Quick Answer: A licensed plant nursery reports PayPal froze their account and held funds for 180 days after allegedly violating policy by selling trichocereus pachanoi cactus seeds. Despite confirmation from state and federal agricultural officials that the seeds are legal to sell nationwide, PayPal refused to reverse the account closure.
Consumer Statement:
Paypal breached contract and shut our account down. Our eBay store is locked, and purchases cannot be made. Our funds that we earned are being held for 6 months. We are a licensed seed dealer and plant nursery that has been in business for 4 years, and without warning, Paypal froze our account for violating policy. But we simply did not violate Paypal policy. They closed our account for selling trichocereus pachanoi cactus seeds, which pose no danger to consumers, and are legal to possess and sell in all 50 states. We contacted agricultural officials at both the state and federal level, as well as the state office that handles seed selling enforcement. All entities stated that the seeds are perfectly legal to sell, and pose no public threat. Despite our prompt closing of the listing/advertisement in question, and thoroughly explaining that there had been an error made on part of Paypal, they have refused to correct this breach of contract.
Paypal is also holding our funds for 180 days, which is unlawful.
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I spoke with George Hayslip, the Environmental Administrator at the Florida Department of Agriculture Bureau of Licensing and Enforcement, and he reiterated what the United States Department of Agriculture stated: Trichocereus pachanoi (San Pedro cactus) seeds are not harmful, and are not illegal to sell in any way, in any part of the country. Please note Chapter 578 of Florida State Agricultural law. Below are all contacts that show that I have not violated the terms and conditions of Paypal. Our account was limited, despite our not violating Paypal’s terms and conditions. PAYPAL IS SCAMMING US! Please pass this around, imagine that your livelyhood, your business, was decimated for no reason overnight, and your funds, your money, was taken from you for 6 months!
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George Hayslip
Title: Environmental Administrator
Entity: Florida Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Licensing and Enforcement
Phone: 850-617-7881
More resources that confirm our product is and was safe and legal to sell.
https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/fsa
United States Department of Agriculture: 863-324-3375
USDA, public affairs: 202-690-3816
Our bus.:
Zellajake Farm and Garden
Nursery Certification: 48014401
Seed Dealer License: S000653
Consumer Action Taken:
Contacted twice and submitted all proof that we had not violated policy, and they stated that the freeze on funds, and the account freeze, was permanent.
Date This Problem Happened: August 28, 2017
State You Live in: Florida
Race/Ethnicity: White
Age Range: 36-50
Total Amount of Fee Paid: $1,600
Company Name: PayPal
Company Address:
Company Telephone Number:
Website of Company: PayPal.com
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PayPal is a scumbag operation and I have ceased doing business with them. They are as screwed up as Hogan’s Goat.
sounds like you need a lawyer to handle this for you immediately.
Complaint posted.