The 'Terms and Conditions' Reckoning Is Coming (bloomberg.com)

Everyone from Uber to PayPal is facing a backlash against their impenetrable legalese. From a report: Personal finance forums online are brimming with complaints from hundreds of PayPal customers who say they've been suspended because they signed up before age 18. PayPal declined to comment on any specific cases, but says it's appropriate to close accounts created by underage people "to ensure our customers have full legal capacity to accept our user agreement." While that may seem "heavy-handed," says Sarah Kenshall, a technology attorney with law firm Burges Salmon, the company is within its rights because the users clicked to agree to the rules -- however difficult the language might be to understand.

Websites have long required users to plow through pages of dense legalese to use their services, knowing that few ever give the documents more than a cursory glance. In 2005 security-software provider PC Pitstop LLC promised a $1,000 prize to the first user to spot the offer deep in its terms and conditions; it took four months before the reward was claimed. The incomprehensibility of user agreements is poised to change as tech giants such as Uber Technologies and Facebook confront pushback for mishandling user information, and the European Union prepares to implement new privacy rules called the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. The measure underscores "the requirement for clear and plain language when explaining consent," British Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham wrote on her blog last year.

Comments

Paypal banned me for life

[cliffjumper222]

I'm banned for life by Paypal. About a year ago they suspended my account, held onto all funds for 6 months and told me they'll never accept me as a customer ever again (they track SSN and CC numbers). I've no idea why because the customer support rep never said anything except that I should take my business elsewhere. I can only guess that they rate users / merchants by risk and are heavily culling any that blip above their line (which is pretty low). I sold software through a web site for $3.99 a pop and had a few customers claim their money back via Paypal (maybe 4 out of hundreds). Only one was ever valid, but there was absolutely no way to dispute a dispute with Paypal, so I just returned the money via the button they provided on the website. Now, Paypal can do what they like because they are a business, but I recommend no one ever use them for anything ever. If you are using them, go elsewhere and never rely on them to have your back.

Re:Paypal banned me for life

[nehumanuscrede]

Don't feel bad, PayPal did the same thing to me, albeit for different reasons.

Way back in the beginning, PayPal allowed you to create an account using nothing more than a Credit Card. So, I created an account. I never kept more than ~$50 or so in it as it was just for misc purchases I would make.

One day, I get an email from PayPal informing me that evil Russian hackers had attempted to log into my account and, for my protection of course, they limited access. Fine. So I called them up and told them that since I rarely used the account, to just close it out and send me whatever funds were left within it.

Were it so easy :|

"Oh no", they said, "we can't allow you to close out the account until you provide us with the following information: "

1) Phone number
2) Bank account number to my checking account

I argued that if " evil Russian Hackers " were trying to get into my account, why on Earth would I want to link this new information to it ? Just shut it down, close it out and be done with it.

They told me no.

So, I changed my password to some ungodly long phrase and let the account sit there, unused, for years.

PayPal sent me hate mail ( which I ignored ) from time to time informing me that if I didn't comply with their demands that they would close the account out. ( Which is what I wanted in the first place )

After a few years of this, they eventually did close it out and blacklisted me from using their services. ( Not that I lose a lot of sleep over that mind you. If a website only uses PayPal as their payment processor, I go find the item I want elsewhere. Simple as that. If it doesn't exist elsewhere, I just don't buy it. )

So, the way I see it is this:

Until PayPal gets regulated like the banking entity it's pretending to be, I wouldn't trust them for anything because they have shown time and time again that they are about as shady as they come.

Re:Paypal banned me for life

[AmiMoJo]

Same thing happened to me. Can't close the account unless i supply information I'm not willing to give them.

When they updated their terms and conditions it said if you don't accept them close your account. Obviously I can't, but I also don't agree to the new terms... Their support rep was useless.

So now they have my data illegally. Next month when the GDPR comes in I'm demanding they delete it, and when they refuse I'll claim some compensation.