Been gone a while and want to subscribe again

Its very stupid but if I remember correctly you have to click on paypal to get to credit card options.

 

Crazy. The mods do not seem to know that, at least I was never pointed to that.

Anyway, payment without a paypal account does not work in my case at least. I tried out 1) Amex and 2) SEPA debit mandate from the bank account.

After having typed in all the stuff I received in both cases the message that the credit card cannot be used or that the bank account cannot be used. Presumably due to the payment amount being in USD?

The only thing that worked is that these crooks from paypal confirmed by email that they now have a mandate to debit from my bank account (but that the payment is not being executed!!!!). I deeply regret having tried this paypal path out, even without the need to open a paypal account. They undertake everything to collect data for whatever purposes ....

I now have further efforts to cancel this debit mandate again and anticipate trouble with these crooks ....

This forum would be improved, if another direct and common payment path would be offered, independent of paypal or other obscure payment websites. Like credit card, SEPA mandate, or wire transfer.

P.S.: Of course the creditor ID of paypal is a Luxembourg ID, i.e. there is practically no chance for any kind of litigation in case they use the mandate or the data inapropriately ....

P.P.S.: THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ANNOYING! Just received an email from paypal in response to my cancellation email with respect to the SEPA mandate. Here is a translation: "Thank you for your email. Unfortunately this email account is not attended to and you will not receive a response to your email. For contacting us please log in into your paypal acccount and click the link "contact ..." WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?????? To cancel the SEPA mandate I need to open a paypal account?????? No other email contact information on the paypal homepage (without log-in) naturally??? Thank you very much FChat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

So, now phoned with the customer service of paypal to inquire a valid email contact address. Initially reluctant (and confirming that there is no email contact information on the website in absence of an account) an email address was provided. It sometimes is of advantange to be an attorney. Sent them the cancellation notice to this address. Will see what happens. Additionally ordered my bank to block any and all debite orders by paypal, creditor ID: LU96ZZZ0000000000000000058. Fortunately I am a customer, which the bank rushes to please...

 

I subscribed without being a PayPal subscriber, a couple of times, I have a UK bank account, paid by Visa, USD not a problem. Didn't have a problem either time and no obligation to have a PayPal account, unless it's changed since last November?

 

Wayne........when I updated my membership a few months ago I can assure you there were no credit card options until you clicked on PayPal. It took me a couple of days to figure it out.

 

Here is the screen you get when you attempt to buy a subscription. There are no other payment options until you click on PayPal.

To pay for your subscription, please click the order button next to your preferred payment method and follow the instructions on the following page.
Subscription: Rossa
Duration: 1 Year
Cost: US$50.00

Order Using PayPal
To pay for your subscription using PayPal click the button below and follow the onscreen instructions. Subscriptions will be activated immediately unless your payment has to "clear" through Paypal first.

 

I was just addressing the problem.....not the complaints.
And incidentally when I was subscribing I asked the question and was ignored by the administrator and had to figure out how to pay by myself.

 

I agree....good point. But I have Dental Floss to pick right now while riding a horse.......about this high. Gotta go. Life is tough in Montana.

 

I did ask two moderators quite a time ago and the responses were rather unfriendly (in my reception).

After having seen this thread with the hint to paypal without paypal account, I clicked the paypal option and the option of payment without paypal account. I had opted for 150 USD payment. This opened a page in German language offering payment by four credit cards (Amex among these) or by SEPA debit mandate.

First I tried out Amex. After having filled in everything and pressing the pay button a page was displayed saying that this credit card cannot be used for the payment.

Then I tried out SEPA. After having filled in everything and pressing the pay button a page was displayed that this bank account cannot be used for the payment.

