
There are reports from many sellers on multiple sites that PayPal has suddenly limited their accounts, demanding from them a photo ID and purchase receipts from suppliers - even for buyers who don't sell online.
Down Detector showed a spike in reports this evening, with one person stating the following:
"Cannot print a shipping label either via PayPal or eBay. PayPal wants a photo ID and copies of invoices for the merchandise I sell, and states my account access has been limited until this information is furnished. WHAT? Never have seen this in 20 years, and am having no trouble with my other accounts. HAVE THEY BEEN HACKED???"
A thread on the
eBay discussion boards titled, "WARNING: Paypal mass email blocking thousands of accounts!" resulted in numerous people reporting they encountered the same problem.
The original poster wrote the following:
Tens of threads on the PayPal forums today (Oct 8 2020), with PayPal sending out warning emails to thousands with "Account Limitations" aka "We need some information from you". Demanding its done before Nov 22 2020.
The email links to a PayPal "Resolutions page, asking for FOUR pieces of info:
1. Upload a photo ID
2. Provide information on account activity (often not made clear WHAT?)
3. Provide proof of fulfilment (even for users who DON'T SELL anything!)
4. Provide purchase receipt from your supplier (even for users who DON'T SELL anything!)
Does anyone have any idea what this utter waste of time screw-up is about?
Following that link to the PayPal forums, we found several threads including one titled, "
Account suddenly limited," where a PayPal user reported:
My account suddenly became limited. I only use it to buy items for myself. PayPal wants a photo ID and purchase receipt for my supplier. What supplier? I don't sell anything.
We sent an inquiry to PayPal this evening.
Update 10/9/2020: A PayPal spokesperson responded Thursday night: "We are aware of this technical issue impacting some customers, and PayPal’s technical team is quickly responding. The issue will be resolved soon. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our customers." Shortly afterwards, she said the technical issue had been resolved.