# Why "PayPal Confirmed Addresses" only **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 24, 2007, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-paypal-confirmed-addresses-only/427611 "2007-11-24T16:10:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-paypal-confirmed-addresses-only/427611/1 "2007-11-24T16:10:13Z")
Some eBayers insist on a confirmed PayPal address. What is the sellers’ reasoning for this? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-paypal-confirmed-addresses-only/427611/2 "2007-11-24T16:16:08Z")
See if this clarifies: > **[PayPal Seller Protection for Merchants – PayPal US](https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/security/seller-protection)** > > Our transaction monitoring and fraud protection tools better protect your business from online fraud and help reduce chargeback losses. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-paypal-confirmed-addresses-only/427611/3 "2007-11-24T16:16:55Z")
Because PayPal does not offer [seller protection](https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/policy_spp-outside) unless the buyer has a confirmed address (i.e. one that PayPal has been able to verify). (See section 11 – specifically, section 11.3, “Qualification requirements”) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-paypal-confirmed-addresses-only/427611/4 "2007-11-24T16:25:40Z")
It reduces the risk of selling to stolen credit cards, because a confirmed address is the same as the billing address for the credit card. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-paypal-confirmed-addresses-only/427611/5 "2007-11-24T19:21:02Z")
[QUOTE=Mindfield] Because PayPal does not offer [seller protection](https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/policy_spp-outside) unless the buyer has a confirmed address (i.e. one that PayPal has been able to verify). (See section 11 – specifically, section 11.3, “Qualification requirements”) [/QUOTE] And even then the seller isn’t necessarily protected. I got burned as a seller simply because I had no proof that I had sent an item. If it’s seller vs buyer where the seller can’t prove they sent the item and they can’t prove the buyer received the item, the buyer wins. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-paypal-confirmed-addresses-only/427611/6 "2007-11-24T20:31:29Z")
So if I put this requirement on my auction (and I did) and the winning buyer isn’t verified, what should I do? I don’t have any problems yet, I’m just doing a little preemptive worrying. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-paypal-confirmed-addresses-only/427611/7 "2007-11-24T20:51:20Z")
I explicitly state in my listings that a buyer is not to bid if they don’t have a confirmed address AND are verified. If they bid anyway and happen to win and pay, I refund their payment minus the fee and then offer the item to the next-highest bidder. It really is that bad. In my experience, PayPal _heavily_ favours the buyer in disputes. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-paypal-confirmed-addresses-only/427611/8 "2007-11-24T22:15:08Z")
[QUOTE=Shamozzle] And even then the seller isn’t necessarily protected. I got burned as a seller simply because I had no proof that I had sent an item. If it’s seller vs buyer where the seller can’t prove they sent the item and they can’t prove the buyer received the item, the buyer wins. [/QUOTE] Yep, pretty much. The buyer has a lot of power in that regard, so if you want the protection you really have to make sure your ass is riveted with steel plating. Confirmed address, shipped with tracking and signature confirmation. Otherwise if there’s a dispute or the buyer tries to scam you via PayPal, you’re probably going to be screwed.