From the ebay Paypal forum:

The Cold Hard Facts...

edwarda540 (279)

PayPal Might Limit Your Account and Freeze Your Funds Because:

You received too much money into your account (this can be any amount that is not in proportion to what you normally received during the average history of your account).
You transferred too much money out of your account ($2,000 US is the rumored amount that triggers the fraud system).
You called customer service at PayPal and made somebody angry (there are documented cases of irate customers calling PayPal only to find out their accounts were limited moments after the phone call was made).
PayPal has reason to believe you have more than the allowed two PayPal accounts (One Personal Account/One Premier Account).
Somebody filed a complaint with PayPal about you (a buyer or a seller or an interested third party).
You filed a complaint against somebody (a buyer or a seller).
You initiated a chargeback with your credit card company.
You initiated a chageback with your credit card company before you filed a claim through PayPal's Buyer or Seller Protection Program.
PayPal thinks you are trying to avoid paying PayPal fees by charging excessive shipping & handling charges for your sales.
PayPal thinks you are using your PayPal account to speculate in the currency market.
PayPal doesn't agree with some content on your website (example: a man who ran a well known blog had his PayPal account limited because his website contained a link to the Pearl terrorist killing. He accepted PayPal donations on his website for his news blog).
PayPal believes you are in violation of its User Agreement.
PayPal believes you are in violation of its Acceptable Use Policy (example: PayPal believes you used your account to purchase a dirty book or dirty magazine).
PayPal believes you are in violation of its Privacy Policy (example: you gave information to the police about a fraud suspect who is also a PayPal member).
PayPal believes you are in violation of their User Agreement.
You used your PayPal Debit Card to purchase material that PayPal finds objectionable (even if it's legal in the real world).
You charged too much money on your PayPal Debit Card.
You went on vacation and used your debit card in another state or another country.
You used your PayPal debit card to make an online transaction that was not through PayPal (or a telephone order).
You refunded a buyer through your PayPal account -- but did not use the proper refund methods.
You lost a dispute claim.
You are late Paying your eBay fees -- or you owe eBay money.
You received a negative feedback comment on your eBay account.
You chose to use your PayPal account without verifying it.
PayPal believes that your account information is not up-to-date -- even if they have no grounds to actually believe it.
PayPal tried to contact you over the phone and you did not answer.
You were the victim of fraud (example: you clicked on a link in an email that you thought was from PayPal but it was really a phishing website).
You reported to PayPal an unauthorized purchase made on your PayPal account or your credit card.
You moved into a house or new apartment that was occupied by somebody with a limited PayPal account.
You logged into your PayPal account from a location that was not your usual log in location (example: friend's house or place of employment).
PayPal has linked your account with another person who has a limited account and/or outstanding issues to resolve with PayPal.
PayPal froze your account because they linked you as being "associated" with a family member of yours that has an outstanding PayPal problem to deal with.
After conducting a credit check on you, your credit score was too high, too low or you had too many open lines of credit or debt.
A third party contacts PayPal saying -- without evidence -- that you are engaging in fraudulent activity.
PayPal suspects you are engaging in fraudulent activity.
PayPal believes that your business practices are risky and pose a potential harm to yourself, to PayPal and to other PayPal members.
The phone number you registered with PayPal happens to be the same phone number of somebody who has/had PayPal problems.
You new ISP number was associated with somebody who has/had PayPal problems.
You conducted a transaction with an individual who has PayPal problems (such as a buyer or a seller). PayPal will "link" you with that person.
You sold something and the buyer was a con artist or scammer. You get "linked" to that person.
You violated PayPal's user agreement by posting anti-PayPal writings or thoughts in a public place (example: internet)
Your name, your address, your phone number, or your ISP is SIMILIAR to a person who has/had PayPal problems.
You were associated with a person who has a frozen PayPal account.
You refused PayPal's request for very private information about yourself.
PayPal requested information from you which you supplied -- but you did not supply it fast enough.
You logged into your PayPal account from a public internet cafe.
You sold an item on eBay that is popular for scammers to sell (high priced items or popular items like Rolex watches, Play Stations, Computers, etc.)
You sold a Play Station 3 on eBay.
You sold an online e-book to a buyer who later filed a complaint against you -- PayPal asked you for a tracking number and you could not provide it.
You went to PayPal's website and logged in using a proxy service or other anonymizing software that you use to protect yourself on the internet.
While registering, you typed your name wrong into your personal profile (example: Smith, John when it should be John Smith)
You bought or sold something that was on PayPal's Restricted Items List (academic software, concert tickets, OEM software, surveillance equipment or adult material, etc.)
You sent money to a country that is on PayPal's unauthorized list.
You received money from a country that is on PayPal's unauthorized list.
The bank account you verified with PayPal was a new account.
You have a high credit card balance that triggered PayPal's fraud detection system -- a high card balance means a higher risk that you will engage in fraud.
PayPal conducted a third party investigation of you. Based on those findings, they limited your account (you have been sued, arrested, charged with a crime, have too many debts etc.).
PayPal tried to withdraw money from your bank account or credit card and was declined.
You PayPal account shares similar details with an account that has already been frozen.
You PayPal account is in the negative.
Your PayPal account might become in the negative.
A chargeback was filed against you.
You attempted to modify or change your personal details but were not able to.
You removed your bank account or credit card information from your PayPal account.
PayPal believes you are not who you say you are.
You withdrew or transferred $2,500 or more from your PayPal account within 24 hours or over a weekend.
You did something strange (example: transferred money to a roommate with a PayPal account or a family member).
Your overall withdrawal and deposit activity is "suspicious."
Your name on your social security number does not match EXACTLY what is on your PayPal account (example: Social Security Card/Number is Robert Smith but your PayPal account name is Bob Smith).
The name on your bank account or credit card does not MATCH exactly with the name on your PayPal account (example: William Smith vs. Will Smith or Bob Smith).
There are an additional 100 plus fraud ques unknown to the general public that will trigger an unpleasant experience with PayPal.


Believe it or not, these are all reasons as to why PayPal will limit your account and deny you access to your money. There are many, many more reasons as to why PayPal will limit your account and deny you access to your money. Any number of things unknown to you or I can trigger such an event.

The reason why this is so disturbing is this: once your account is limited, you have a less than 10% chance of getting your account unlimited. That means less than a 10% chance of getting your account restored to its previous state -- because you made a mistake that you did not know was a mistake or PayPal accused you of something without having or offering any evidence as to your guilt.

The simple whim of PayPal can destroy your business and your online reputation. The simple whim of PayPal can freeze access to funds that you need to support your family, pay bills, take that dream vacation or replace the busted tires on your car.

Most disturbing of all: PayPal does not need a reason to freeze your funds and limit your account. Remember, PayPal says in its User Agreement (that you agreed to) that it can limit and freeze your funds for "any reason."

Maybe PayPal needs a large infusion of cash for whatever reason -- or a short term loan on your money. PayPal can freeze accounts on a mass level for no reason at all.

Why? Because PayPal CAN. And because you won't do a damn thing about it.

 

 

Make that a standing ovation!!! Nice to see there are still pro-consumer rights voices speaking out.