Paypal requesting photo ID

they got hacked a few years ago...not a company i will use again.

This is c&p Paypal USA forum....

https://www.paypal-community.com/t5/Limits-and-verification/Request-for-Photo-ID-and-proof-of-address/td-p/717679?profile.language=en-gb

I've been using it for years to and have never been asked but apparently quite a few people have according to Twitter.

I would imagine that what they may have perceived as 'suspicious activity' would have prompted them.

if you have a lot of money going through there they will want proof of i.d. to prove that you are not money laundering

Thanks for the link johnizere - it appears from reading it through that they won't re-instate the account without me sending in some proof, although a couple of people have said they have sent in a "fuzzy" copy with the important numbers redacted and had it accepted!

There was no suspicious activity on my part - just buying a few bits and pieces from e-bay and a monthly payment for Gruss.

I'm not really keen on sending in my ID. I would just not bother apart from the fact that I need to pay Gruss! Does anyone know if they accept different forms of payment? Just had a quick look at the website and Paypal is the only way that they mention.

If you have had a transaction that you normally wouldn't have, either from a different country or a significantly higher amount, Paypal would ask for proof that the transaction was yours.

They are just checking that your account wasn't spoofed.

that's me out - i wear a black mask.

I haven't used Paypal in 3 years because of security issues. I emailed their security team 3 times as I was worried about a phishing email I received, I'm still waiting on a reply. From such a big company this is rancid.

I wouldn't send any documents until your sure it's actually from them.

You can still use Paypal for things like Ebay as long as you don't sign in and use a different email address, just check out as a guest.

Ovalman. 10 Nov 16 21:18 Joined: 29 Nov 02 | Topic/replies: 13,782 | Blogger: Ovalman.'s blog

I wouldn't send any documents until your sure it's actually from them.


I was suspicious when I received the email but logged into my account completely separately (ie. not using any link from the e-mail) and on my account pages it says that I need to resolve the issues that were mentioned in the email.

I don’t quite get what you mean about checking out as a guest – do you mean from e-bay? Doesn’t it make you sign in when you try to purchase something? And even if not, if you have to sign into Paypal to pay for it then it won’t do it if the account is restricted?

Re. Ebay, no you can buy it without signing into Paypal but if you try and buy it with your regular email then they will force you to sign in. I'm also not 100% sure if the same thing happens with your card if it's stored as I use a "different" card when my details were hacked around the same time and why I was suspicious.

I've bought many things from Ebay since then, if you look at the payment methods it lists all types of cards but the process method is via Paypal.

Gin... you can make an annual payment to Gruss.  Im sure they'd take a cheque.

Thanks for the last couple of replies.

I think I will go the alternate routes mentioned and not bother with Paypal.

It seems crazy really - I just looked at my year to date transactions and all but two were for less than £10. The two that weren't were for £57 & £21. I can't see how that points to money laundering!

I don't think you need to freak out here. I am surprised you could use paypal for so long withuot giving them any photo id? As far as i am aware, any website you sign up to which involves financial transactions requires/loves photo IDs.

I’ve had the account for years and have been using it with no problem so it seems a bit odd that they are now suddenly requesting this info?
There is also a specific amount which , when you cross, you have to provide ID. If i remember correctly, when I was asked the same, I had crossed the 500 Euro mark(It was specifically mentioned to me). Since you dont make big transactions from your paypal, it is possible you only just hit that thrreshold. Keep calm but if you want to shift to other methods, you can for sure but I don't see how they are safer. Everyone will ask you for IDs unless you're just buying the odd bicycle light from Ebay.

In my case the threshold may have been 1000 instead of 500, I don't remember clearly.

Paypal and Ebay split recently and no longer share information ( so they say ) unless you link paypal to ebay


Why not just send the ID if nothing to hide and it should get re-opened.I know we don't like all sending ID etc but it's either that or you can't bet nowadays or buy/sell on auction sites.

people with old style driving licence and no passport [many] have NO photo ID

Driving licence only last 10 year do they not?

New ones do anyway and you need to get new picture

Delta and if that's the case then you decide to either get an ID to use the services or you don't get the ID and forget the services.

I know it may be annoying but it's the way it is

To get a job you need photo ID in most places so i should think most people nowadays have a photo ID

I tried signing up to an agency a few year back and i needed about 4 IDs

They ask for birth certificate which clearly states this is not ID

I have been on Betfair 10 year and only this year they asked me for ID and bank statements

Never learnt to drive, passport lapsed, not had a job for 26 years and never used e-Bay.

If there's any truth in that theory of Elon Musk's that we're all just characters in an alien race's video game, I might be in danger of getting deleted. That £6/month Gruss takes out of my Paypal account may be the only thing keeping me functioning.