PayPal Problems: United Kingdom
NOTE: If you are from the United Kingdom, please let us know what you would like to see on this page! Your suggestions are important and will be added for the benefit of others. It is our goal to expand this section and make it as complete and useful as possible. Contact us now with your suggestions!
Introduction
Paypal, Inc. is a subsidiary of eBay, Inc. However, all complaints that you might want to generate must be directed against PayPal Inc. As a resident of the United Kingdom, you have advantages that other residents of other countries do not share: PayPal is governed in the United Kingdom by both British law and European Union law.
Additionally, another advantage that you have is as of July 2, 2007, PayPal Inc. has been granted a banking license under the European Union. Paypal, in Europe, is licensed as a bank. As such, PayPal must operate and comply with European Union banking standards.
That gives you three possible avenues of approach to force PayPal to comply with your demands.
Much of the information found throughout this website in dealing with PayPal problems is relevant to you as a citizen or resident of the United Kingdom. However, this page is designed to show you where to go specifically to contact PayPal UK or UK/European Union authorities to lodge a complaint.
I will not go into a lot of details here, this page is here only to advise you as to where you can go to file a complaint or complaints against PayPal in your country.
TIP: Links to all the mentioned contacts are provided below. Click on the name of the contact or click on the HERE to be taken to your contact point!
(1) A good first place to start is Consumer Direct.
You can find a link to their site HERE. They cover a wide variety of consumer complaints as well as free advice on how to proceed with your complaint. They are the FIRST stop you should make when considering a complaint against PayPal.
(2) As mentioned in the introduction, PayPal is now a licensed bank in the European Union -- of which the United Kingdom is a member. In the United Kingdom, The FSA (Financial Services Authority) regulates all banks allowed to operate in your country. You can find a link HERE.
On their main page, to the far right, you will see a button named CONSUMER INFORMATION. That is where you want to start. NOTE: I know some persons are still angry PayPal got backing from the FSA a few years back -- but that was before PayPal was a licensed bank!
NOTE: Do not be misled. The fact that PayPal moved its headquarters out of the UK DOES NOT MEAN they are no longer subject to FSA authority. PayPal is STILL SUBJECT to FSA authority!
PayPal (Europe)
Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in
the United Kingdom as an electronic money institution. PayPal FSA
Register Number: 226056
(3) Contact eConsumer.
This is a joint program run by over 21 countries to resolve online complaints and fight against consumer fraud. You can find a link to them HERE.
(4) There is also Trading Standards Central.
This is a one stop shop for consumer protection information in the United Kingdom. You can find a link HERE.
(5) Contact your European Union parliament member about proceeding with a complaint against PayPal for violation of Directive 2005/29/EC The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive.
(6) Contact your Member of Parliament.
You would be surprised about how willing they are to help their constituents. At a minimum, they will be able to provide you with specific and voluminous information on where and how you can file complaints regarding PayPal Europe.
(7) Consider using Her Majesty's Courts Service.
Sometimes the courts can settle what filing a complaint cannot. You have a right to sue PayPal in "small claims court" to get your money back. You cannot sign that right away, even if PayPal's terms of service says you cannot! You can find all the information in the link provided.
