" messages this morning, and my old text only email client always highlights addresses that if clicked on, direct you to different places to the one indicated. It's pretty useful for spotting phishing or spoof emails - in this case, it seemed genuine, but just in case, I logged into my paypal account directly to check. It was legit, but I read the legal blurb (something I rarely do) - and there were some quite important changes that will certainly impact on me. I've edited out bits that seem innocent, leaving this. I'd suggest paypal users have a read if they do anything other than the usual ebay style purchase as an individual. Some I can understand, others are a bit more weird? I've highlighted key bits that will affect me.

 

Fees

 

Section 8 is being amended to clarify that you cannot send personal transaction payments to Indian registered Accounts.

The second paragraph of section 8 has been amended to now read as follows:

 

“Please also note that:

 

a. you cannot send money for a PayPal personal transaction from some countries, including Germany or China; and

b. you cannot send personal transaction payments to Indian registered Accounts.”

# Restricted Activities

 

A new Section 9.1.ff is being added to make it a restricted activity to request or send personal transaction payments for commercial transactions. Section 9.1ff will read as follows (presented in context with its root clauses):

 

“9.1 Restricted Activities. In connection with your use of our website, your Account, or the Services, or in the course of your interactions with PayPal, a User or a third party, you will not:

 

ff. Request or send a personal transaction payment for a commercial transaction.”

# PayPal Buyer Protection

 

Section 13 is being amended to reflect changes to the PayPal Buyer Protection programmes. The amendments:

 

* consolidate the PayPal protections for buyers into one PayPal Buyer Protection programme (covering buyer protection both ‘on’ and ‘off’ eBay);

* clarify the eligibility requirements for protection under the PayPal Buyer Protection programme; and

* enable UK registered users to also be eligible for reimbursement for Claims in respect of “Significantly Not As Described” items purchased with PayPal outside of eBay.

 

Please note that non-UK registered users are not eligible for reimbursement under the PayPal Buyer Protection programme for Claims in respect of “Significantly Not As Described” items purchased with PayPal outside of eBay.

 

Section 13 will read as follows:

 

"13. PayPal Buyer Protection

 

If you are not a registered UK Account holder, please see section 13.7 on how PayPal Buyer Protection applies to you.

 

13.1 What types of problems are covered?

 

1. PayPal Buyer Protection helps you with either of these problems:

1. You did not receive the item you paid for with PayPal – “Item Not Received” (“INR”).

2. You received an item you paid for with PayPal but it is “Significantly Not as Described” (“SNAD”). Further information on what we mean by “SNAD” is set out in section 13.9.

2. If your problem is a transaction that you did not authorise, please report the unauthorised transaction through the PayPal Security Centre at https://www.paypal.co.uk/security

 

The word "significant" is quite important for ebay purchases - I had a dispute recently on a piece of technical kit I bought, and they used 'significant' in their handling of it. In this case, it was a piece of equipment with a firewire output. The item was 100% ok apart from a dead firewire socket. As the item was sold as "ideal for video editing" I tried to get a refund as without the firewire, it wasn't. When I pushed, ebay wanted me to get an independent engineers report at my expense, to indicate this was a significant defect. Sony wanted £180 for this, so I gave in.

 

I buy product from Germany and China and often use Paypal for security - not being that keen to use a credit card and give the security info to somebody in a foreign country - not because I think I'll lose the money, but the hassle of stopping cards and starting new ones. So NO COMMERCIAL is bad for me. I do sometime source Indian products, and again - personal payments are now banned - so you cannot buy from them either?

 

So the usefulness of paypal is being restricted.

 

Does anybody read this differently?

[Brian]

I buy product from Germany and China and often use Paypal for security - not being that keen to use a credit card and give the security info to somebody in a foreign country...

Get yourself the Paypal top up card - I use one for just those situations. I load just enough money onto it when I know I'm going to use it. As it has no credit facility you'll never get scammed unless they manage to do it in the time between you loading it and you spending it.

[themadhippy]

Got to agree about the pre paid "credit card".I've been using one for a couple of years,its accepted were ever they take visa,including sites that don't/cant use paypal.The other advantage is mine is in us$ and the exchange rate is better than most.

[Modge]

http://search.theregister.co.uk/?q=paypal+india

 

Paypal have been having legal issue's with regards their dealings in India, which I believe lies behind that bit of the issue.

[musht]

I got one of those "changes to your paypal account" messages this morning, and my old text only email client always highlights addresses that if clicked on,

 

I buy product from Germany and China and often use Paypal for security - not being that keen to use a credit card and give the security info to somebody in a foreign country - not because I think I'll lose the money, but the hassle of stopping cards and starting new ones. So NO COMMERCIAL is bad for me. I do sometime source Indian products, and again - personal payments are now banned - so you cannot buy from them either?

 

So the usefulness of paypal is being restricted.

 

Does anybody read this differently?

 

I read it as trying to clamp down on using `personal payments ` for commercial transactions, personal can be done without fee, spo this seems fair enough.

 

Don`t read it as affecting payments for commercial transactions, personally.

 

Paypal top up card is handy, but be aware it is actually Visa Electron, not accepted by everyone , including Rapid Electronics :-(

 

There is a range of prepaid ` credit` cards around, I use a CashPlus Gold for business use, lot cheaper to run than company credit/debit card and saves having petty cash in cash, genuinely accepted anywhere Mastercard is, including Rapid :-)

 

http://www.mycashplus.co.uk/

 

Handy for personal use and holiday cash as well.