Some Kind of Pal
Hey, Pal, got a few bucks? Like maybe the $1600 in my PayPal account that you’ve been doing your best to keep me from getting my hands on?
PayPal’s $500 per month withdrawal limit (unless they can verify your SSN) really pisses me off. How on earth do they have access to SSN information in the first place? And, since they’ve already got my bank account info and my credit card info, why do they need that, too, just so I can access my cash?
I signed up for PayPal years ago using my maiden name since, at the time, I used it for all business purposes. PayPal was pretty easy going back then: no SSN verification required. Since then, I’ve updated my SSN records to reflect my married name… which means last month when I tried verifying my SSN online at the PayPal site it didn’t work.
Now they want a copy of my driver’s license and Social Security card before they’ll lift the $500/mo. withdrawal limit. And they want them faxed or sent through the mail. That is so not happening.
Late last month I signed up for a PayPal Debit card. I figure at least that will let me use the cash in my account which, according to my financial reporting software, is earning a pretty decent interest rate while they hold onto it. (5.03% right now, as a matter of fact.)
The only — and I mean only — benefit to this whole stupidity is that the money I’ve earned blogging has mostly remained in that account and, since VH doesn’t have a debit card to access it, I finally have a little “mad money” again. It’s been nice, too.
There’s nothing quite like whipping out my card at Wal-Mart to purchase some eyeliner and some bubble bath I just had to have, and not feeling the least bit of fear that I’m going to get nagged at for the expense. I bought four gorgeous Polish pottery coffee mugs yesterday using my card and again marveled at how wonderful it is to have a little money of my own to spend on things I want but don’t necessarily need.
Come to think of it, PayPal, you can just keep holding on to my earnings for me. Because right now I’ve got my sites set on another thing VH says we don’t need — an Nintendo Wii — but he can’t complain much if I spend “my” money on it instead of “our” funds. Right?
*never tease someone who is dieting* *never tease someone who is dieting* *never tease...
Go for the Wii! I have grown to absolutely adore ours.
Oh, I’m definitely going to get one — I’ve got no doubt the Boy and I will have a blast with it! It’s just a matter of ‘when’ now.
Just bear in mind that PayPal is not a bank and is not covered by federal banking regulations. Technically, they have no right to your SSN, but it’s part of their TOS… PayPal can, and does, put all kinds of ridiculous limitations on how you can use their service. As long aas you’re ok with it, go for it. There was the time that they “froze” over $1700 in my account during a so-called investigation. Sheesh…
Bah. I have not even allowed PayPal to verify any of my bank accounts yet… I got burned by that site way back in college, and am only dealing with it now because I have to due to pay-to-post limitations. Of course, I also only have all of 50 bucks hidden away in it, so I am in a slightly different ballpark.
Me, I am just waiting for September to have a good reason to try and convince Better Half with to buy a 360…
I keep nothing in my Paypal… then again I don’t have anyone paying me that way. My boss still pays me with an old fashioned check. LOL. Considering he’s a computer geek – this always makes me laugh.
I verified a little used checking account a long time ago and rarely use PayPal now. But, when I do I usally spend the $$ quick so no interest lost.
))
The Wii is fantastic.
It took me forever to find one. But, well worth the wait.
I have a few hundred in paypal I use for printer ink, and some computer peripherals, like my LaCie 100 GB usb drive. I also made a small purchase to woot.com from there.
I actually like PayPal, except for the withdrawal limit — it lets me shop without VH knowing about it.
You are sneaky Kate.
Don’t you wear the financial pants in the family yet?
Well, I do handle the bill-paying to save on all that yelling. But I still get guilt-trips for spending, say, $30 on a pair of jeans instead of a mere $15.
And let’s not even TALK about how little I’m supposed to spend on shoes.