This would be funny if it wasn't so tragic. While not official, I have been told twice now by two different Paypal support reps that they won't stop people from using the email addresses of others to create an account. Considering the specifics of my case, I would think this is a slam dunk. Hah. Not according to Paypal.
As far as I know you can't actually finish the account creation process unless you have access to the confirmation emails, which this Karl-Heinz Scheel doesn't. He doesn't have a functioning account at all, but my email address is locked up nonetheless. Paypal thinks this is just swell, so far at least. I'm not done with them yet.
Until Paypal pulls their head out of their arses, this is a good way to screw someone (for all those out there with grudge) who has a new email address. Open a Paypal account for each of their email addresses and walk away. They will be locked in to their existing email address or must give up Paypal entirely. In my experience, this works pretty well for most sites actually. Why don't these failed account creations time-out? Seems that would make too much sense.
Steve.
First message to Paypal
-----------------------------------------------
'xxxxx@live.com' is my new email, but someone at
paypal.de has registered it already. Fix?
customer message: Additional Information: 'I've had 'xxxxx@live.com' for
a while, but I've been using my old email 'xxxxxxx@iospider.com' for
both ebay and paypal for sometime.
I want to transition to 'xxxxx' for both accounts (ebay is finished),
but some j@ck@ass in Germany has used my email address for their
paypal.de account already. Since they don't actually own
'xxxxx@live.com', they shouldn't be able to register it. Can you
follow-up on this and get that email restored to me please? Thanks.
First response from Paypal
-----------------------------------------------
Hello my name is Randall, and I will be happy to assist you with your
question regarding your email you want to use.
I am sorry but there is nothing we can do when an email is used or taken
over by another person. You might contact that person and ask them if
they would like to give the email up and then you can try and use it
again. How did they claim the email address if you already had it
registered? I am sure something can be worked out between the two of
you. I wish I could help but there really is nothing I can do. Thank you
for your understanding and have a nice day.
Second message to Paypal
-----------------------------------------------
Wrong answer. My email was clear, but you still don't understand the
problem.
1. xxxxx@live.com is mine since live.com started handing out email addresses
about a year ago. There has never been a different owner of xxxxx@live.com.
2. I opened my paypal acct many years ago under my xxxxxxx@iospider.com
email. I haven't previously tried to register xxxxx@live.com for my Paypal
account.
3. Some guy named Karl-Heinz Scheel (if that is his real name) used
xxxxx@live.com to start the account creation process on paypal.de. I say
"start" the account creation process since it isn't possible to complete
unless you actually have access to the email account. This seems to have
completely escaped you.
4. I've tried to do password recovery on the paypal.de account (email
attached), but the process requires security questions (screenshot attached)
which haven't been set yet. I presume there are no security questions
because he wasn't able to complete the account creation process. He couldn't
have received any email from paypal.de after all.
5. Your suggestion to contact this Karl-Heinz Scheel person is quite naïve.
Exactly how do I contact him if the only information I have is that he is
using MY EMAIL ADDRESS?
6. Are you saying that it's perfectly OK for Paypal customers to use someone
else's email address? You know that's fraud, right? Does Paypal condone
fraud and do others like Slashdot, Cnet, and PCMag need to know about this?
This problem is very fixable. If you can't figure out how to resolve this,
please hand the issue off to a coworker or manager.
Second response from Paypal
-----------------------------------------------
Thank you for contacting PayPal, my name is Tyron and I am happy to
assist you today.
I suggest you use other email address since someone is already suing
that email address.
If you are unable to complete the "Verify Your Identity" flow, you must
fax the following documents to 1-402-537-5734: *If you are contacting us
from outside the U.S., please use the proper dialing instructions when
sending us this documentation.
1. Valid photo ID - Issued by State or Government
2. One of the following:
· Phone or utility bill - Name and address on bill must match
the name and address on your PayPal account
· Recent bank statement - Name and address on statement must
match the name and address on your PayPal account
· Recent credit card statement - Name and address on statement
must match the name and address on your PayPal account
3. Fax Cover Sheet. A cover page including the name on your PayPal
account, your registered email address, a phone number you can be
reached at, the number of pages, and any comments.
The Password Recovery group will contact you within 7-10 business days
with further instructions.
Third message to Paypal
-----------------------------------------------
Is anyone at Paypal support actually reading my email? The responses don't
make sense.
I already have a functioning Paypal account, but I want to transition to
'xxxxx@live.com'. If I can't use 'xxxxx@live.com' why would I want to use
any other email address? It irks me that someone is using my email account
on Paypal and you guys aren't seeing any problem with this.
If you had read my email you would know that listing what documents to fax
for "Verify Your Identity" aren't applicable. Why would I have Karl-Heinz
Scheel's photo ID?
I ask AGAIN. Please read my prior two emails (and this one hopefully) and
respond with a sensible answer. This is twice now that a customer service
rep has said it's OK to use someone else's email address to open a Paypal
account. I will go up your support chain as high has I need to to correct
this fraud.
