Warning About PayPal Donations

The Scarlet Pimp · Jul 3, 2008

Just read this on another blog. Interesting....

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Rosalind Gardner

June 2nd, 2007 2:35 am

I?d like to share another ?word of warning? about placing PayPal donation buttons that was shared with me by a high-profile affiliate marketer friend.

A visitor to his site made a donation thinking that the money would go to a charity, despite the fact that there was no mention of any charitable organization on the site - just a request for ?donations?.

The visitor then requested a receipt for tax purposes.

When a receipt naming a registered charity couldn?t be provided, the guy who made the donation complained to PayPal.

Paypal responded by locking the account, freezing the funds (a sizable amount) and the matter is now going to court.

So, the point would be ? watch how you word those PayPal donation buttons! ?Buy Me a ____? is good, whereas ?Donate ____? could land you in a world of trouble.

tattoo · Jul 3, 2008

damn. that's good to know. some people are just troublemakers...

artswerdstone · Jul 3, 2008

The Scarlet Pimp said:
Just read this on another blog. Interesting....

----

Rosalind Gardner

June 2nd, 2007 2:35 am

I?d like to share another ?word of warning? about placing PayPal donation buttons that was shared with me by a high-profile affiliate marketer friend.

A visitor to his site made a donation thinking that the money would go to a charity, despite the fact that there was no mention of any charitable organization on the site - just a request for ?donations?.

The visitor then requested a receipt for tax purposes.

When a receipt naming a registered charity couldn?t be provided, the guy who made the donation complained to PayPal.

Paypal responded by locking the account, freezing the funds (a sizable amount) and the matter is now going to court.

So, the point would be ? watch how you word those PayPal donation buttons! ?Buy Me a ____? is good, whereas ?Donate ____? could land you in a world of trouble.

Interesting observation. I'd recommend you better use a button that mentions "Buy me a beer" that can be well differentiated of a charity organization.

Or "Buy me a capuccino", "Buy me a cigar" etc.

DeskCoder · Jul 3, 2008

Yeah, was going to suggested the Buy Me Beer.

I had on one of my old blogs a picture of my daughter with dirty feet, and a link to buy my daughter some baby shoes. Made about $100 of that. Suckers!

Guddamit · Jul 4, 2008

Let's see if I've understood this:
If I have a Paypal button that says donations I have to prove that the money is going to a charitable organisation?

I'm a software designer and some of my applications are given away free, but are not freeware. I am planning to use Paypal buttons to ask for donations towards further development of the apllications. So in this case I'd be better to word the text around the button to the extent that the donation is towards further development, correct?

Uptownbulker · Jul 4, 2008

OK, if you use the word "donate". it is implied that you are a 501C(3) non-profit corporation and when you donors find out that you are not, they will have your ass on a plate!

They will charge back, raise Hell and the IRS will hunt you down like a garbage can-breaking-into raccoon!

If you request "donations" you should be 100% legit; I have managed real non-profits off and on for years.

Now......................

................if you are only Cyber Begging (Which can be VERY profitable!), use things like "Buy me a beer!", "Send me money!". "Buy me a cigar!", "I'm broke, so send me money!", "Help Me Out!", "Help Support This Site!", you will be good to go.

My $.02.

Uptown.

digital · Jul 4, 2008

Guddamit said:
Let's see if I've understood this:
If I have a Paypal button that says donations I have to prove that the money is going to a charitable organisation?

I'm a software designer and some of my applications are given away free, but are not freeware. I am planning to use Paypal buttons to ask for donations towards further development of the apllications. So in this case I'd be better to word the text around the button to the extent that the donation is towards further development, correct?

About the measure of it.
To be precise you don't have to prove anything, just some fucker can come along and shit-stir with Paypal that you are misleading people by requesting donations that are not infact donated to anyone but yourself(?!).

So it would appear that a more descriptive non-ambiguous wording would deal with this.

I suggest:
'Coffee helps coders code longer. If the software helps then help me write more helpful software for you - buy me a strong coffee to keep me coding

'

No one can misunderstand the what the funds are for there.

goawayplease · Jul 4, 2008

In the case of software development you might get away with "Fund Future Projects"

Daniel-MD · Jul 4, 2008

Does people really donate money for coders ?! Does anyone got some ? What was ' the biggest coup of coffee' ?

artswerdstone · Jul 6, 2008

MoneyMafia said:
Does people really donate money for coders ?! Does anyone got some ? What was ' the biggest coup of coffee' ?

I know about Ankesh Kotary's WP plugin that became very popular.

http://www.blogclout.com/blog/goodies/buy-me-a-beer-paypal-donation-plugin/

entity · Jul 6, 2008

I'd have never thought that Paypal can freeze an account because of this. It's just ridiculous.

AnImALmoTheR · Jul 6, 2008

Paypal is a private company, i wouldn?t say that they can do what they want but?

And for you members out there, send me some money so I can feed the dog, or that little batman doggy wont se next Halloween?

Klick HERE for dog food contributions.

Prideoflion · Jul 7, 2008

rakelspektakel said:
Paypal is a private company, i wouldn?t say that they can do what they want but?

And for you members out there, send me some money so I can feed the dog, or that little batman doggy wont se next Halloween?

Klick HERE for dog food contributions.

I Send You 1.5 MIllion Dollars, Most Respected Friend. All You Must Do Is Pay $75 Processing Fee

lol

Warning About PayPal Donations

The Scarlet Pimp

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digital

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entity

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