Paypal

I use Paypal it is just that wee bit too easy, one click and its spent.

I had a T/C from my bank the other day saying they were concerned about possible misuse of my credit card. After frantically checking my card accounts were OK, I rang the bank and it turned out to be a holiday balance I was expecting.

What had happened was that they had automatically stopped a payment as the payment code or what ever it was had flagged it up as a catalogue company request and it was a lot more money than it would normally be for a catalogue purchase.

I was rather impressed that the Banks automatic "alarm" system had flagged this up.

I use PayPal and lik eothers have a separate bank account with just enough money in it to pay for items, always making sure to top it up if need be.

I've always used PayPal for ebay and I find it really useful now so many people use it. Much easier than digging out a card and then finding they want security data that I can't remember! I don't think I've had any fake PayPal emails, but I make a point of treating them all as suspect and checking my account myself.

I have found PayPal very useful indeed; and it is available as a payment method on many websites now.

Fraudsters are very good at finding a way round any system.

But amazon was very good when this happened to us - they alerted us straight away when a purchase was made using our card, but to a different address. We clocked what was going on much quicker because of their prompt action. I believe that PayPal are equally on the ball - to the point where it has been irritating to some - but, better safe than sorry.

Have to say I am encouraged by all the positive feedback from you all Elegrans comment about opening a separate account could be the way forward. many thanks to all of you

I'm very happy with Paypal.

It used to be just Ebay but nowadays a lot of other companies are inviting payment by Paypal and I have to be very careful, especially when surfing the net late at night when I usually make my most expensive mistakes.

Elegran that is the way I use my paypal account,I keep it totally separate from my other accounts it is just used for people paying for goods or for me buying goods or postage payments that way if it did have any problems(which I have never had in years)it would not affect my other finances.

But you do not need to open an account with Paypal to use it to pay for something. They have an option where you can pay through them but use your own credit/debit card. Their record is as good as any other payment system, and better than most. If you are worried, you could open a new bank account at your normal bank and nominate that for Paypal to take money from and pay it into. You wold have to make sure that there as enough in it for whatever you expected to be paying out, but no more could be taken from it than you had transferred in.

Recently my PayPal account was frozen without warning, quite worrying at the time and sorting it out was a bit of a hassle. It turned out it had been frozen because there had been an attempt to hack it.

Very commendable and reassuring but its processes for (not) informing me and the days it took to sort out cost me a bad mark on ebay because I didn't complete a sale. The seller wanted me to pay by PayPal or credit card through PayPal and I could do neither. In the end I contacted the seller, a trader, direct and, as the item was trivial and the sum involved less than £10, we agreed to cancel the sale, however ebay just registered this as a non-completed sale, even though it had been agreed mutually with the seller.

I think the biggest problem with PayPal is that their systems are robust but their processe for informing customers there is a problem and then dealing with it are opaque

I've used PayPal for years with no problems at all... maybe I've just
been lucky.

Had an email like that yesterday, Bags. Deleted in next to no time.

My e-bay account was used fraudulently to order two mobile phones. Paypal alerted me but it took them two weeks to put the money back in my account, which I have now closed. I was somewhat miffed when they said 'This dispute has been settled in your favour'. Dispute? It was sheer theft. Still, I suppose it was good that they noticed the unusual activity.

I do have concerns regarding security as I have heard that they have been hacked in the past and peoples bank details have been used. A friend sent money to buy something and the money didn't arrive and it all took a lot of sorting out.

It seems that amongst GNs at least all the experiences are good

I get those Bags. I delete too.

I find paypal useful and it is secure since you don't have to type in you card number repeatedly. Never had a problem.

I have had spam emails purporting to be from Paypal (but not) about payments I never made. I just delete them without clicking on any of their contents.

I have also used PayPal for several years now and found it very efficient. I do however think it is draconian to only allow one method of paying fees. I do not have a credit card (never had debt = no credit rating) and am experiencing increasing difficulties in making payments when schools, businesses, etc. will not accept payment by cheque or cash.

Same as Ana. Quick and easy, and good to not have to give card number to all and sundry.

I've used it for years, never had any problems whatsoever!

Ideal for buying items from eBay - fast and secure.