PayPal shuts down Hackers For Charity - Johnny kind of stranded...

[mike.mikemiller at gmail.com (Michael Miller)]

Dave,

I can see both sides of the argument.  I think what PayPal is failing
to provide is proper customer service, which lacks at most banking
institutions.

-mmiller

On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 8:55 AM, Dave
Ockwell-Jenner<doj at primeinfosec.com> wrote:
> Disclosure: I'm a big HFC fan and contribute where I can; Johnny is doing
> great work and is certainly heading toward greater things.
>
> I'm not trying to be controversial here, but having been through the exact
> same issue in the past, I do see another side here.
>
> Bottom line, it sounds like HFC/Johnny's PayPal account was set-up with
> incorrect information. Unless HFC is a *registered* Non-Profit, then the
> account should not have been set-up -as- non-profit. It's a *business*
> PayPal account, and so will require all the supporting documentation that
> any business -should- have: bank account in the name of the business, etc.
>
> I run a networking group for small businesses in my local area. We use
> PayPal. I had selected 'non-profit' back in the day when the account was
> created, as it was closest to what we are. We do not make money from it, but
> it's not a registered Non-Profit. Therefore, when our account was frozen by
> PayPal, we had to jump through these same hoops. We have a bank account in
> the name of the 'business' (which is just our organization) and the switch
> from Non-Profit to an appropriate business class was handled over the phone,
> with PayPal's resolution center agent. Of course, we submitted the necessary
> paperwork electronically. Whole process took maybe 2 days.
>
> From another perspective, PayPal are merely ensuring that account holders
> are not mis-representing themselves (i.e. claiming to be non-profit when
> they are not). It is their service, and if that's how they choose to run the
> service, it's up to us (as consumers) to use them, or not. I continue to use
> PayPal and have been very happy with the service.
>
> Now, that's not to say I'm insensitive to Johnny's plight... but perhaps he
> needs someone to manage the 'business' of HFC whilst he can go on doing the
> good work?
>
> Just a thought.
>
> Robin Wood wrote:
>
> 2009/7/15 Matt Hillman <cybereagle at gmail.com>:
>
>
> http://www.hackersforcharity.org/259/paypal-shuts-us-down/
>
> Not only is this screwing up Hackers for Charity's operations, but Johnny
> and his family are kind of being screwed as well! Spread the word, a lot of
> annoyed people might help this get resolved quicker.
>
> Its also on digg, if anyone still remembers there account heh
> http://digg.com/security/PayPal_shuts_down_Hackers_for_Charity
>
>
>
> This is bad, there has to be someone out there who has a contact
> inside Paypal who can help out.
>
> A charity I deal with got stuck in a similar position, a manager left
> and Paypal refused to talk to anyone else even though it was a
> business. They couldn't get cash out  till they went through a whole
> raft of paperwork and proving things. Paypal were not helpful at all.
>
> Robin
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