My hats off to the ladies here that are already are computer savy. You are miles ahead of most providers and most people for that matter. I am sure you will all agree the internet is a great tool for your business.One other service I would like to suggest is that you accept credit cards and electronic checks through paypal.com. You can send money to anyone with an e-mail address and deposit the money in your bank account. This allows providers to accept vsa/mastercard and e-payments.I would think that this would be benficial for providers because you have another form of payment you could accept, you can get prepaid, and get paid instantly. Clients could even pay you when they arrived by just logging on with your computer. For clients its a win, because we can use credit cards and the payment just shows up as "paypal". A lot of us have to figure out how to hide our transactions (from spouses) so this would help a lot. I probably could even put a few sessions on my expense account if it just said "paypal" and I could just say I bought some business equipment on e-bay or something like that.Paypal has been around for a while and is used extensively on e-bay to pay for goods on the internet. It is very private and very secure and you do not have to disclose ny kind of information about the transaction. If any providers would like more information on Paypal or how to set up up, just e-mail me at :[email protected] and I would be happy to help you get set up or answer any questions.Its another step in using the internet for everyones advantage!
I've used Paypal many times to buy/sell high end audio components on another web site called Audiogon.com. While I've had nothing but good success with them, a recent thread by some of the other members on that site have detailed problems they've encountered. My personal experience is that their customer service is weak if a problem does occur, but if everything goes as it should, it's about as slick as it gets.
I have been very leary about gents sending me $ via Paypal. I have never been very comfortable with the paper (or puter) trail this leaves. I have just recently decided to allow existing clients to use their CCs via Paypal. I am still a little nervous about having new clients do this but maybe in time I will feel better about it. I have only heard one horror story about paypal and it was on the end of the gent(it was a doosey). I don't think it is a good idea to offer paypal on your site (unless of course you have a license to sell a product) but think it is ok for gents you already know.Hopefully things like Paypal will allow gents that could otherwise not explain the missing $ to their SO be able to access our services. Like most things I think you just have to be really careful about it.Play nice,Kelli
I think many people would have a problem with this. First, there is the obvious paper trail problem for both provider and client. Along with that comes potential IRS problems should the provider get busted. Next, an unhappy client could request a refund from their CC company that could lead to all kinds of issues. How would the provider explain that the client got what they paid for without exposing herself?You need to realize that the services being offered are basically illegal. Whay would anyone want to expose themselves to all kinds of potential problems for this reason?
PP is much more close to cash than these guys suggest.First the client is paying his own PP account from his CC (of course bank accounts as well) therefore there is absolutely no protection against any sale. For the small prints, there is some protection for some types of accounts and for some types of sales such as autions, but this part is where the horror stories came from. Using CC this way is the same as cash advance without the fee, therefore the amount of money allowed is very limited for the hobby.PP may want to tell you differently, but you do not need a real name for the account, and of course you can use an email account that is untracable with unbreakable code. In theory, LE can link the client's bank account and the provider's bank account. However, PP is the most practical way for average persons to have an offshore bank account. So it's very safe if the provider have an LE untracable bank account, Swiss?PP is perhaps good for money laundering, but for SO laundering, a simple online trading account with ATM card is sufficient (a PO box is preferred). If you claim you lose money, everyone will believe you. In addition, if you screw up the account so well that even you don't know how to fill in the tax return, no one else will know what you have done.
Dear BoxBoy,I understand your enthusiasm for the convenience of Paypal, but remember, we're not buying and selling vintage comic books on ebay here. Audit trail problems are obvious, especially on the provider's side. Thousands of dollars funneling through a paypal account annually? Uncle Sam might take a while to catch on, but once he does, you'd be SOL. Chargebacks might also become a problem. Why would a provider take the chance? On the hobbiests side, do you really want to use a paypal account (backed by your real credit card and personal info) for making various payments to providers? LE (again, it might take them a while) might be interested in this paper trail as well. Even with regards to your wife, wouldn't she start to wonder exactly what the anonymous paypal line items of $200+ on your statement are actually for? Clearly cash is still the best option when purchasing illegal services, or providing them.Have fun, stay safe, and leave the lights ON!!Iceman
I recently found out that Paypal will reverse transactions after the person has received their "services". I always thought that once the transaction is done, it cannot be reversed. But my girlfriend told me that PayPal withdrew the amount her client had originally sent a few days after he saw her. There wasn't even any warning or inquiry. Unfortunately she will not pursue it, therefore she has essentially been ripped off. I am thinking of taking my Paypal Link off and discontinuing my account. Most of us take discretion very serious and would never put a hobbyist in an awkward situation, but when somthing like that happens, it makes you feel like a sucker.
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Monet, I didn't know that was possible with Paypal either. But it just goes to show that unethical people will attempt to take advantage of any situation. I had the opposite situation about 6 years ago when I used Visa to pay for a rather expensive FBSM. The original bill came through and I paid it, but then 3 months later I was billed again for the same service. The girl was unfamiliar to me and a bit of a scammer too, so she probably figured when I didn't call back afer three months she had nothing to lose.I think in both of our cases, the offending party assumes you'll either be too embarassed or unable to pursue due to the nature of the transaction. I was able to get my double charge reversed by calling the girl (she was smart and didn't make me call Visa), but it's an ugly situation nobody wants to deal with. It's especially unfortunate for you since you are trying to do your clients a favor by providing them with options, only to be taken advantage of in this manner. --modified by G2 at Mon, Apr 30, 2001, 16:46:33
do you have to taste it to find out if its shit or not?The previous posts point out all of the problems with this system of payment. It is clear that the problems far outweigh the benefits.I'm a big supporter of personal freedoms. I support a person's right to smoke, gamble, drink, snort, screw and shoot anything he or she wants, so long as no third parties are adversely affected and all involved are adults capable of giving their informed consent.Unfortunately, this great country of ours does not recognize our right to all of the personal liberties most of us on this board feel we are entitled. Because of this, we have to go underground, to a black market, to fulfill our desires. Remember that even though we are able to discuss these acts in the open, the actual acts are still illegal. Perhaps it is this ability to openly discuss these things that lower our guards and prevent us from seeing the blunder of attempting to mainstream the payment of fees for provider/client relations.If you are going to do participate in something illegal, why increase your risk of getting caught? Providers, I think this applies to you even more than to us. The fewer records left behind the better!Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to talk to my bookie and my coke dealer and tell them that they too should stop accepting debit and credit cards. (However I hope my pot dealer will continue to accept coupons!)Bye for now,The Junkie
I can see the problems with Paypal. But what if you just didn't advertise that you accepted it and only let clients you know use it.As far as the paper trail, you could put anything in for what the transaction was for. You could put "lawnchairs" or anything else for that matter and the paper trail would just say that.
The records showed that you paid money into a sting account, better than photographs, but there are ways to diffuse it and you need other evidence to go with it, same as using cash.If the provider get busted, if both of you are not careful, the records showed that you paid her some money before, better than your phone number on some little black books. No arguements needed, this can be easily avoided.
I think that would be fine. If you are not advertising it then you will not put that red flag up for LE to see.I also think that if you do accept paypal you must not pay for a "service" but for an auction.Play nice,Kelli