Disclosure: I'm a big HFC fan and contribute where I can; Johnny is
doing great work and is certainly heading toward greater things.
I'm not trying to be controversial here, but having been through the
exact same issue in the past, I do see another side here.
Bottom line, it sounds like HFC/Johnny's PayPal account was set-up with
incorrect information. Unless HFC is a *registered* Non-Profit, then the
account should not have been set-up -as- non-profit. It's a *business*
PayPal account, and so will require all the supporting documentation
that any business -should- have: bank account in the name of the
business, etc.
I run a networking group for small businesses in my local area. We use
PayPal. I had selected 'non-profit' back in the day when the account was
created, as it was closest to what we are. We do not make money from it,
but it's not a registered Non-Profit. Therefore, when our account was
frozen by PayPal, we had to jump through these same hoops. We have a
bank account in the name of the 'business' (which is just our
organization) and the switch from Non-Profit to an appropriate business
class was handled over the phone, with PayPal's resolution center agent.
Of course, we submitted the necessary paperwork electronically. Whole
process took maybe 2 days.
From another perspective, PayPal are merely ensuring that account
holders are not mis-representing themselves (i.e. claiming to be
non-profit when they are not). It is their service, and if that's how
they choose to run the service, it's up to us (as consumers) to use
them, or not. I continue to use PayPal and have been very happy with the
service.
Now, that's not to say I'm insensitive to Johnny's plight... but perhaps
he needs someone to manage the 'business' of HFC whilst he can go on
doing the good work?
Just a thought.
Robin Wood wrote:
2009/7/15 Matt Hillman <[email protected]>:
http://www.hackersforcharity.org/259/paypal-shuts-us-down/
Not only is this screwing up Hackers for Charity's operations, but Johnny
and his family are kind of being screwed as well! Spread the word, a lot of
annoyed people might help this get resolved quicker.
Its also on digg, if anyone still remembers there account heh
http://digg.com/security/PayPal_shuts_down_Hackers_for_Charity
This is bad, there has to be someone out there who has a contact
inside Paypal who can help out.
A charity I deal with got stuck in a similar position, a manager left
and Paypal refused to talk to anyone else even though it was a
business. They couldn't get cash out till they went through a whole
raft of paperwork and proving things. Paypal were not helpful at all.
Robin
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