Sunday, May 10, 2009

Bonehead PayPal

PayPal’s website states that “the purpose of PayPal is:

  1. Your sensitive financial information is securely stored on our servers.
  2. When you use PayPal to pay online, you provide only your PayPal email address.
  3. The merchants/retailers receive payment from PayPal without ever seeing your financial information.”


Now I have received the following:
We've updated your PayPal account.

Now you can pay without tapping in to your PayPal balance.
Hello Customer,

We're always looking for ways to improve and perfect PayPal to make sure you have the best possible experience. So from June 8, 2009 'til June 8, 2010, we're giving some of our members - including you! - some new payment options, and we'd love to hear what you think.

Up til now, if you had a balance in your PayPal account, that balance was automatically applied towards any purchase you made.

But from June 8, 2009 through June 8, 2010, your default payment source will be automatically set to your credit card instead of your balance*. So, even if you have money in your PayPal account, you can leave your balance for future use. And if you have more than one credit card on file with PayPal, just log in to verify which card is set as your default.

Don't want to pay with your credit card? No problem. Just click "Change" under "Payment method" when you're reviewing your purchase during checkout.

We'll check in with you after you've had a chance to try out your new options-any feedback you give us would be truly appreciated. You could help shape the future of PayPal!

If you have any questions at all, please visit our Help Center
Thanks,
PayPal

Aside from the fact that this new ‘option’ steps all over the PayPal stated purpose, and that it is not an ‘option’ at all since I apparently don’t have any choice, it seems clear to me that they are disingenuous when they say they’d “love to hear” what I think. Well perhaps, but not yet. They provide no mechanism for providing that feedback right now, and, obviously, I am ready to respond!


Of course, I don’t need to try this new option, as if I haven’t already had the ability to pay online with credit cards. In fact, since you cannot pay for everything with PayPal, e.g. Amazon, you have to use credit cards. I use PayPal because it is an alternative to credit cards. PayPal must figure it will make more money with credit card transactions. Well, I guess I can always not use PayPal until June 9th 2010.

What a bonehead move PayPal!!!

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