Consumer complaint received 2021-12-31 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Other banking product or service
Issue: Closing an account — Can't close your account
Company: Paypal Holdings, Inc
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
In XXXX I had several horrible experiences with PayPal through fraudulent merchants. Both my bank and PayPal refunded my money. In XX/XX/XXXX, I asked PayPal to close my account. *I was told because I had a nominal balance of some cents, that I could not close the account. However, it was suggested that if I donated the amount left in the account held with PayPal to a PayPal affiliate, that after donation, the account could and would be closed. I donated the amount left in my account, closed my online account, and cut up the debit card. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received and email from PayPal explaining that a nominal amount of {$.00} was being forwarded to my checking account from XXXX - a Merchant that I havent and will never use again. I called PayPal again and asked how did they have banking ( routing and account ) information when my account was closed over a year ago. No answer. I demanded that they close the account again. Again, two representatives told me that I could not close the account because I had {$.00} in the account. XXXX, the first rep transferred me to XXXX, the second rep stating that I had called in a debit card controlled line? How? My account was supposed to be closed in XXXX. XXXX, the second rep, repeated that I had a balance of {$.00} and that I could not close the account. XXXX suggested ( again ) that I could donate the account balance to an affiliate of PayPal, this was the only way unless I spent the balance of a mere {$.00}. I agreed once again to donate the amount and to close my account. As I am speaking with PayPal and as I had already gone in several times rebooting my phone and other ways to to see if I could physically remove my banking information but to no avail, I decided to try removing my personal banking account information while on the phone with PayPal. But when I clicked on the button to either change or add account information, it would not open. I got an email, the same kind of email that I received in XXXX stating that account has been closed. This time I called my bank and described the problem because obviously I made a huge mistake allowing PayPal to have access to my personal banking information for which they are holding hostage and using without my consent as I asked in XXXX to close my account. Which they had not. My bank ( XXXX ) has told me that they can not block PayPal however, after I have contacted others in regard to this issue with PayPal, that the bank would change my account number. This for me would take an enormous amount of time and effort - having to contact and change any and all of my banking preferences and businesses that I use daily with my personal banking account information? Are you freaking kidding me??? Why do I need to do this? And why does PayPal have the right to hold within their database any information pertaining to my personal banking account information once I have asked and they confirm that the PayPal account is closed? 

This is the second time that I have had this issue with PayPal. What can I do? Most employees at PayPal dont speak English well enough to have an intelligent conversation so its a mute point. How can PayPal hold my account in their system database and use MY PERSONAL BANKING INFORMATION AT WILL when I have asked them to remove my banking information and to close my PayPal account? I do not want any affiliation under any circumstances with PayPal and I certainly dont want PayPal holding ( hostage ) my personal banking information that they are only entitled to upon permission from me. Who can I write aside from PayPal who obviously doesnt adhere to rules, to be assured that all account information pertaining to me is removed from their system? Furthermore, I have no knowledge of having a billing agreement with XXXX- a merchant. XXXX is not a reliable merchant and I would never agree to anything concerning XXXX. I am sick and tired of PayPal and its devious underhanded ways to conceal and hold hostage my account information in their database. 

Furthermore, my name is incorrect in PayPals database. When I realized that back in XXXX and while I was still using PayPal to purchase online items or from merchants, I did as requested and forwarded via PayPals secure online server, twice, my divorce decree and social security card showing my name change which happened over 10 years ago. To no avail. My name is not XXXX XXXX XXXX It is XXXX XXXX. I hate this company and all I am asking is that someone help me to rid PayPal from my life forever! Please.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief