PayPal embargoed countries

[sidthelamp]

You have missed my point.
In your first post on this thread you said "he restricted countries vary depending on the country where your business is domiciled. In the US, you can generally expect that payments will not be accepted from the following countries.
My point was that that the payments do not have to be FROM an embargoed country. It can be a payment from a non-embargoed to another non-embargoed country for a stamp issued by an embargoed country.
I did make the point that I consider the embargo to be incorrect and illegal and as such is a problem

i know they dont have to be from the embargoed ountrys, thats what my last post said,

[Cancelcollector]

The whole thing seems a bit dodgy to me, so I avoid anything at ALL ambiguous. I live in the US, and am subject to US law... and even if I have US stamps from the early 1900s overprinted "CUBA" for use by the US administration in Cuba-- so BEFORE any embargos, and even not for use in Cuba "proper"-- I avoid offering them... mostly because PayPal's filters are not "intelligent." They just see the word "Cuba" and make the assumption I am up to doing something illegal. FeeBay is much the same...

Now if you are a resident of a country that doesn't have a trade embargo with Cuba and sell Cuban stamps to someone in a country that doesn't have a trade embargo with Cuba... technically speaking, you shouldn't have an issue, UNLESS the letter of the law states that PayPal (as a company domiciled in the US) cannot act as an intermediary in a transaction that involves a nation under embargo. What's important in all this is also that the determining factor is often where something was MADE, not where it is sold or paid for. PayPal seems almost hysterically cautious because (I suppose?) they are afraid of getting in hot water with the US State Department.

The workaround seems to be to list what you can and say "no PayPal on this item" on potentially affected items-- make people send cash, money orders, or use Skrill or some other service.

Just some random thoughts,
~Peter

[tony41]

The whole thing seems a bit dodgy to me, so I avoid anything at ALL ambiguous. I live in the US, and am subject to US law... and even if I have US stamps from the early 1900s overprinted "CUBA" for use by the US administration in Cuba-- so BEFORE any embargos, and even not for use in Cuba "proper"-- I avoid offering them... mostly because PayPal's filters are not "intelligent." They just see the word "Cuba" and make the assumption I am up to doing something illegal. FeeBay is much the same...

Now if you are a resident of a country that doesn't have a trade embargo with Cuba and sell Cuban stamps to someone in a country that doesn't have a trade embargo with Cuba... technically speaking, you shouldn't have an issue, UNLESS the letter of the law states that PayPal (as a company domiciled in the US) cannot act as an intermediary in a transaction that involves a nation under embargo. What's important in all this is also that the determining factor is often where something was MADE, not where it is sold or paid for. PayPal seems almost hysterically cautious because (I suppose?) they are afraid of getting in hot water with the US State Department.

The workaround seems to be to list what you can and say "no PayPal on this item" on potentially affected items-- make people send cash, money orders, or use Skrill or some other service.

Just some random thoughts,
~Peter

My not so random thoughts on the matter are that Paypal Europe is a company domiciled in Luxembourg not in the US. As a European company it should not be placing an embargo on transactions between two individuals neither of whom is a US citizen. It would appear that Paypal Europe is acting illegally. The problem is that those affected are small individuals who have neither the time or the money to pursue Paypal Europe through the legal system. Therefore Paypal Europe is allowed to do just what they like. Perish the thought that Paypal Europe is not really independent of the US and is only operating from Luxembourg to avoid (evade?) taxation.

[WilliamSimpson]

Easy way round it - offer your items for sale as normal - withdraw Paypal as a payment option - then send a money request for the amount spent by the buyer.

I was investigated for selling a 115 year old Sudan Stamp and they returned the payment to the buyer. Sent a money request voila in its' place - all ok!