:|
As far as I know you can't actually finish the account creation process unless you have access to the confirmation emails, which this Karl-Heinz Scheel doesn't. He doesn't have a functioning account at all, but my email address is locked up nonetheless. Paypal thinks this is just swell, so far at least. I'm not done with them yet.
Until Paypal pulls their head out of their arses, this is a good way to screw someone (for all those out there with grudge) who has a new email address. Open a Paypal account for each of their email addresses and walk away. They will be locked in to their existing email address or must give up Paypal entirely. In my experience, this works pretty well for most sites actually. Why don't these failed account creations time-out? Seems that would make too much sense.
Steve.
First message to Paypal
-----------------------------------------------
'xxxxx@live.com' is my new email, but someone at
paypal.de has registered it already. Fix?
customer message: Additional Information: 'I've had 'xxxxx@live.com' for
a while, but I've been using my old email 'xxxxxxx@iospider.com' for
both ebay and paypal for sometime.
I want to transition to 'xxxxx' for both accounts (ebay is finished),
but some j@ck@ass in Germany has used my email address for their
paypal.de account already. Since they don't actually own
'xxxxx@live.com', they shouldn't be able to register it. Can you
follow-up on this and get that email restored to me please? Thanks.
First response from Paypal
-----------------------------------------------
Hello my name is Randall, and I will be happy to assist you with your
question regarding your email you want to use.
I am sorry but there is nothing we can do when an email is used or taken
over by another person. You might contact that person and ask them if
they would like to give the email up and then you can try and use it
again. How did they claim the email address if you already had it
registered? I am sure something can be worked out between the two of
you. I wish I could help but there really is nothing I can do. Thank you
for your understanding and have a nice day.
Second message to Paypal
-----------------------------------------------
Wrong answer. My email was clear, but you still don't understand the
problem.
1. xxxxx@live.com is mine since live.com started handing out email addresses
about a year ago. There has never been a different owner of xxxxx@live.com.
2. I opened my paypal acct many years ago under my xxxxxxx@iospider.com
email. I haven't previously tried to register xxxxx@live.com for my Paypal
account.
3. Some guy named Karl-Heinz Scheel (if that is his real name) used
xxxxx@live.com to start the account creation process on paypal.de. I say
"start" the account creation process since it isn't possible to complete
unless you actually have access to the email account. This seems to have
completely escaped you.
4. I've tried to do password recovery on the paypal.de account (email
attached), but the process requires security questions (screenshot attached)
which haven't been set yet. I presume there are no security questions
because he wasn't able to complete the account creation process. He couldn't
have received any email from paypal.de after all.
5. Your suggestion to contact this Karl-Heinz Scheel person is quite naïve.
Exactly how do I contact him if the only information I have is that he is
using MY EMAIL ADDRESS?
6. Are you saying that it's perfectly OK for Paypal customers to use someone
else's email address? You know that's fraud, right? Does Paypal condone
fraud and do others like Slashdot, Cnet, and PCMag need to know about this?
This problem is very fixable. If you can't figure out how to resolve this,
please hand the issue off to a coworker or manager.
Second response from Paypal
-----------------------------------------------
Thank you for contacting PayPal, my name is Tyron and I am happy to
assist you today.
I suggest you use other email address since someone is already suing
that email address.
If you are unable to complete the "Verify Your Identity" flow, you must
fax the following documents to 1-402-537-5734: *If you are contacting us
from outside the U.S., please use the proper dialing instructions when
sending us this documentation.
1. Valid photo ID - Issued by State or Government
2. One of the following:
· Phone or utility bill - Name and address on bill must match
the name and address on your PayPal account
· Recent bank statement - Name and address on statement must
match the name and address on your PayPal account
· Recent credit card statement - Name and address on statement
must match the name and address on your PayPal account
3. Fax Cover Sheet. A cover page including the name on your PayPal
account, your registered email address, a phone number you can be
reached at, the number of pages, and any comments.
The Password Recovery group will contact you within 7-10 business days
with further instructions.
Third message to Paypal
-----------------------------------------------
Is anyone at Paypal support actually reading my email? The responses don't
make sense.
I already have a functioning Paypal account, but I want to transition to
'xxxxx@live.com'. If I can't use 'xxxxx@live.com' why would I want to use
any other email address? It irks me that someone is using my email account
on Paypal and you guys aren't seeing any problem with this.
If you had read my email you would know that listing what documents to fax
for "Verify Your Identity" aren't applicable. Why would I have Karl-Heinz
Scheel's photo ID?
I ask AGAIN. Please read my prior two emails (and this one hopefully) and
respond with a sensible answer. This is twice now that a customer service
rep has said it's OK to use someone else's email address to open a Paypal
account. I will go up your support chain as high has I need to to correct
this fraud.
:|