Steer Clear of Paypal

Posted: 06/23/2009

If you are considering using Paypal’s Website Payments Pro service for $30 per month, I would think twice. I was warned that their customer service was atrocious, but it’s much worse. If you are currently using them, you already know that every phone number they provide to reach merchant services directly takes you through the same automated system as every other Paypal number. Here are the steps I recommend to get you through to someone that can help, without losing your mind:

1. Take a shot (and one additional shot for each time you are disconnected)
2. Call any of several “direct lines” to merchant services
3. Say “no” when the automated system picks up
4. Say “agent” three times in a row, you will be placed on hold
5. You will get an agent, but they will be in the wrong department. They will inevitably discover that they cannot help you, and will transfer you to the merchant support group (which is the one you wanted in the first place). So save yourself the pain and demand an immediate transfer to merchant support. You will be on hold again for a while.

Good luck!