PayPal has me RILED UP!!!

[desmobob]

I just tried to look at my PayPal account to be sure a large payment was credited to my PayPal Credit account (they offer six months free credit for purchases over $100.  I bought a new MacBook Pro last month.).  I hit a snag when the log-in page told me to add my mobile phone number for verification.  

 

I don't have, and have never had, a mobile phone.  In the past, the PayPal log in pages had suggested adding a mobile phone number for added security, but never said it would become mandatory.  Well, now it has, and with no advance notification or warning.  And, of course, all the help and contact information is only accessible after you log in.  Some web searching shows many others have the same issue.  I found two work-arounds that do not work, and no solutions.

 

I finally found a consumer advocacy page that had some contact info so I sent e-mails to the PayPal CEO and CFO.  It also listed the physical address and I'll put a letter in the mail tomorrow.  If you've ever had a problem with eBay or PayPal, you know that it is very nearly impossible to find a way to contact a human (PayPal has been sued for it).  

 

ARGH!

[TnRiver46]

That sucks! I’ve never had PayPal because I’ve always heard too many horror stories 

[MN Fisher]

That does suck. I've had PayPal for a dozen years now, use it regularly, and never had an issue.

 

Ya, the cell-phone thing is a bummer for those who don't have one. I've been 'wireless' for 26 years now...still have the same number. Last year updated the wife's cell-phone - her cell number now is our old land-line number...we 'cut the wire'.

[jimmyjoe]

   Yes, I've had the same problem. And other problems, too. Be very cautious about accepting payment from other people now. Paypal has changed ..... a lot. You might want to consider an alternative.            jj

[desmobob]

3 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

   Yes, I've had the same problem. And other problems, too. Be very cautious about accepting payment from other people now. Paypal has changed ..... a lot. You might want to consider an alternative.            jj

 

In my e-mails to the contact addresses I found on the consumer advocacy site, I asked for my account statement so I can pay off my balance and close the account.  

 

I don't know if I've ever accepted any payments through PayPal.  I opened the account years ago for the convenience of making payments for eBay purchases.  Times have changed.

[desmobob]

Someone explained to me the reason for requiring a mobile phone number.  Something about transmitting SMS and how important it is for maintaining security.  He said it's likely to soon be necessary for bank transactions, credit cards, etc.

 

I may be forced to get a mobile phone at some point.  That's money I could spend on tackle!   I honestly make about ten or less phone calls in a month.  I hate the idea of buying a phone and plan.  Oh well...

 

[Jigfishn10]

32 minutes ago, desmobob said:

Someone explained to me the reason for requiring a mobile phone number.  Something about transmitting SMS and how important it is for maintaining security.  He said it's likely to soon be necessary for bank transactions, credit cards, etc.

 

I may be forced to get a mobile phone at some point.  That's money I could spend on tackle!   I honestly make about ten or less phone calls in a month.  I hate the idea of buying a phone and plan.  Oh well...

 

Makes sense. I have a checking/savings acct that’s used just a an emergency acct and if a purchase is made for anything Over a certain amount of money it will not allow the transaction to go thru unless I approve it via text. 
 

So I can see how PayPal wants a mobile number attached to it.

 

It’s also going the other way as well where the entity is looking for a mobile number just to send you spam. That’s where you have to draw the line.

I have an old aol acct  that got hacked for places that require an email. All that spam goes there. 
Just rattling my brain here, but I believe you still can get a cheap flip phone and get text only. At least a couple of years ago you could 

[BigAngus752]

34 minutes ago, desmobob said:

Someone explained to me the reason for requiring a mobile phone number.  Something about transmitting SMS and how important it is for maintaining security.  He said it's likely to soon be necessary for bank transactions, credit cards, etc.

 

I may be forced to get a mobile phone at some point.  That's money I could spend on tackle!   I honestly make about ten or less phone calls in a month.  I hate the idea of buying a phone and plan.  Oh well...

 

 

An SMS message is just a text message.  If you have any money held anywhere other than your mattress (bank accounts, mortgage, credit cards) or if you have a credit history on file, or if you pay taxes to the government, or if you have public utilities at your home and you don't have a cellular phone capable of receiving texts then you are at incredibly high risk of being defrauded.  Almost all companies that deal with money and/or credit use SMS messaging to confirm owner identity because SMS messaging is the last form of communication we have that is (nearly) unhackable.  People worry about their savings and investments being stolen when, in reality, tax fraud, utility fraud, and identity theft (stealing your credit) are thousands of times more prevalent and profitable than trying to steal your money.  You are correct, you will soon be required to provide a means to receive/send SMS messaging to access nearly any of your accounts, taxes, and utilities.  

