Hi,

Back in England for a few weeks holiday. Whilst I'm here, I'm getting rid of a few things on e-bay. Unfortunately, I've also got to register for PayPal. I've got as far as registering, and now I must add my bank account details. There is a text box labelled "First name". There is a note to say that it must be entered exactly as written on my bank account or check book, otherwise I must pay 14 pounds return fee.

Here's the question:

My bank statements use my initials plus surname, e.g. A B Smith. In the first name field, I would have assumed that I must type my first name "Alan" but there's some doubt in my mind that perhaps I should enter "A" or perhaps "A B". I phoned PayPal to confirm. When I finally got through to the customer "help" desk an extremely unpolite woman repeatedly told me just to type my FIRST NAME as it appeared on my bank statement. She wouldn't give me a straight answer when I asked her if that meant "Alan" or not. Finally, she said I must type "A B" in the first name field. Seems strange, as my first name (singular) is not A B! So, what should I do?

I took her name, but I'm still not entirely convinced of her advice. She was probably the rudest and most unhelpful person I have ever spoken to in a customer services position! I emailed PayPal with this same question a day or two ago, and they have not replied.

Any comments?

I'll be pleased to return to Thailand.

'Customer services' and 'paypal' are rarely used in the same sentence.

I was always under the impression that pay-palpay-pal was impossible to phone. They are based in Luxembourg to avoid UK regulation. That says something.

Personally I'd enter anything that your bank will accept, suspect Alan is the correct answer, but then I'm not going to pay the return fee!

I vary which of my Christian names I use, and sometimes use both so that does make for many interesting problems, but I find the banks always manage to sort me out correctly.

I'm sure the banks could sort it out okay, but that stroppy .... at PayPal.......................

Thanks.

'Customer services' and 'paypal' are rarely used in the same sentence.

I was always under the impression that pay-palpay-pal was impossible to phone. They are based in Luxembourg to avoid UK regulation. That says something.

Personally I'd enter anything that your bank will accept, suspect Alan is the correct answer, but then I'm not going to pay the return fee!

I vary which of my Christian names I use, and sometimes use both so that does make for many interesting problems, but I find the banks always manage to sort me out correctly.

Type "Alan". I have my initials on bank statements, but entering my first name worked.