Paypal mystery charge...2nd time its happened

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LandfillLumber

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warren, michigan, USA.
Hello, everyone has anyone had this happen. This is the second time to me. I bought $25 in gas yesterday using my paypal debit card(did not fill up as it was $3.24 a gallon, ouch). I look at my activity at my account and I have two charges from the same gas station, my real $25 and the a phantom $76 charge. The extra $76 made my account over drawn by $20, what the heck. I know I hit the no reciept button on the pump so i don't think I was taken by anyone. I think its an electronic error, I hope so anyways. This also happened at a gas station a few months back, again when I bought gas at the pump with my debit card. Makes me mad they tieing up my money when it should not be, glad I didn't filler up or I would have over drawn big time. please if you have had anything like this happen make me feel better and let me know what happened. Thanks, Victor
 
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Sounds to me like you paid for someone elses gas also. Make double sure things are clear when you start and cleared of your card info when you're finished.
 
I had an experience similar, but not identical. I once tried the self-check out at our Lowe's using my PP card. It wouldn't accept on the first try. So, I tried again. Another hiccup. A clerk tried to help the third time, then a fourth. Finally, I got concerned and quit. I complained to an assistant manager who told me that the charges absolutely would not go against my account. The next day, I pulled up my PP account and, sure enough, there they were. All four had been deducted from my account even though I never actually completed the transaction. I printed out the statement and sent an e-mail to Lowe's. Then I took the statement to the store and showed it to the manager. When he saw the proof he pretty much stopped functioning and just stared into space. No response, no blinking. I'm not sure was still breathing. I'm sure it was part of corporate management training that says "never admit anything when proven wrong". Finally, several days later the PP account credited back those charges, I think automatically but will never know for sure. I wouldn't blame PP, I believe it can happen with any credit card or debit card account. Just gotta watch things.
 
Similar here, I however did blame PP, Told them where they could put the card and closed it. HMMMMMMMMMM no more problem.:D
 
Paypal does things like this often. Dont be fooled paypal is almost the same as having a merchant account. I found out the hard way... Some one bought a item on ebay from me and 3 months later filed a charge back. It tied up $90 for about 45 days on my end. I was protected by the seller protection policy and had to jump through some hoops to get my money back. I hesitate to sell to people that are not verified with a confirmed address. As far as the extra charges showing up I have seen this as well, thats usually the fault of the merchant you bought from and they usually correct them selves. Make sure to contact paypal and letthem knowabout this crazy charge. A good way to protect yourself just like a merchant will do is to open a second checking account and only leave the minium ammount of money you need in it then tie the paypal account to it. As fas as the credit card tied to your paypal account, if they make false charges on that you can take it up with your credit card company as a chargeback. I have tried dealing with paypal coustomer service and had bad luck because I speek ENGLISH!!! This all happens because of the extreme cheepness that plauges this country. No big wealthy corporation will pay a decent wage to any one. The $50 dvd player at wall mart is a great deal but when the american that used to make them is out of a job because of greed Who is going to be left to buy these products?
 
I had it happen months ago same thing and they just put the money back on the account a few days later with out me doing anything. I tried to dispute the transaction at paypal and it says that the transaction ID is invalid, I try and use the box to find a trans. ID and when I click on any ID not just the one that I want to dispute it does nothing at all(it will not place the iD no. in the box as it states above in writing,LOL. Thanks, guys, and I don't think I bought someone else gas, I hope its just an error. Thanks, Victor
 
Back to the original Gas Station incident I have been told that most gas stations will charge an "expected amount" when you first insert the card. I believe this is an issue on debit cards rather than credit cards. They need to do this to make sure that there is actually money on the account in order to authorize the transaction and start the pump.
They then run the actual amount ($ amount pumped) when the transaction is completed. The first "approval amount" is credited back immediatly by the Gas Station, but sometimes there is a lag at the processing end and the amount will show up on the card. This can also create same problems with debit cards attached to your bank account if the balance on the account is low it can cause you to overdraw and then the bank hits you with multiple overdraft fees.

Similar things happen for hotel and car rentals but the amount can be even higher and the complications worse.:(
 
I think Kirk has it right, this seems to be what is happening. Jarhead this is happening with my paypal debit card. I will run it as credit, maybe this will stop it from happening. Thanks guys, Victor
 
I use paypal to pay (or get paid) online. That is it.

There are much better bank (credit or debit) cards out there. I use Chase Freedom card and cannot be happier. I love the 3% cash back on highest expense category (1% cash back on everything else).
 
Don't blame PayPal on this, it is the station doing it, especially smaller stations. It would happen no matter what card you use. As is said above, you will get it back, but there will be a lag time.
 
The charge is still pending, but Its not just small places the other time was at Meijers (huge). It just screws things up, I will have to ship your wood out of pocket toolcrazy, not a big deal but was the main reason I got the debit card to always have access to shipping money. Thanks guys, Victor
 
Kirk is correct...

Your problem is you are paying at the pump. It charges $50-$75 (pending on the station) before you pump to make sure the funds are available... Thus the reason you are going over. Pay with that card inside the store and will have no issues as will charge the amount of sale...
 
I always pay at the pump, but I also run it as a credit. I haven't used my paypal card yet and I may hold off after hearing this. It may not be paypal, but I just don't need the headache.
 
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