 

Do you own a computer? Perhaps one of the computer geniuses on here can tell you another way to use SMS messaging through a computer? 

 

Or you could get a cell phone and a horseless carriage and maybe stop writing in "Eisenhower" on every voting ballot?  Just having fun with you, I applaud your self-discipline.  Most days I hate my phone.  

[desmobob]

10 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

Do you own a computer? Perhaps one of the computer geniuses on here can tell you another way to use SMS messaging through a computer? 

 

Or you could get a cell phone and a horseless carriage and maybe stop writing in "Eisenhower" on every voting ballot?  Just having fun with you, I applaud your self-discipline.  Most days I hate my phone.  

 

I started the same thread on another forum I frequent and was immediately labeled as a Luddite and Boomer.   This place is much more friendly!

 

I have two notebooks (Mac and Windows), a side-scan sonar in my powered boat and a GPS in my horseless carriage so I can't really be called a Luddite.  But I was born in the very early '60s so I can't deny being a Baby Boomer by the strictest definition...

[MN Fisher]

11 minutes ago, desmobob said:

I started the same thread on another forum I frequent and was immediately labeled as a Luddite and Boomer.   This place is much more friendly!

Ya - we try.

 

11 minutes ago, desmobob said:

I have two notebooks (Mac and Windows), a side-scan sonar in my powered boat and a GPS in my horseless carriage so I can't really be called a Luddite.  But I was born in the very early '60s so I can't deny being a Baby Boomer by the strictest definition...

I've been a tech-geek since the early 70s (born in '59 - like A-Jay). Private college prep school for Junior High had a computer - taught myself to program it so I could have it do my math homework for me.

 

I won't touch Macs though...bad experience in the mid-late 80s when I was the tech support 'guru' for a mid-size company turned me off to pretty much anything labeled 'Apple'.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, desmobob said:

Someone explained to me the reason for requiring a mobile phone number.  

I may be forced to get a mobile phone at some point.  

 

 

I've had a PayPal account for several years & use it frequently.

Works perfectly when I play by their rules.

As mentioned, times have changed, we can either change with them or get left behind.

"Why" may be nice to know but it serves me better

to use that focus & energy swimming with the tide rather than against it.

I dragged my feet for a long time but a few years ago

I finally broke down & got a phone. 

Don't have the latest or greatest, but it does the job.

Unless I am going to stay locked in my basement for the rest of my days,

pretty much seems like a necessity these days.

Maybe just get a phone & learn how to use it.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

[desmobob]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

 

I've had a PayPal account for several years & use it frequently.

Works perfectly when I play by their rules.

As mentioned, times have changed, we can either change with them or get left behind.

"Why" may be nice to know but it serves me better

to use that focus & energy swimming with the tide rather than against it.

I dragged my feet for a long time but a few years ago

I finally broke down & got a phone. 

Don't have the latest or greatest, but it does the job.

Unless I am going to stay locked in my basement for the rest of my days,

pretty much seems like a necessity these days.

Maybe just get a phone & learn how to use it.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

 

When I mention that I don't have a mobile phone, people automatically assume I'm a Luddite, or stuck in the past, or resisting change.  That's not the case.  

 

I love technology, from computers to sonars to GPS to digital 35mm cameras, etc. etc. and I try keep up to date with it all, within my ability to afford it.

 

And to afford it, I'm thrifty on other fronts.  I never had the need or desire for a mobile phone, so I certainly wasn't going to spend the money on a phone and a plan only to have the thing sit at home next to the landline that was already fulfilling my telephone needs.

 

Now that I understand why PayPal is requiring the mobile number, it's not such a big deal.  I guess I'll have to pony up and get a d**n mobile phone.  

[Jigfishn10]

4 minutes ago, desmobob said:

I guess I'll have to pony up and get a d**n mobile phone.  

I mean, we are entering the new millennial…?

 

But don’t get rid of the fax machine…because of all the internet fraud, it’s making a comeback, believe it or not.

[A-Jay]

2 minutes ago, desmobob said:

 

When I mention that I don't have a mobile phone, people automatically assume I'm a Luddite, or stuck in the past, or resisting change.  That's not the case.  

 

I love technology, from computers to sonars to GPS to digital 35mm cameras, etc. etc. and I try keep up to date with it all, within my ability to afford it.

 

And to afford it, I'm thrifty on other fronts.  I never had the need or desire for a mobile phone, so I certainly wasn't going to spend the money on a phone and a plan only to have the thing sit at home next to the landline that was already fulfilling my telephone needs.

