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Ask HN: Is Stripe the new PayPal, cancelling user accounts without explanation?

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Re: Ask HN: Is Stripe the new PayPal, cancelling user accounts without explanation?

#11

Post by Teknomancer »

oropolo wrote: post #4
legitster wrote: post #3

https://stripe.com/legal/restricted-businesses https://support.stripe.com/questions/requirements-for-accept... . > Content creation - Transactions that provide compensation to creators without an underlying piece of digital content associated. Examples include subscriptions to free, public content or a tip button on a profile page It seems like an arbitrary restriction, but Stripe also works a lot more closely with b…

So if I sell digital certificates -- a PDF that says someone donated to my little media side-hustle -- it would be all good? See that's the problem: nobody will tell me what I can do to come into compliance. And as for the banks: I have been paying my taxes for years and the bank connected to this account has zero issues with what I do and are happy to deposit checks made out to my DBA (and then charge me a fee for h…

My recommendation to you would be to use a different platform that is designed for this exact purpose. Buy me a coffee comes to mind right off the top of my head but I know that there are sure to be others. Stripe is good for straight up e-commerce but it does not work well for your use case. I think the characterization of likening stripe to PayPal is way off base. When it comes down to using a platform like stripe for monetization of services and goods it really is important to rtfm. Good luck to you out there!

Re: Ask HN: Is Stripe the new PayPal, cancelling user accounts without explanation?

#12

Post by soist »

Rarely will you be in compliance after they flag your account. There are various agencies that oversee them so they'd rather get rid of any kind of liability like your business before the auditing agencies catch on and fine them.

Every other payment processor will do the same thing. If some kind of internal audit catches your business then they will proactively get rid of you to reduce their liability with external auditors.

Re: Ask HN: Is Stripe the new PayPal, cancelling user accounts without explanation?

#13

Post by mtmail »

oropolo wrote: post #4
legitster wrote: post #3

https://stripe.com/legal/restricted-businesses https://support.stripe.com/questions/requirements-for-accept... . > Content creation - Transactions that provide compensation to creators without an underlying piece of digital content associated. Examples include subscriptions to free, public content or a tip button on a profile page It seems like an arbitrary restriction, but Stripe also works a lot more closely with b…

So if I sell digital certificates -- a PDF that says someone donated to my little media side-hustle -- it would be all good? See that's the problem: nobody will tell me what I can do to come into compliance. And as for the banks: I have been paying my taxes for years and the bank connected to this account has zero issues with what I do and are happy to deposit checks made out to my DBA (and then charge me a fee for h…

If the PDF only confirmation of payment it might be too similar to a receipt. I'd instead send the user a digital assets "In exchange for the $X I'm sending you a hand-drawn limited edition picture of my cat".

That said I know several companies that for years have used Paypal's donate button to run their whole company. It's seems arbitrary.

Re: Ask HN: Is Stripe the new PayPal, cancelling user accounts without explanation?

#14

Post by FounderBurr »

I’m sure we could spot what the high risk behavior in question is with your business if you provide us with the url.

But truth is, stripe decides who they want to be in business with. They have decided they don’t want to be in business with you. Tough, but they also aren’t placing you on the MATCH list or other common nightmare senerios many non-compliant businesses find themselves in when dealing with violations of payment processing guidelines.

My advice is to cut your losses with stripe and get a real merchant account.

The pre-vetting process will likely be quite clear with you about what and why your business is considered too high a risk, or you’ll end up with a less frangible business relationship you can depend on to not rug pull you in the future.

Re: Ask HN: Is Stripe the new PayPal, cancelling user accounts without explanation?

#15

Post by carlosjobim »

oropolo wrote: post #4
legitster wrote: post #3

https://stripe.com/legal/restricted-businesses https://support.stripe.com/questions/requirements-for-accept... . > Content creation - Transactions that provide compensation to creators without an underlying piece of digital content associated. Examples include subscriptions to free, public content or a tip button on a profile page It seems like an arbitrary restriction, but Stripe also works a lot more closely with b…

So if I sell digital certificates -- a PDF that says someone donated to my little media side-hustle -- it would be all good? See that's the problem: nobody will tell me what I can do to come into compliance. And as for the banks: I have been paying my taxes for years and the bank connected to this account has zero issues with what I do and are happy to deposit checks made out to my DBA (and then charge me a fee for h…

That would probably not work. There are humans working at Stripe who has a job of catching people who try to circumvent their rules.