[Clanstamps]

On 19/5/2016 I sold around 50 stamps from my Ebid store to one buyer. There was one stamp from Sudan included. I thought nothing about it as I have sold many Sudan stamps in the past without a problem (I cannot remember which methods of payment were used as I previously had a Skrill account and also accepted cash and po's. On the following day I sent the invoice which was paid. I received an email informing me the payment was pending, it would be investigated, and completed within 72 hours.Is it worth contacting Paypal. At the end of the 72hrs is it simply a matter of them returning the payment to the buyer or are there consequences. Hugh

[tony41]

On 19/5/2016 I sold around 50 stamps from my Ebid store to one buyer. There was one stamp from Sudan included. I thought nothing about it as I have sold many Sudan stamps in the past without a problem (I cannot remember which methods of payment were used as I previously had a Skrill account and also accepted cash and po's. On the following day I sent the invoice which was paid. I received an email informing me the payment was pending, it would be investigated, and completed within 72 hours.Is it worth contacting Paypal. At the end of the 72hrs is it simply a matter of them returning the payment to the buyer or are there consequences. Hugh

There seems to be no consistency. The first time this happened to me I sold one Cuban stamp (issued in 1899) in a larger batch. The payment was suspended then cancelled. I had to promise that I would never try to use Paypal in transactions involving Cuba. About a year later I had a similar situation involving a stamp from Sudan. I got an payment notice from Paypal. I contacted the buyer to arrange alternative payment and before we could arrange anything Paypal authorised the payment. I looked a fool. I would contact your buyer, tell them the position and wait until Paypal "resolve" the situation (always assuming the buyer is prepared to wait).
The annoying thing is that all this would be unnecessary if Paypal Europe would obey EU law.

[Clanstamps]

Hi, GOOD NEWS. Paypal passed the money through to my account on Saturday 21st, with no comment.It may be that they have mellowed and are now prepared to accept that transactions of this type do not fall within the remit of the embargo. It may always be the case that the initial payment will be 'pending' when the computer picks up the trigger word but resolved, as in this case, when passed to a 'real person' for a decision. Lets hope so but only time will tell. I think I will list a few more Sudan on the strength of it. Hugh

[kozersky]

On 19/5/2016 I sold around 50 stamps from my Ebid store to one buyer. There was one stamp from Sudan included. I thought nothing about it as I have sold many Sudan stamps in the past without a problem (I cannot remember which methods of payment were used as I previously had a Skrill account and also accepted cash and po's. On the following day I sent the invoice which was paid. I received an email informing me the payment was pending, it would be investigated, and completed within 72 hours.Is it worth contacting Paypal. At the end of the 72hrs is it simply a matter of them returning the payment to the buyer or are there consequences. Hugh

Perhaps this will help ...

The following is from the IPDA - Internet Philatelic Dealers Association:

Dealing in USED stamps
Reported 16 June 2014

The following letter has been recived, so the IPDA now has it in writting that the dealing in used postage stamps does not cause a problem with the santions in place in the USA

It clarifies that philatelic material that is already located in the USA and cancelled stamps, (and therefore covers with cancelled stamps), are not subject to the prohibitions in the regulations.

eBay are now being contacted, asking them that in view of this clarification, they should lift their restriction on selling philatelic from the sanctioned countries that is not subject to the U.S. Treasury regulations




Bill K-

[tony41]

Perhaps this will help ...

The following is from the IPDA - Internet Philatelic Dealers Association:

Dealing in USED stamps
Reported 16 June 2014

The following letter has been recived, so the IPDA now has it in writting that the dealing in used postage stamps does not cause a problem with the santions in place in the USA

It clarifies that philatelic material that is already located in the USA and cancelled stamps, (and therefore covers with cancelled stamps), are not subject to the prohibitions in the regulations.

eBay are now being contacted, asking them that in view of this clarification, they should lift their restriction on selling philatelic from the sanctioned countries that is not subject to the U.S. Treasury regulations




Bill K-

Thanks for this info. I wonder if this applies to Paypal (Europe)? Wouldn't like to guarantee it.

[wilber11]

after having similar events to my PP acc' they have now closed said acc' permanent. sales are now near zero because of them, im shocked. and the same will happen to most if not all those that are already in suspend mode. i have hadto change all my business and banking details to NOT accept PP anymore, took a long while but got through it, have monies in that acc' too and it wont be released or ever paid back, which i think is a blatant (legal) SCAM conducted by PP, i will NEVER deal with this behemoth again, am now doing a great replacement platform called 'worldremit' and i dont know how it can be included here but it should be another option? also Skrill are just as good as with comparable rates and quick an easy to join.
good luck to all those in a similar situation.
Oh and also there Is no-one to talk to at PP only customer service and they say they dont discuss "technical matters' only the tech department will deal with these complaints only through emails, which incidentaly take many days to reply to or not at all, go figure!