 

Now that I understand why PayPal is requiring the mobile number, it's not such a big deal.  I guess I'll have to pony up and get a d**n mobile phone.  

I try not to assume, especially here.

Instead I try to take posts at face value.

If we have a desire to use services that require a mobile phone number, 

including paypal, we have a choice to make.

Admittedly I was fairly leery about adding my mobile number to several accounts.

Turns out, that was more my own 'concern' and has to this point only proved beneficial. 

A-Jay

 

7 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I mean, we are entering the new millennial…?

 

But don’t get rid of the fax machine…because of all the internet fraud, it’s making a comeback, believe it or not.

This is a real thing . . 

I'm down

A-Jay

[desmobob]

3 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I try not to assume, especially here.

Instead I try to take posts at face value.

 

A-Jay, I didn't mean to imply you were assuming anything... you were helpful and I appreciate it.  I had been dealing with almost insulting assumptions in a similar thread on another forum and that was fresh on my mind.

 

I learned about the whole SMS thing and that made the situation understandable.  And I understand that not having a mobile phone puts me in a very small minority.  What still burns me is that PayPal made the change with no notice or warning... I'm suddenly locked out of my account with no alternate way in.  Not cool.

 

In the big scheme of things, not a big deal!  I think I'll go fishing!  

[Dwight Hottle]

1 hour ago, desmobob said:

Someone explained to me the reason for requiring a mobile phone number.  Something about transmitting SMS and how important it is for maintaining security.  He said it's likely to soon be necessary for bank transactions, credit cards, etc.

 

I may be forced to get a mobile phone at some point.  That's money I could spend on tackle!   I honestly make about ten or less phone calls in a month.  I hate the idea of buying a phone and plan.  Oh well...

 

I personally have never had any problems with PayPal. In their defense I can tell you my bank does require the cell phone verification for security. My online broker accounts do as well. It is the way of the new world. Since so many people conduct banking & brokerage business on phones today it has become a security issue. 

[gunsinger]

Second form-factor authentication is the best protection against fraud short of going off the grid and having no contact with other humans ever.  Bad actors can steal your password but it's unlikely they can get your phone.  However, phones can be cloned (not sure how often that happens) so SMS authentication isn't perfect.  We use a software product that puts a token on the phone that tied to the hardware address so a cloned phone won't work.

 

Faxes bite the big one.  People like to say they're secure but it's all too easy to fat finger a phone number and send sensitive data to the wrong place.  Unfortunately, some agencies will ONLY accept faxes having failed to move into the era of encrypted email.

 

To the OP, buy a flip phone.  They're usually free at most carriers and the plans are affordable.  They. have no data but, all you need is text.

[Junger]

You can send/receive SMS texts with a Google Voice number. It's free to sign up for it. https://voice.google.com/

 

 

[Ratherbfishing]

These days it's assumed (and thus, unfortunately, almost manditory) that everyone have a "smart" phone.  I've dealt with some of the issues you are having to put up with-though not specifically with paypal.  And it's very aggravating.  In particular, I feel sorry for elderly folks who did not grow up with technology and yet are still forced to use it.  Oh, and trying to speak to a living and breathing person these days is next to impossible.  "Customer service" is too often a joke.

[Tennessee Boy]

Some of you use the same email address and password for both your bassresource.com account and your PayPal account.  YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.   It's common for people to use the same logins for many accounts.   The problem is when one site gets hacked they take all of the email address' and passwords for that site and try them on PayPal.  When one works they take the money.   By adding a phone number,  someone now needs your email address,  password,  and access to your text messages to take your money.  

[InfantryMP]

You could always buy a pre-paid cell phone with no contracts etc. It may be easier to just have one of those handy for your transactions, and then have it in the truck in case of an emergency!

[J Francho]

It's multi factor identification and it works pretty well to prevent fraud. I'd say a burner cell would be the way to go for anyone that doesn't need a full plan. 

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, Junger said:

You can send/receive SMS texts with a Google Voice number. It's free to sign up for it. https://voice.google.com/

 

 

Sounds like a good solution 

 

then again all the homeless people in my neighborhood have smart phones so they might be free nowadays . Mine costs a fortune 

[DINK WHISPERER]

I've used PayPal for almost everything for longer than I can remember with zero issues. They've also saved my butt from unethical sellers more than once. And there's actually a number you can call and speak to a live agent. I just had to today and they are very knowledgeable and helpful. 

[Log Catcher]

Like @InfantryMP I would recommend a pre paid cell phone. I have Tracfone and only have to buy a $20.00 card every three months. Any time you don't use you carry over until it is used. They also double your minutes on the card you get.