With over 150 Million accounts as of today, paypal is a top online payment system in the world. I signed up for a paypal account a few months ago after observing that my online interests are expanding at a fast rate.
I am, however, not happy with the paypal service in Africa because it is very limited. If you take a careful look at this site, you will find that African countries are limited to the Send only account facility.Even South Africa, the continent’s biggest economy is in this category.Can someone in the know please enlighten me as to why paypal treats African countries like this? I really like the paypal initiative. If they can allow African countries to send money to other countries out there, then they should equally allow these other countries to send money to African paypal account holders.As it is, it is mother Africa who is losing out.What do you think?
22 users commented in " Why does Paypal restrict African countries to the Send Only account? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackHi Clement! Good observation I also bemoaned about this in May here: http://crytonchikoko.blogspot.com/search?q=paypal
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Clement, I’ve been talking to the PayPal people about this issue at some length. Honestly, it comes down to the fact that they just don’t think the rewards outweigh the risks in Africa. They’re happier just cultivating other growing markets.
This is why there is such a great opportunity for another entrepreneur to make the “PayPal for Africa”. It could be wildly successful.
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Cryton
I just hope that paypal will do something on this issue.
hash
You are talking sense.Any clue on the possible entrepreneur to be the “Paypal for Africa”??? Are u an ICT professional?I tried to check your profile but you have not made it public.We have a common agenda.Can we link up?
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hey clement, on my side of the world (asia) we can open paypal accounts and accumulate paypal credit but we have no means of withdrawing the amount. It’s not linked up to any local banks here. I can only see the amount i have in paypal and spend it on online shopping. I’ll never get the cash.
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Hi Clement, maybe Paypal still haven’t have any confidence regarding the security problem. My paypal credit shown there for online shopping only
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if you are good with business, you can try and cliche a deal with paypal in africa…
If you are still not aware that i am asking you to read what dealdotcom have in mind for all internet marketers and they are offering affiliates 35% commission with 2nd tier of 15%. currently the signups are upon invites,I wrote about them and though you might be interested.
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Cory W
You are better off compared to Africa. You can accumulate cash in your paypal account.People can send you paypal cash. You are a step ahead.In Africa the situation is terrible. No receiving only sending 🙁
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domdat
I think that security problems are everywhere even in USA where Paypal offers all the available services.Paypal must just give Africans the receive cash facility just they have done to most Asian countries. Let them tell us about security problems after they have implemented the service.
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Etienne
You raise a good point.But let me find out from you if somebody has ever clinched a deal with paypal at regional level.
I will take a look at your dealdotcom post and see if I can join it.
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I, too, had the same problem and I’ve solved it on DP for 20$ :).
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Daniel
You raise an interesting tip.But what is DP.I really want to test this option.
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Just this week, I attempted to answer your question. Read my blog post about why Paypal users in Africa are severely limited: http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2007/09/29/why-paypal-features-in-africa-are-limited/
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David
I read your article. But I still insist that Paypal must provide the Receive facility to countries that have the Send facility.
As for Nigeria’s exclusion, I have no comment as of now.
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It boils down to risk and reward. Quite simply it is because of the heightened potential of fraud, security and corruption. I say, gather your friends and start a business to address the issue.
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Yes, as Kat said you should start a business to address the issue. You could start your own company which would compete with Paypal in Africa. Once it becomes profitable, watch Paypal come in.
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WhoMadeWho Says:
Google has recently announced that it is setting up GBuy, which I have only been able to find a Wall Street Journal article about. I haven’t been able to find too much info about it but they have been described as threat to PayPal and this may resolve the problem.
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Kat
If it boils down to the heightened potential of fraud, security and corruption, why are they giving Africa the ability to send money. Is fraud, insecurity and corruption only applicable when receiving only? They should have postponed the send facility as well until all the security issues are addressed. In short, my line of thinking is that Paypal send & receive services must be given at the same time.
On the issue of starting a similar business, it is a good idea and worthy looking at
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WhoMadeWho
Gbuy is welcome.Maybe they will offer better services in Africa.
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donk.usa
The issue of starting a business in order to attract Paypal to Africa would be dangerous to pursue because when Paypal comes in, that business will be useless and a waste of time.
If a business of that nature has to start, it must be based on its own clear long term goals.
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@Vlad: I get your point but at the same time I do not really understand why Paypal would give residents of the same corruption ridden countries the ability to send money to other Paypal account holders.Don’t you think that this is a double standard? If Paypal fails to give African and other countries a full service then they must withdraw the send only service from these countries because the cash that they get into their system is “dirty”.
@Todd: Can you provide evidence on your assertion that you get 50 to 100 fraud scams per day “OUT OF AFRICA”? The fact that you have used quotes shows that you are not sure. Do you mean to say that there is no corruption/fraud in your country? If they cut off internet service in the offending countries then the whole world will be Internetless because even in your so called fraud free country, there are fraudsters.
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Sorry, but I’m right with Pay Pal on this one!
you wonder why PayPal decides not to release cash to african nations when we get fruad scams to the tune of 50 to 100 per day “OUT OF AFRICA”
I think if you don’t get a grip on the people running these scams they should just cut off your internet service in the offending countrys.
Todd
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Almost 3 years after you’ve posted this entry, PayPal is still not servicing to your area. I agree with the poster above, it all boils down to risk because of the heightened potential of fraud, security and corruption. PayPal is playing it safe. Anyway, with just the US alone, PayPal still continues to be a big business.
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