posted on December 5, 2000 06:59:45 AM new
I just called them and actually got through........My account has not been suspended so I figured I may want to quit while I'm ahead. The guy told me that all accounts with no credit card or bank account info were suspended to prevent fraud(also your card address and billing address have to match). If I'm reading this right some of you do have your card/bank info registered with them right? This is scary--now I know why I stayed away from all these services!
posted on December 5, 2000 07:01:31 AM new
>>Might I suggest using Paypal? It works just Swell...<<
ALL of the payment services work just swell until YOU become the victim. So why choose the service that has become famous for its lies, its constant changes to the TOS and its refusal to abide by the terms of its own TOS?
Exchangepath just figured that if Paypal can get 4 million users while lying and freezing people's accounts, maybe they should try that too.
posted on December 5, 2000 07:03:31 AM new
Haha, but come on at least they are free. I am glad I am still using Paypal. I did open an account with Exchange because heck I figured since the internet promises FREE services for everything, I thought I might as well jump on this bandwagon. I figured they start charging fees, I can come in here and whine about how they used me.
I recommend everyone use Exchangepatch.com, they are FREE. Bunch of cheapskates
posted on December 5, 2000 07:11:45 AM new
Isn't there like an "exchagepathdamon" here to answer these questions?
I signed up with this account just 2 days ago and mine is also suspended. I sent out 49 EOA notices yesterday and included exchangepath as a paying option. Did anyone use it? WHO KNOWS?
I have received NOTHING from them via email. I have written them but so far no response.....Hm.....
posted on December 5, 2000 07:12:45 AM new
Thank you vargas. I appreciate the reply. that is what I was asking for, infomation not some telling me how stupid I have been for using this service. Believe me, I already regret signing up exchangepath and do not want to hear I told you so's. When I listed this auction last week all the problems with exchangepath were not as evident as they are now. Hindsight is perfect but I am just trying to take care of this. I am reluctant to accept paypal just because of all the paypal horror stories that appear on here.
posted on December 5, 2000 07:15:16 AM new
They DO have my CC and they DO have my bank account info. And it's correct. What could I have possibly done wrong?
vargas--THANK YOU for the email address. I will use it immediately! Thank you!
posted on December 5, 2000 07:17:36 AM new
Actually I like exchangepath.....So far I haven't had any problems with them. This message board has reemed paypal up one side and down the other there is no way I would try them after all I've heard(besides I know people who went to withdraw money from their paypal account and were told they didn't have any). Like the guy said at exchangepath"If the account is legit then why should the person have a problem putting their info on the account".
Bidpay has good fraud prevention---your cc address is your shipping address....Exchangepath seems to be doing the same thing.
posted on December 5, 2000 08:00:16 AM new
A user by the name of ExchangePath made this post on the OTWA message board
"Hi everyone,
ExchangePath upgraded its system and with it, added new required information from members, including a credit or debit card number, billing address and phone number. Those accounts that do not have this information were -- unfortunately -- suspended earlier today. We truly regret taking this action without properly communicating with our members. This is not the level of service that we want to provide.
If your account has been suspended due to incomplete account information, please contact [email protected] . The customer service rep will be able to view your account activity and reactivate you.
Again, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
Pam"
posted on December 5, 2000 08:02:06 AM new
They got me too. I've sent email and am waiting for a response - I'll try that 800 number and see if that helps.
Glad I read the notices in here about your problems or I wouldn't have known about it until Dec. 7th! I signed up months ago, but have yet to have anyone use the service - so at least no $ is tied up in the account.
posted on December 5, 2000 08:24:49 AM new
Lets face it people, the 'Pay' accounts are all going to get you one way or the other. I closed out my PayPal account, (yes, I know, many of you "love" PayPal , for now), and I also closed my Paydirect account. I am back to accepting the pre 'Pay' account era of payments. Sales have not been affected in the least. No better, no worse, NO difference. I no longer have to be concerned about losing my money, or having my accounts frozen. Good riddance to all of them!
Those of you who insist on sticking with these so-called pay "Services", can send them the best message by dropping out of all of them. In the end, the best one will reappear or hang on, and the weaker will be gone. And, yes I know, if you drop out of PayPal you can't get back in. So? They say that now, but just let all of their accounts go belly up, and see what new change they make, (as if they haven't made enough already).
posted on December 5, 2000 08:47:11 AM new
I agree with most of what you say, Charlieone, but the reality is that sales are affected, whether you see it or not. I don't bid on auctions that insist on check and money order and I'm sure many other folks feel the same way. So maybe your sales aren't dropping, but they would have been going up if you accepted some form of instant payment.
There are three problems with these services.
1) Credit card rules were written pre-mail order and pre-Internet and the card was expected to be physically present at the time of purchase. Since the current rules protect the banks and the card holders, no one is rushing to rewrite them. If most sellers got together and refused to accept credit cards until the rules changed, they might. But as long as sellers seem content to live with this, the rules won't change.
