My money has been locked for 2 years!? HELP

[OBenson01]

My account was closed almost 2 years ago. I have nearly $2k in my account that has not been released to me. I have emailed and used the message center over 50 times to no avail. They closed my account, told me after 180 days I would be instructed on how to transfer my money. I have heard NOTHING from Paypal. I feel as if they are stealing my money. Do I need to contact the authorities at this point? I honestly don't know what to do. I NEED my money EXTREMELY bad at this time...

[jppaul999]

I feel your pain. The same has happened to me for over a year. I was lucky to get most of my money out (a little over three grand) before they froze the account, but I am still trying to get the rest so that I can close the account permanently.

It started with PayPal stating that I had violated their user policy, a claim that was 100% false and totally rectified after numerous conversations (email, messages, and phone) with multiple PayPal service departments. It was not a violation, instead it was a simple change of address that was clearly explained and verified directly with PayPal employees.

Yet I continue to wait for PayPal to release the hold so that I can transfer the final shackles in my account and close it .... AS PER THEIR OWN INSTRUCTIONS!!!!! But they won't even communicate with me about that.... for the past year-plus!!! 

[kernowlass]

@OBenson01 

If you have been told your Paypal account has been permanently limited then Paypal tends to hold any funds for 180 days. This is the same time frame that buyers have to open Paypal disputes.

If no disputes are opened in 180 days then normally you are allowed to withdraw the funds. That is as long as you are over 18, account is in your legal name and the account is registered in the country where you reside.

Sometimes they confiscate funds under this policy.
https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/ua/useragreement-full?locale.x=en_US#actions

Paypal also may request further documentation from you before you can withdraw those funds.

Contact options for Paypal are accessed by clicking help/contact bottom left of Paypal pages...

1. Paypal phones (you can use the guest option if you can't log in).
2. Live chat is also randomly available.
3. You can send them a message, during business hours you may also be able to message whilst logged out.
Or
4. Have you considered contacting Customer Service via Facebook or Twitter?
You can send them a personal message from their Facebook or Twitter pages.
It's: https://www.facebook.com/PayPal and @AskPayPal for Twitter.

[jppaul999]

In my case, they haven't told me anything for much longer than 180 days. In fact, it has been double that. I have received ZERO response other than the useless auto-answers for a year!!!

I moved to a different country. I informed PayPal in both written and phone form, talking to the support staff dozens of times over a one month period. I confirmed my new address and phone number. PayPal still said I couldn't use the old PayPal account because I no longer resided in the original country. Fine. I opened a new PayPal account in my new country without a hitch, verified the address and identity, and linked local cards and bank accounts.

The problem, now many months and counting, is that PayPal has totally suspended any transactions on the old account. They won't let me transfer the remaining funds out, they won't let me delete the account entirely, and essentially the account remains in limbo. I have no client disputes and never have had any. They know exactly who I am and where I live, and yet they refuse to even discuss my case or give me ANY indication of what they feel is wrong.

I live half way around the world, so there are very small windows of time when they are open and I am awake. Last year I sacrificed sleep and work to communicate with them several times. Still nothing. The lack of respect they have shown me is beyond comprehension.

[kernowlass]

@jppaul999 

Paypal is country specific so if you move countries you are supposed to withdraw any funds / resolve issues / remove cards and bank accounts / cancel any subscriptions and close the old Paypal account before you move countries. 

Unlikely paypal can help you if you try and access funds from your old account from another country.