PayPal Blocks Hurricane Relief Funds

Iria · Sep 5, 2005, 08:28 PM

It's no secret that the widespread destruction of Hurricane Katrina was exacerbated by delayed relief efforts, but the latest victims of bureaucracy are those individuals simply trying to help out. Humor site Something Awful raised almost $28,000 in less than 9 hours - right up until PayPal froze the funds.

Something Awful's dedicated community may call themselves "goons," but they have historically been quick to respond when needed. The site previously raised $22,000 to fund armor plating for soldiers in Iraq. And the disaster unfolding in New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf coast was no exception.

With its main Web servers located in downtown New Orleans and offline due to flooding, Something Awful founder Rich Kyanka asked visitors to donate to the Red Cross from a temporary page explaining the situation.

"Some people are emailing me, asking if they can donate to SA to help with our server move and downtime and temporary hosting and stuff. Don't worry about us, we'll be fine," Kyanka wrote. "If you really want to make a difference, donate to the SA Red Cross Relief Fund link above. They need it more than we do."

Unable to take credit card payments directly due to his site being down, Kyanka set up a PayPal account specifically to handle the effort. Donations poured in at a rate of almost $3,900 per hour - an astounding number from any perspective.

That is, until PayPal shut down Something Awful's donation account late Saturday evening. Because PayPal's customer support was closed for the night, Kyanka was unable to discover why $27,695.41 in Red Cross relief funds were locked. PayPal's automated system explained that it had received "more than one report of suspicious behavior from your buyers."
__________
Read More / Source: BetaNews

EcPercy · Sep 5, 2005, 08:34 PM

This is no good. I RTFA, but I don't see why paypal would think of freezing funds for an organization that is already known for helping other causes.

Whatever the case. I do not feel compelled to help the people in New Orleans. I was actually considering doing some volunteer work down there, but with cop's getting sniped and other horrible things happening there is no way I would put myself in a position where I could be harmed.

Saint_K · Sep 5, 2005, 08:57 PM

ive too have read the article but i dont understand why paypal blocked the account, and is going to refund all the money to the donators. I mean the cause is clear that it needs to go to the red cross, why they cannot just send it there??

tastyweat · Sep 5, 2005, 10:06 PM

Stupid F***ink Paypal to the rescue yet again...

They're screwed me over and people I know... and now they are doing this crap... Someone really needs to setup a good paypal alternative... Worldpay and that other one are ok... but not all that great... Paypal just couldn't give a crap about their users anymore (if they did in the first place!)

Zardon · Sep 5, 2005, 10:18 PM

Paypal are a law onto themselves. no customer support and rules that do little to protect anyone except themselves.

Im not surprised. the sooner another reputable and honest company appears on the scene the better.

78 milion customers and they dont give a fu*k about any of them.

mike2h · Sep 5, 2005, 10:32 PM

why i havent & will not use them. ever.

Erroneus · Sep 5, 2005, 11:11 PM

Google wallet ftw... hopefully

BWX · Sep 6, 2005, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardon

Paypal are a law onto themselves. no customer support and rules that do little to protect anyone except themselves.

Im not surprised. the sooner another reputable and honest company appears on the scene the better.

78 milion customers and they dont give a fu*k about any of them.

Yeah Paypal sucks.

My account doesn't work anymore because after my bank got bought out by another bank and changed names, they won't accept the updated info..

Same account number but different routing number sends a flag up and locks the bank account. Now they want me to FAX my bank info and a photo ID!?! Are they insane?

I sure hope another alternative pops up- Paypal is a joke anymore.

http://www.paypalwarning.com/paypal_phone_number

Quote:

Paypal Phone Number

It's obvious that PayPal doesn't want you to find their phone number or they would post the information on their web site. It's hard to understand why a company such as PayPal does not have phone numbers posted on their web site.

Here are two PayPal phone numbers: (402) 935-7733 and 877 672-9725.

Keep in mind that you can experience hold times that exceed 30 minutes. This will give you plenty of time to calm down and absorb the realization that you just lost control of your money and the credibility of your business.

Iria · Sep 6, 2005, 01:27 AM

Isn't Google supposed to be working on an alternative? I seem to recall posting that at one time.

Edit: ah, found the link

BWX · Sep 6, 2005, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iria

Isn't Google supposed to be working on an alternative? I seem to recall posting that at one time.

Edit: ah, found the link

I sure hope it works.. Google has enough capitol to make anything happen, and is well known enough for people to trust it.. Everyone will support it instantly. (retailers, etc)

I bet the service would work well, but on the customer support side, I wonder if google has a clue?

mike2h · Sep 6, 2005, 02:48 AM

bwx -

Quote:

Same account number but different routing number sends a flag up and locks the bank account. Now they want me to FAX my bank info and a photo ID!?! Are they insane?

i would fax them something....

BWX · Sep 6, 2005, 03:05 AM

Yeah.. right... make it really really easy for someone to steal my account info and wipe me out at any point in time of their choosing.. No thanks.

Falstaff · Sep 6, 2005, 03:17 AM

Again....these remarks about delayed relief efforts...are absolute hogwash....
I dont care for paypal myself anyway, my bank has an arrangement with all its clients to send the money directly to the Red Cross.

pr0digal jenius · Sep 6, 2005, 04:48 AM

Paypal can go suck a fat one.

