Wojtek M's dashboard

On March 12 2009, just after receiving notification of instant payment, PayPal sent me notification of “partially restricted” account pending verification of my ID.
In Australia (where I reside) to open a bank account one must present at the bank documents like Passport, Driving Licence, Birth Certificate and so on, which obviously I did.
To open PayPal account and to become a “Verified” user one must provide PayPal with bank account and credit cards’ details, which I did too, so one could assume that no further ID verification would be required; wrong, PayPal can apparently do to you whatever they want and to your money too.
On 12 March 2009, I had in my PayPal account some $1,200, well no more; today, with me not being able to access the money, there is only $980 left or so.
Furthermore, eBay who owns PayPal, pesters me for a $100.71 payment of my monthly eBay fee (for selling), I refuse to pay because there was an automatic payment arrangement that PayPal/eBay neglected when they froze my account, so today this $100.71 looks more like $107.50 (Interest on unpaid fees). The paradox in here is that they hold my original $1,200 in “my” PayPal account, demand from me $107.50, still having my authorization for automatic payment, and each of my nominated bank accounts is more than able to cover the fees.
Now, to “unlock” my PayPal account they request me to send them copy of my Passport and this I REFUSE to do; what do you need to be able to purchase a SIM card for a mobile phone? You need a Passport. What today’s terrorists use for exploding bombs? They use mobile phones fitted with SIM cards purchased with stolen Identities, so, what guarantee do I have that my Passport would not be misused or compromised???? The answer is NONE; some three weeks after I sent my first letter to PayPay when making attempt to resolve the matter, they responded, that the fax number provided in their web site was MISS PRINTED! Whose fax number was it then? In whose hands a copy of my passport would have had fallen should I sheepishly follow their request?
I presented this matter to Australian Federal Police, no help there; I contacted the Privacy Commissioner’s office and the Attorney General’s office no help over there either. I also instigated VCAT* case against them; 20 hours before the hearing VCAT notified me that on request of PayPal the tribunal agreed to a telephone hearing and simultaneously adjourned the hearing to a later (to be fixed) date.
My conclusions:
• Government bodies DO NOT care about a citizen, they only care for the tax money we, as their milking cows can generate for the, and
• There is little justice available to defend ourselves, and
• Do not EVER use neither eBay nor PayPal; you will burn your hands with a 3 degree burns.
VCAT – Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal with powers similar to a Supreme Court, only High Court can overrule its decisions, you do not need a lawyer there, you can present your case in person.
Wishing you all the best,
Wojtek M