eBay and PayPal and MasterCard and slot parts

[poppo]

I don't know if this is new or not but it's the first time I ran into it. I made a purchase (just a few dollars) on eBay for a slot machine part (something I have done a million times). I went to pay for it with PayPal and use my MasterCard for the funding source (something I've also done a million times). But it was declined and a message popped up to call PayPal customer service. After calling PayPal, I was told that it was not declined directly by MasterCard, but due to an agreement with Mastercard to not allow payments for adult material (i.e. porn etc) or gaming stuff. In other words, it was declined before even being sent to Mastercard. So WTF is up with that? Is this some new 'morals' policy from PayPal?  Anyone else run into this?

<edit> And just to make sure, I looked and the part was listed under:  Collectibles > Casino > Slots > Replacement Parts
 

[stayouttadabunker]

oh crap...that's going to jam a wrench in the gears...Arghhh!!!

[Yoeddy1]

Wow, weird.  Haven't seen that one before.  Even when I buy myself a nice gift basket of porn.  

Jason

[FORDSBS]

Got this the other day. It did nit come from PayPal.
Needless to say I didn't respond to it.

Dear PayPal Account Holder,

As part of our security measures, we regularly screen activity in
the PayPal system. We recently contacted you after noticing an
issue on your account.

We request information from you for the following reason:

We recently received a report of unauthorized credit card use
associated with this account. As a precaution, we have limited
your online account access in order to protect against future
unauthorized transactions.

Case ID Number: PP-859-48-3971

This is a reminder to restore your account as soon as possible.

Please download the form attached to this email and open it in a
web browser. Once opened, you will be provided with steps to
restore your account access. We appreciate your understanding as
we work to ensure account safety.

In accordance with PayPal User Agreement, your account access
will remain unauthorized until the issue has been resolved.
Unfortunately, if access to your account remains unauthorized for
an extended period of time, it may result in eventual account closure.
We encourage you to restore your PayPal account as soon as possible
to help avoid this.
We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.Please understand
that this is a security measure intended to help protect you and your
account. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Sincerely,
PayPal

You are receiving this email notification because this email address is listed as the administrative contact email for your PayPal account.

Please do not reply to this email. This mailbox is not monitored and you will not receive a response. Please download the attached PayPal
Form and complete the file and click on Submit button.

PayPal Email ID PP076
Case ID Number: PP-859-48-3971

[SinCitySlots]

That is an attempt at Phishing.
The addressee is generic.
Any communication from PayPal, EBay, credit card companies will be addressed to the account holder's name.
BEWARE and stay far, far, away from these scams!

[poppo]

 

 

[SinCitySlots]

Agreed
Phishing and payment rejection are two completely different things.
Phishing can be detrimental to your identity.
Payment rejection only means you need to get a prepaid credit card so that your "adult" fun arrives intact and ready for the party! LOL
 

[FORDSBS]

Sorry Poppo

[poppo]

A little more info. The first time I tried to pay, and it tossed up the declined message, I called PayPal and was just told that MasterCard declined the charge. So I called my CC company because I have had them put a hold on my card before due to possible fraud. But when I talked to them, not only was there no hold on the card, but they had no record of an attempt being made to make the purchase (i.e. no authorization request). So thinking it may have just been a fluke because my Internet has been wigging out the last few day, I went back and tried it again. Same thing. So I called back again and that is when I was told that the first person did not explain it properly and that it was declined specifically because it was under the 'slot machine' category. She mentioned the adult stuff as another category that will get declined. She seemed to indicate that this was MasterCard's policy and not PayPal, but I don't trust PayPal to tell the truth on stuff like this.  I could see if perhaps I was in state that had a prohibition on slots and such, but I'm not. I told PayPal that I have made many purchases like this in the past without problem. The CS person told me that there are policy changes made all of the time and this may be a new one.

The bank account I have tied to the PayPal account never has any funds in it due to some of the horror stories I have heard about PayPal removing funds or doing other things that screw with your bank account. It's not easy for me to add money to that account since it's not local. I know I could link another credit card to it as a workaround, but this is more about the policy (if it's true) than how to make the payment. I don't like companies telling me I can't pay for legal items with my credit card. Whats next on the 'banned' list?