My store(Circuit City #3416) recently won $2000 in corporate funds for a "party" since we won a nationwide contest. Said funds were today donated to the redcross instead, in addition to an average of about $25 per employee out of this weeks paycheck. CC is hoping for $1 million nationwide by next week.

mike2h · Sep 6, 2005, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWX

Yeah.. right... make it really really easy for someone to steal my account info and wipe me out at any point in time of their choosing.. No thanks.

think you missed the sarcasm & the 'evil' thing. meant for you to send them whatever else.

Saint_K · Sep 6, 2005, 10:03 AM

We use PayPal to collect donations for funding our game servers, u'd think they could pull the same trick on that account?!

Warpy · Sep 6, 2005, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardon

Paypal are a law onto themselves. no customer support and rules that do little to protect anyone except themselves.

Im not surprised. the sooner another reputable and honest company appears on the scene the better.

78 milion customers and they dont give a fu*k about any of them.

And I have just closed my Paypal account due to their self angled tw*t of an attitude.

Never again will I use such services...

BWX · Sep 6, 2005, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike2h

think you missed the sarcasm & the 'evil' thing. meant for you to send them whatever else.

No I did- but my post was sarcasm too.. lol

Sep 5, 2005, 08:28 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	PayPal Blocks Hurricane Relief Funds It's no secret that the widespread destruction of Hurricane Katrina was exacerbated by delayed relief efforts, but the latest victims of bureaucracy are those individuals simply trying to help out. Humor site Something Awful raised almost $28,000 in less than 9 hours - right up until PayPal froze the funds. Something Awful's dedicated community may call themselves "goons," but they have historically been quick to respond when needed. The site previously raised $22,000 to fund armor plating for soldiers in Iraq. And the disaster unfolding in New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf coast was no exception. With its main Web servers located in downtown New Orleans and offline due to flooding, Something Awful founder Rich Kyanka asked visitors to donate to the Red Cross from a temporary page explaining the situation. "Some people are emailing me, asking if they can donate to SA to help with our server move and downtime and temporary hosting and stuff. Don't worry about us, we'll be fine," Kyanka wrote. "If you really want to make a difference, donate to the SA Red Cross Relief Fund link above. They need it more than we do." Unable to take credit card payments directly due to his site being down, Kyanka set up a PayPal account specifically to handle the effort. Donations poured in at a rate of almost $3,900 per hour - an astounding number from any perspective. That is, until PayPal shut down Something Awful's donation account late Saturday evening. Because PayPal's customer support was closed for the night, Kyanka was unable to discover why $27,695.41 in Red Cross relief funds were locked. PayPal's automated system explained that it had received "more than one report of suspicious behavior from your buyers." __________ Read More / Source: BetaNews

Sep 5, 2005, 10:06 PM	#4
tastyweat Lurking Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The void Posts: 4,794 Rep Power: 75 System Specs	Stupid F***ink Paypal to the rescue yet again... They're screwed me over and people I know... and now they are doing this crap... Someone really needs to setup a good paypal alternative... Worldpay and that other one are ok... but not all that great... Paypal just couldn't give a crap about their users anymore (if they did in the first place!) __________________

Sep 5, 2005, 10:32 PM	#6
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	why i havent & will not use them. ever. __________________

Sep 5, 2005, 11:11 PM	#7
Erroneus Get off my lawn! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 13,417 Rep Power: 119 System Specs	Google wallet ftw... hopefully __________________

Sep 6, 2005, 03:05 AM	#12
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	Yeah.. right... make it really really easy for someone to steal my account info and wipe me out at any point in time of their choosing.. No thanks. __________________

Sep 5, 2005, 08:34 PM	#2
EcPercy HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Iraq Posts: 1,535 Rep Power: 0	This is no good. I RTFA, but I don't see why paypal would think of freezing funds for an organization that is already known for helping other causes. Whatever the case. I do not feel compelled to help the people in New Orleans. I was actually considering doing some volunteer work down there, but with cop's getting sniped and other horrible things happening there is no way I would put myself in a position where I could be harmed.

Sep 5, 2005, 08:57 PM	#3
Saint_K InSaNe Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Den haag, netherlands Posts: 836 Rep Power: 0	ive too have read the article but i dont understand why paypal blocked the account, and is going to refund all the money to the donators. I mean the cause is clear that it needs to go to the red cross, why they cannot just send it there??

Sep 5, 2005, 10:18 PM	#5
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Paypal are a law onto themselves. no customer support and rules that do little to protect anyone except themselves. Im not surprised. the sooner another reputable and honest company appears on the scene the better. 78 milion customers and they dont give a fu*k about any of them.

Sep 6, 2005, 01:27 AM	Thread Starter #9
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Isn't Google supposed to be working on an alternative? I seem to recall posting that at one time. Edit: ah, found the link

Sep 6, 2005, 03:17 AM	#13
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	Again....these remarks about delayed relief efforts...are absolute hogwash.... I dont care for paypal myself anyway, my bank has an arrangement with all its clients to send the money directly to the Red Cross. __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Sep 6, 2005, 04:48 AM	#14
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	Paypal can go suck a fat one. My store(Circuit City #3416) recently won $2000 in corporate funds for a "party" since we won a nationwide contest. Said funds were today donated to the redcross instead, in addition to an average of about $25 per employee out of this weeks paycheck. CC is hoping for $1 million nationwide by next week.

Sep 6, 2005, 10:03 AM	#16
Saint_K InSaNe Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Den haag, netherlands Posts: 836 Rep Power: 0	We use PayPal to collect donations for funding our game servers, u'd think they could pull the same trick on that account?!