2) Payment services follow the same thinking. Even with the poor rules, there are some ways to protect the sellers but these take some effort. The services don't bother to make that effort because sellers have shown that they are quite happy to live with lousy service and no protection. Why should the services work when the attitude is "I'll continue to accept [paypal, exchangepath, paydirect, payme, paymentalt, kissyourmoneygoodbye] because I had no problem with them. The fact that a thousand other people did, does not concern me."
3) Running a service with a fraud prevention department and validating users costs money. Just like us, these services are out to make money. But the attitude seems to be that folks will only use these services if they are free. If it cost a few cents more to get protection, they will opt for the free one and take a risk.
Right now there are two services that are free and offer acceptable protection to buyers and sellers. While nothing offers 100% protection, these are about the best you can expect.
Achex works checking account to checking account. Unlike credit cards, there can be no charge backs. A payer can stop payment, just like a check, but it takes a written affidavit and is treated seriously. Doing so falsely is a crime. Charging back a credit card payment falsely is not taken seriously. So while the payer is protected if the seller ships nothing or something radically different than what was sold, the seller is protected from a buyer doing a casual charge back for no other reason than because he can.
Western Union's Moneyzap lets buyers use credit cards. However, they do a good job of validation. It takes 2-3 days from when the payment is made to when it is available in your MZ account. Do not ship until the funds are available. During this time, MZ validates the payer and recipient. The payer can still choose to cancel the payment.
In the meantime, stay away from services that have proven themselves to be unreliable or services that will make no effort to protect you from dishonest buyers. These include Paypal, Exchangepath and Paydirect.
posted on December 5, 2000 11:49:11 AM new
Yisgood,
I appreciate your comments, and have a great deal of respect for your opinions. I used PayPal for a while, and it is addictive and easier, that's where they get you. Time savings seems to have taken precedent with most buyers in todays busy time depleted world.
I have had sales lately, since dropping PayPal and Paydirect, (never actually used Paydirect after signing up). Two of my buyers use PayPal and Paydirect, and asked if I take them. I said "No, sorry, due to the instability of these services, and fees, I no longer use them". Both paid by MO. That's just two examples, there were more, most didn't ask as my payment "Terms" are well spelled out in my description.
The main difference being, in my situation, I don't like being manipulated and forced to follow rules I do not agree with, and will not do it. They are supposed to give US service, not vice-versa. Besides, I'm retired, and don't depend on this for a living. I can take it, or leave it. Even if I did need the money, I would still resist being dictated to by a bunch of blood-sucking, non-service, confused, ever-changing Pay sites.
posted on December 5, 2000 06:57:55 PM new
Heygrape, hang in there. I was in the same situation and finally got a call from someone in their fraud department tonight. I just explained everything in the thread I started titled think I was ripped off via exchangepath. The guy I talked to was thrilled to find out I had saved every email from this guy and also the people in germany and the phillipines who wanted me to ship to them first. I refused both and canceled their bids. I gladly forwarded everything to him at exchangepath. Try calling the fraud line and leaving a message. that is the 940 number. That is what finally worked for me.
posted on December 5, 2000 08:47:45 PM new
My account was also suspended.I e mailed them & got a reply in two days.They said*for your protection ExchangePath now requires a US ISSUED credit card,billing address and phone number for all accounts*Went on to say *Please complete the form below to provide this information.Once you have completed this form,please FAX it to us at --------*
Ahhhhh I think NOT!
posted on December 5, 2000 09:00:36 PM new
Does anyone know if it is possible to get our money out of our accounts without a credit card? Funny, They were pretty damn quick to take and accept my sign-up info without a credit card and no hesitation what-so-ever accepting a payment into my account.
Another question, is this legal what they are doing? Personally I don't have very much money in that account, thank god, but I know some people have a grand or more that they are unable to access and I imagine they must be really P.O.ed.
Just wondering if there are many potential lawsuits on the horizion.
posted on December 5, 2000 10:00:07 PM new
ExchangePath really dropped the ball with the mass suspensions. They could/should have posted a policy change before changing it.
posted on December 6, 2000 05:47:20 AM new
Yeah, BidPay is GREAT! Only problem is I can't even get my foreign winners to use it! But it does work GREAT!
posted on December 6, 2000 09:04:35 AM new
Stick to traditional payment methods. There's too many computer geeks establishing enterprises on the internet with tremendous comp savy but little or no business/customer relations abilities or capabilities.
posted on December 6, 2000 10:59:08 AM new
Good heavens! I use EP and have had good luck with it. I think they made a big boo boo when they suspended accounts without explanations or warnings.
Like all new companies, it appears that they are finding that there are problems that they did not anticipate, like the many many ways that people defraud CC's and sellers. I mean, heck, when I started auctioning on Ebay years ago, I never would have imagined how many problems I would have to deal with! Not in a million years!
How many times have we seen on AW that someone has had a problem with a personal Merchant Account because they shipped to the Phillipines, Russia, Ukraine (fill in whatever country) only to find that it was a stolen card and they were out the product and often huge express mail fees.
Now, multiply that by thousands, nay millions of users with a small percentage trying all of the same routines and you find that there are more ways to defraud than a think tank can come up with in a YEAR--or TEN!