Anyway, it may have still been just a fluke of some sort. I may be buying something else slot related later today and may have a chance to try again.

[PLUNGER BOY]

poppo i just had 2 delivery's yesterday from eBay and used paypal. all slot stuff and I'm in a no no state  but i use visa

[FORDSBS]

I just got some legends on Ebay & paid PayPal with MasterCard & no problem

[poppo]

I just got some legends on Ebay & paid PayPal with MasterCard & no problem

When did you make the payment? If this is a change, it just took place in the last few days because I bought some stuff a few days ago without problem too. It was yesterday that this happened.

[FORDSBS]

I just got some legends on Ebay & paid PayPal with MasterCard & no problem

When did you make the payment? If this is a change, it just took place in the last few days because I bought some stuff a few days ago without problem too. It was yesterday that this happened.

Yesterday around 4 PM

[poppo]

I called PayPal back again to see what their story was this time. She said that this is probably vendor specific. She said that when a vendor signs up for PayPal they have to list the type of business they are in. And depending on the category, MasterCard may not allow payment to be made. She said the 'return code' they get is not very specific and all it does it tells them that it was denied internally and due to a 'category' that is not allowed by MasterCard.

So for now I will just assume it has something to do with this one particular vendor and how he set up his account.

I also asked how it is that he is selling on eBay using the PayPal logo with the MasterCard, Visa, Discover etc. logos saying they are accepted as payment. She didn't really have a good answer except to say the different CC logos are on the PayPal logo by default, but that doesn't automatically mean they will take every card. 

[stayouttadabunker]

"...the different CC logos are on the PayPal logo by default,but that doesn't automatically mean they will take every card."

Isn't that false advertising?

I'm amazed at the ineptness you're able to find out about the services that are present around you...lol
You need to be writing stories for "60 Minutes" 

[Brianzz]

The MasterCard fallout comes courtesy of online casinos and the UIGEA. MasterCard has just stopped processing anything that even resembles a gambling charge from an online casino.. ie slot machines, of course in the process shooting down hundreds of other transactions that aren't related online casinos.

[reho33]

I use my PP account and when I receive funds, I just leave them on there so if I want to purchase something, the funds are there. If I go over, the remainder comes out of my checking account because it is linked to the PP account. I do not have a credit card because of financial issues and personally dislike them. I never had an issue like the one described in this thread. Poppo, my Debit cards are VISA and work really well.

[PLUNGER BOY]

CRAP it just happened to me  my credit card is not excepted and all i bought is some silly legend stickers. i contacted the seller i dont know what to do . what a pain in the ass. If we cant buy slot stuff  off eBay  its going the be a lot tougher 

[cowboygames]

I bought a DSV00042 today and used paypal tied to discover card, no problem

[Buzz]

CRAP it just happened to me  my credit card is not excepted and all i bought is some silly legend stickers. i contacted the seller i dont know what to do . what a pain in the ass. If we cant buy slot stuff  off eBay  its going the be a lot tougher 

Do it the old fashion way, send the seller a money order. ( Cash if your brave )

[cowboygames]

LOL! Last time I paid cash I could feel the tickle on my colon for weeks afterward Cash only works if you're standing in front of what your buying. Like the old saying "A picture is worth a thousand lies"

[poppo]

CRAP it just happened to me  my credit card is not excepted and all i bought is some silly legend stickers.

Was the seller by any chance glassjawmcgraw? If so, it may indeed just be vendor specific. If not.  

[poppo]

Do it the old fashion way, send the seller a money order. ( Cash if your brave )

Many sellers require paypal as payment, especially on buy it now items. And I for one am not going to drive 30 miles to the post office to buy a MO.

[PLUNGER BOY]

CRAP it just happened to me  my credit card is not excepted and all i bought is some silly legend stickers.

Was the seller by any chance glassjawmcgraw? If so, it may indeed just be vendor specific. If not. 

yes it was

[poppo]

That may be a good sign then, since that is the same one I had the problem with. PayPal lists the name as Vintage Slot Parts Inc., which does not look anything like an on-line casino, so I'm not sure why it got flagged by MasterCard.