| Author |
 Replies: 15 / Views: 2,153 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
856 Posts |
I won a Cuban Peso in an auction held by a Spanish auction house. In Spain. Not via ebay. Rather than pay £25 to send an IBAN transfer I chose to use PayPal as it was just 4% supplement from the sellers. PayPal suspended the transaction and sent me an email asking me to explain the 1. Purpose of payment 43RXXXXXX560J attempted on 03 March 2014 in the amount of £XX.XX, including a complete and detailed explanation of the goods or services you intended to purchase.
2. Explanation of "Cuba" in your transaction memo.Anyone know what's going on? I am based in the UK. My PayPal account is with PayPal (Europe) S.à r.l. et Cie, S.C.A. which is licenced in Luxembourg. There is no restriction on buying goods from Cuba in the UK. Or (AFAIK) Luxembourg. So why the fuss? And beyond jumping through all the hoops and forwarding various documents as requested, any quick way to resolve it? It's silly. Edited by Tom Goodheart
03/03/2014 6:39 pm
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
5417 Posts |
Had the exact same thing happen to me just a few weeks ago. Paypal according to their policy bans certain goods from countries including: Syria, Iran, North Korea, Cuba etc.
I was trying to buy a small gold coin of Iran and they suspended my account. It's not like it's illegal or anything, it's just that Paypal does not want to regulate all those goods form those countries and only no allow the ones that are illegal. Instead they choose to ban almost everything and then suspend everyone who tries to (Without any knowledge ofcourse, since who the heck reads their entire policy?).
Anyway, all you have to do is agree to follow their policy in the future and send them a confirmation that you received a notice and have read what it entails (Just a screenshot of the email). Since Paypal is from the United States they are required to also follow their laws in addition to that of the UK. And the OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) bans certain good.
Hope it works out for you.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7641 Posts |
I would call Paypal and explain the situation. PayPal's robotic systems think somebody in the U.S. may be benefiting from this transaction.
We have some really stupid, hardheaded politicians that don't think trade with Cuba is a good thing. The embargo and restrictions have been in place for over 50 years and nobody in Washington will change anything as they don't want to alienate the Cuban American voting block in Florida.
Meanwhile, trade between Cuba/Canada/Mexico just keeps rocking along.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
4596 Posts |
PayPal is a US company and the embargo applies world wide.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
856 Posts |
Quote:
PayPal is a US company and the embargo applies world wide. OK, but I'm not buying from Cuba. The coin in question was minted in the US 25 years before the embargo. They never circulated in Cuba, being held as bullion reserves. Virtually all were sold back to the US in 1951. 10 years before the embargo. So there's no suggestion that this coin has been anywhere near Cuba in maybe 60 years ... |
|
Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
OK, but I'm not buying from Cuba.
The coin in question was minted in the US 25 years before the embargo.
Yea but their system filters arent that sophisticated. Its likely set to just flag anything Cuba as opposed to someone checking every single one |
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
856 Posts |
Well I spoke to someone at PayPal (Europe) (which is in Ireland) and explained the above.
Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a way of actually talking to those considering the case, nor finding out if they have enough information, what information they might want or how it is progressing. I'm just told it will take 72 hours.
It's really very frustrating. Particularly as there is nothing in any of the PayPal T&C or Agreements suggesting there might be a problem.
If I had suspected I might not be able to use PayPal I probably wouldn't have put in a bid ...
I have to say I rather resent US policy impacting my hobby. Particularly when it involves a coin struck at the United State Mint in Philadelphia.
And also when it's .. inconsistent. My friend is going on holiday to Cuba in May. And paid with a Visa card. She will probably fly on a Boing airliner. And yet ...
Edited by Tom Goodheart
03/04/2014 05:49 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4596 Posts |
Visa card issued from an Irish bank who licensed the logo
Boeing sold the jet - no control over what somebody does with it
Sale of something "Cuban" might (until some body looks at it) violate the embargo... software flags it. Only if someone complaints does an expen$ive human get involved...
You do realize how many million transactions cross eBay/PayPal a day right?
Or you can vote with your feet and use the equivalent European auction and payment systems...
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quote:
I have to say I rather resent US policy impacting my hobby. This is not a US policy problem, your coin is excluded from the embargo. The real problem is PayPal's ham-handed misinterpretation of that policy, ebay is guilty as well since they have killed the entire Cuban coin category. |
|
Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
I have to say I rather resent US policy impacting my hobby. Particularly when it involves a coin struck at the United State Mint in Philadelphia.
Welcome to Paypal. It's kind of nice being essentially an unregulated financial institution, isn't it?  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
856 Posts |
Well my payment has been refused and I am to be reported to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control. Not quite sure how that effects a non-US citizen.  . But it certainly affects my willingness to use PayPal in future. Going to have to try my Spanglish and phone the auction house and use my bank card. I decided that if it's so difficult to buy the things I'd better not pass up the chance! Ridiculous. Edited by Tom Goodheart
03/04/2014 3:34 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2124 Posts |
Next time don't mention the word "Cuba" when paying, just indicate coin or the year, etc.
Btw, if you need help with your Spanish or Spanglish I can help you.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
856 Posts |
Thanks arianzo, but everyone in Europe speaks English.  I phoned the auctioneers and was able to pay using a card in under a minute. As for PayPal ... well, let's just say that I'm not amused at being made to feel like a criminal for being unaware of how US foreign policy affects perfectly legal activities in Europe. A simple "We're sorry but we are unable to carry out this request because .." would have had the same effect, I would have understood and remained a happy customer. Edited by Tom Goodheart
03/05/2014 1:15 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2124 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
856 Posts |
That's what I think is silly arianzo. Quite a few similar items on ebay, but just listed as "Caribbean" or "Republic". What slightly irritates me though is that both major TPGS happily slab these and if you search the Heritage ("World's largest Collectables Auctioneer") site you'll find plenty. Which suggests PayPal is over-reacting to cover their legal ****! Talking of which I still haven't resolved the issue. PayPal's helpful 'resolution' system asks me to read my email (which of course I have done, otherwise I wouldn't have known to sign the affidavit, which is marked as 'Resolved') But when I click on the 'Resolve' button relating to the email reading, it tells me to upload documents! I have written several times, asking what they want me to do but had nothing but a standard reply. A complete waste of time IMHO. |
|
Valued Member
Australia
491 Posts |
|
| |
Replies: 15 / Views: 2,153 |
|
Posted 03/03/2014 6:59 pm