It appears that as a newer company, they are trying to address the fraud issue which will actually help all sellers and buyers in the end. I think they went about it very badly and they have stated that on here as well.
I would like to see them institute a protection for sellers that involves the ability to match the address of the credit card with the shipping address so that there are more assurances of the card being a "good" card and not being used fraudulently by the guy who just pumped your gas and has your number. That would definitely be a MAJOR step forward.
So, for me, as EP continues to try to make the service safer, I will give some leeway as long as they are up front about their mistakes. I NEVER saw PP admit to ANY mistakes and that is why they are no longer a payment option on my auctions! I gave them several chances, but they stepped on me once too often without so much as a by-you-leave.
Way to take it on the chin and admit to a mistake EP! At least I can give you THAT!
EP, if this is a learning experience and you have LEARNED from this mess--great! Let's not go here again, okay guys?
gomarek I offer Bidpay, but so far, no takers! Darn!
posted on December 6, 2000 11:03:41 AM newRebelGuns God Bless the US Post Office... LOL Cute!
Have you checked out the new rates lately? Ack! That's gonna hurt. Not that I dislike the PO. They have done a superb job with my business, but this price hike is really a bit steep! Ouch!
posted on December 6, 2000 11:09:04 AM new
Labbie1: My concerns are not that they made a mistake. My concerns are that if anyone chooses to start a business that already has stiff competition, they should first start by looking at their competitors, learning from their mistakes and avoiding those. It takes a fool to keep making the same mistake over and over. Another wrong attitude is to say that if your first customer cheats you, you will cheat the next customer to get even.
Paypal was blasted for freezing accounts, then EP comes along and does the same thing. PP was blasted for making changes without notice, then EP does the same thing. About 7 weeks ago I called EP and asked if they were planning to send sellers the cardholder's address to prevent fraud and was told they were planning that. Now they say they will NOT do that. Why not? Do they actually want fraud? Is it easier to steal the money back from the sellers than to prevent the fraud in the first place? And yes, STEAL is the right word. If EP's poor validation caused the problem, then THEY should pay for it. Making someone else pay for their mistakes is the same as cheating your second customer to recover the loss from the first.
So how about it, EP? Stop apologizing, stop screwing up and start taking real steps to run a real service. I have yet to hear an explanation why someone making a mail order purchase via credit card is entitled to keep their address private. This simply defies logic.
posted on December 6, 2000 12:09:08 PM newOk THAT'S IT! I've sent all the emails. I've made the long distance phone calls on MY dime, never got a human, but left messages, and STILL SUSPENDED! I am NOT a crook! I am NOT a thief! I am NOT a hacker. I do NOT commit CC fraud. For gods sake! I'm a OLD LADY! And I've been around forever! Everyone knows I ain't no crook!
I do NOT sell outside of the United States. I do NOT ship outside of the United States. I GAVE them the CC and Bank information from the very beginning!
This is NUTS! I don't have time for any more of this NONSENSE! What a Hell of a Time to pull this ExchangePath! Right in the middle of the Christmas Selling Season.
I'm getting dam sick of revising auctions and removing CC Services! But I'm Done Messing with YOU! I'm revising over 300 auctions yet again!
ExchangePath, Shame, Shame SHAME ON YOU!
BidPay is STILL the BEST service out there for us sellers!
Auction Watch! We would LOVE to hearSOMETHING FROM YOU regarding this mess! After all, you DID buddy up withthem! [email protected]
posted on December 6, 2000 12:16:58 PM new
Heygrape: I know the feeling. First of all, take a look at achex and moneyzap, both free and both very secure (as secure as a credit card service can be).
Next, I dont put the services I accept right on my auctions. I have a separate page for auction conditions and payments accepted. I have had to add and remove services so often, I gave up trying to put it right in the auction. The auction says "checks, money orders, Bidpay, electronic bank transfer or credit cards click here for services accepted and auction conditions."
posted on December 6, 2000 12:30:45 PM new
I just heard from a good source that Exchangepath is under investigation...they were served with a search warrent this morning and all operations are been shut down..they are looking for the key people but they have left town...no way to verify this....but seems this may be the reason all the suspended accounts
posted on December 6, 2000 12:35:10 PM new
Come one. There are enough real problems not to invent new ones. You are probably talking about Paymentalt. A number of use suspected them of being a fraud right from the start. We warned folks about it and got the same arguments that we are now getting from the Paypal and Exchangepath cheerleaders. Then Paymentalt shut down and about 14,000 folks are affected. Some made payments that never got to the other party. Some are finding fraudulent charges on their CC.
Exchangepath is not a fraudulent service, just a poorly run one.
, the 'Pay' accounts are all going to get you one way or the other
. I closed out my PayPal account, (yes, I know, many of you "love" PayPal 
. No better, no worse, NO difference. I no longer have to be concerned about losing my money, or having my accounts frozen. Good riddance to all of them
!
. In the end, the best one will reappear or hang on, and the weaker will be gone. And, yes I know, if you drop out of PayPal you can't get back in
. So? They say that now, but just let all of their accounts go belly up, and see what new change they make, (as if they haven't made enough already)
. 
But it does work GREAT! 
