paypal?

[Ranger99]

i hope this is in the right place.


there have been times when i could have
bought a part or some small item through
the confuser and i would have had to use
paypal. not having a paypal account, or
wanting to set up one, i was unable to
purchase the item. can one or some of the
more computer knowledgeable folks tell
me if there is a paypal card available like
a pre-paid credit card that can be bought
somewhere the same as prepaid credit cards
can ?  i tried to e-mail the paypal company,
but the dingbat on the other end wrote that
he could not assist me if i did not type in
my paypal account number. i don't want to
give anyone my credit card number or have
a regular account for some scumbag somewhere
to run up charges on, or use wrongly and
get me in trouble. i've already had my i.d.
stolen once and that was enough for a lifetime.
and i've read here and elsewhere about people
scamming others paypal accounts. there are
places here local where one can insert their
paypal card and put money in the slot to
add credit to their account.


what say you?

[Oldshooter]

Let me try.........You can get a generic prepaid card and use it on your paypal account. or you can get a paypal account, and add cash to it. I am also thinking you can get a paypal card. Not sure you can do any of that without giving pay pal a number though. for what its worth have had one for about four years with no problem.
 
I have an account but I do use a card specifically for that kind of stuff so not much damage can occur and fraud liability is minimal.

[kynardsj]

You can also set up a Paypal account, get a Paypal card and connect it to your bank account. That way if there's no money in your paypal account you can still buy stuff and it'll pull off your other account. My Paypal account only has money in it when I sell something and get paid that way. I still buy good deals on Ebay and it just pulls off my other account when Paypal is low or empty.

[Ranger99]

ok- thank you

[LONGTOM]

I have had a PayPal account for about 8 or 10 years and never have had any problems in any way.
With close to 1000 transactions that is saying something for them.
I am sure I have been lucky but I took a few safety measures when I opened my account.
Do not link your PayPal account to your bank account.
If they hack your PP account then they have your entire bank accounts.
Go to your bank and open a small savings account with just a small amount of money in it.
Use that account as your bank account for PP only.
Then, take out a bank credit card and link it to the savings account you just opened.
The bank already has your info so you are not giving out something that they don't already know.
If it gets hacked they can only get whats in the account, not your main accounts.
The card will be insured against fake charges should someone steel your card info.
Don't use instant bank transfer when you buy something.
That uses up the cash you put in the saving account.
Instead, click on your credit card and use that.
The savings account is there just to back up your card.
Yes you will get a bill once a month but that is better then risking your main bank accounts.
PayPal has been very good about helping you out should you have any problems.
I use it for lots of sites on the computer.
Seems to work great so far.
 
 
LONGTOM

[dukkillr]

+1 as a long time paypal user with no troubles.  I've always been impressed with them.

[mechanic]

I use Paypal BECAUSE they offer fraud protection.  If you read up a bit, it's safer than your credit card.
 
Ben

[two-blocked]

I've never had a problem either. If you buy and sell on ebay it's the only way to go.

[Victor3]

I have had a PayPal account for about 8 or 10 years and never have had any problems in any way.
With close to 1000 transactions that is saying something for them.
I am sure I have been lucky but I took a few safety measures when I opened my account.
Do not link your PayPal account to your bank account.
If they hack your PP account then they have your entire bank accounts.
Go to your bank and open a small savings account with just a small amount of money in it.
Use that account as your bank account for PP only.
Then, take out a bank credit card and link it to the savings account you just opened.
The bank already has your info so you are not giving out something that they don't already know.
If it gets hacked they can only get whats in the account, not your main accounts.
The card will be insured against fake charges should someone steel your card info.
Don't use instant bank transfer when you buy something.
That uses up the cash you put in the saving account.
Instead, click on your credit card and use that.
The savings account is there just to back up your card.
Yes you will get a bill once a month but that is better then risking your main bank accounts.
PayPal has been very good about helping you out should you have any problems.
I use it for lots of sites on the computer.
Seems to work great so far.
 
 
LONGTOM

 Excellent advice. Pretty close to what I do.


 Be advised though; Federal regulations limit electronic fund transfers to/from savings accounts to six per statement cycle.


http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/limit-of-6-ach-transfers-on-savings-accounts.html


 If you plan to do more than six EFTs per month, a checking (or other type) account is the way to go.


 Most important thing to me is to transfer funds out of PayPal soon after they're deposited. If there's a dispute of some sort, Paypal's terms of service allows them to freeze your funds until a dispute is resolved. They can't do anything with funds you've transferred out.

[Old Fart]

I've had an account for about 15+ years with no significant problems, only minor. My problem is the fraud protection. It works but it won't necessarily pay you back 100%. I had a bad deal once and if I remember correctly they returned all but like $20. I'm talking only $20 out of about $500, so not a huge deal. But still....
 
 
I have a seperate bank account I use for it. I keep iy seperate from my other money. Works great for me and then there is the added convenience.
 
May not be for everyone.

[P.A. Myers]

I started using paypal when it was xcom, then paypal, it was totally free. Their income was on the cash they held. Then evil-bay bought it.  I use it alot. Its the best way to pay online.  The merchant gets their cash, but no cc numbers. The only fraud I have had are crooked merchants. Mostly hackers don't hack, they con.  I agree with longtom, don't link a bank account. Use a regular cc. A paypal credit card can be funded by a paypal  balance.  An online merchant may do this for easy access. Otherwise its a regular cc.

P.A.