From what I understand, they allow you to use Stripe for donations for charitable groups or projects.

Re: Ask HN: Is Stripe the new PayPal, cancelling user accounts without explanation?

#16

Post by oropolo »

FounderBurr wrote: post #14

I’m sure we could spot what the high risk behavior in question is with your business if you provide us with the url. But truth is, stripe decides who they want to be in business with. They have decided they don’t want to be in business with you. Tough, but they also aren’t placing you on the MATCH list or other common nightmare senerios many non-compliant businesses find themselves in when dealing with violations of…

> My advice is to cut your losses with stripe and get a real merchant account.

I thought Stripe was a real merchant account.

Re: Ask HN: Is Stripe the new PayPal, cancelling user accounts without explanation?

#17

Post by oropolo »

FounderBurr wrote: post #14

I’m sure we could spot what the high risk behavior in question is with your business if you provide us with the url. But truth is, stripe decides who they want to be in business with. They have decided they don’t want to be in business with you. Tough, but they also aren’t placing you on the MATCH list or other common nightmare senerios many non-compliant businesses find themselves in when dealing with violations of…

> I’m sure we could spot what the high risk behavior in question is with your business if you provide us with the url.

Sleuth away: https://www.SupernerdMedia.com

Re: Ask HN: Is Stripe the new PayPal, cancelling user accounts without explanation?

#18

Post by ok_dad »

oropolo wrote: post #4
legitster wrote: post #3

https://stripe.com/legal/restricted-businesses https://support.stripe.com/questions/requirements-for-accept... . > Content creation - Transactions that provide compensation to creators without an underlying piece of digital content associated. Examples include subscriptions to free, public content or a tip button on a profile page It seems like an arbitrary restriction, but Stripe also works a lot more closely with b…

So if I sell digital certificates -- a PDF that says someone donated to my little media side-hustle -- it would be all good? See that's the problem: nobody will tell me what I can do to come into compliance. And as for the banks: I have been paying my taxes for years and the bank connected to this account has zero issues with what I do and are happy to deposit checks made out to my DBA (and then charge me a fee for h…

Make a few podcasts a month that are “members only“. You can make the links unlisted publicly, then just don’t get annoyed when they are shared for everyone by some nice member :)

Anyone who gives you money gets a membership, it’ll be minimum of $1, but it’ll be a “pick your own price” deal.

Honestly though, you could just use a better processor that isn’t such a behemoth that they hate their customers.

Re: Ask HN: Is Stripe the new PayPal, cancelling user accounts without explanation?

#19

Post by FounderBurr »

oropolo wrote: post #16
FounderBurr wrote: post #14

I’m sure we could spot what the high risk behavior in question is with your business if you provide us with the url. But truth is, stripe decides who they want to be in business with. They have decided they don’t want to be in business with you. Tough, but they also aren’t placing you on the MATCH list or other common nightmare senerios many non-compliant businesses find themselves in when dealing with violations of…

> My advice is to cut your losses with stripe and get a real merchant account. I thought Stripe was a real merchant account.

Nope.

Sort setup, short teardown, same as PayPal

Stripe is a minimal to no vetting payment processor. A real merchant account will require contracts and pre-vetting that includes a review of your payment processing history and suitability to the rules of the card networks in question.

Re: Ask HN: Is Stripe the new PayPal, cancelling user accounts without explanation?

#20

Post by fortran77 »

oropolo wrote: post #4
legitster wrote: post #3

https://stripe.com/legal/restricted-businesses https://support.stripe.com/questions/requirements-for-accept... . > Content creation - Transactions that provide compensation to creators without an underlying piece of digital content associated. Examples include subscriptions to free, public content or a tip button on a profile page It seems like an arbitrary restriction, but Stripe also works a lot more closely with b…

So if I sell digital certificates -- a PDF that says someone donated to my little media side-hustle -- it would be all good? See that's the problem: nobody will tell me what I can do to come into compliance. And as for the banks: I have been paying my taxes for years and the bank connected to this account has zero issues with what I do and are happy to deposit checks made out to my DBA (and then charge me a fee for h…

Have a little eBook that you sell in exchange. Or find another vendor that supports the "tip" model explictly
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