In parallel to the SEPA attempt, I received an email from paypal saying that they have created a SEPA debit mandate in their favor. And that this is NOT a payment confirmation and independent of a payment order. I answered (answer button) by cancelling the mandate and requesting deletion of my data (credit card number including safety number, bank account details, phone number, name and email address). This prompted an auto-response by them that this email account is not attended to and that I will not receive a response. I then looked at the paypal website for a contact email address. There is none (in the German version at least), only a phone number of a call center. I called there and urged the person to give me a proper email address for contact (this person by the way confirmed to me, that this email address is intended for persons only, who are loggid-in, i.e. have a paypal account). I then sent my email with the above requests to this email address. I received a response stating that they will not delete anything, but keep the data 7 years according to paypal data guidelines (last sentence: "I am happy having been able to help you" *lool*). This, by the way, is illegal under German law. I responded by pointing to the legal situation in detail, and repeating my request. I do not expect to receive any reaction. They are located in Luxembourg and this country is a safe haven for tax "avoidance" and against any kind of litigation (there, independent of the outcome, both sides pay their attorneys without refund, typically high four figure amounts, often more).

 

I occasionally have thoughts in that manner, but rarely post like that ... ;o))). Punching ball in the cellar is of better social compatibility *lol*

One moderator by the way accused me of being a liar with respect to my problems (about 2 years ago) making a payment without using paypal. It that time some in Germany unknown UK payment website was offered as an alternative to paypal and trying this out led to my Visa card being blocked by the bank with the ground of "security reasons". I had to walk there to reactivate it. I then opted to reconsider my urge of getting rid of money ;o))).

P.S.: I am somewhat sure that having a paypal account makes the payment easy. But I personally am reluctant to open an account with a kind of banking company, which is beyond control of bank control authorities (Bafin in Germany) and believe that their own "law" is prior to national laws. I bought several items from Fchatters, including in the USA, and wire transfer as well as credit card worked out smooth, so there is not need to use paypal. It definitely is not the only way to transfer money internationally.

 

Sorry, no. I do not like public bashing of specific persons for minor reasons. It was via PM (wherein I consider the component "P" as "personal"). He might be a nice guy (I do not know) and have had just a bad day. It did no material harm to me ;o)).

He will know and might chime in, if he thinks it appropriate.

But in this specific context it is interesting to read your statements about this UK based payment service, so not only my bank had such concerns (what the moderator apparently did not believe).

 

It might be helpful in understanding payment issues to note different situations in the USA and Europe (or "rest of world").

In the USA most banks do not have international connectivity ("SWIFT"). Wire transfer from abroad needs routing via an US correspondence bank with international connectivity. Sounds complicated, but works well, nevertheless. But costs in total about 40.-- for each transfer.

In Europe (and most parts of the rest of the world) all banks have international connectivity. Wire transfers to other European countries or to the US are just a few clicks. No need to use paypal or any other kind of payment service. No costs for transfers within Europe. Bank-independent payment services are frequently used (in Europe) for obscure purposes (product piracy, illegal drugs, fake pharmaceuticals, etc.).

The lack of international connectivity of most US banks might make it logical to use paypal for US residents, in particular in international private purchases. In Europe paypal does not provide advantages, except of a little bit more easy use (no PIN, TAN or the like, but less security, logically).

Assuming that FChat is truly international, it might be considered to accept credit cards. If the related costs are prohibitive, then it might be considered to open an account in an European country (rather not UK, "Brexit") for European members (who have concerns about paypal). Some of our associates have such accounts and this makes things very easy for both sides (easy, fast, 24h, and costless SEPA transfer from all European countries)

Paypal tries to force people to use their system. My experience is typical. Most people who need to pay something probably would have given up and opened a paypal account. Exactly that is why "this credit card" or "this bank account" suddenly "cannot be used" , after having entered everything and fed their data hunger. Be sure that "this credit card" or "this bank account" can be used, if you have an account. Since even without paypal account the bank account was used to create a SEPA mandate, without execution of the payment order ... ;o)). I regard this as unethical (aside the breach of national law, consumer protection law and competition law, by such intentional "complications").

 

I, now again, regret having even considered subscribing and paying money to your enterprise.

Strange kind of communication with potential customers and nice example what others may expect. This is exactly the opposite of customer friendly. If at all, you should have requested to PM you the nick of the moderator in question. And not to post it in the public (would be interesting what the moderator thinks of your public bashing request?) Were you not an adminstrator I would suspect the above cited being a troll post.

Cheers, Bernhard

P.S.: Do you have paypal shares that you want to force people into opening accounts with them? Or any other affiliation? Have you at any time considered, that private persons might be just as happy in life without a subscription?

 

Geez, do all you guys buy underwear two sizes too small, or what?


D