Could it be a phishing email? have you cliked a link in the email and given your user name and password? If you have you might want to change your password quick!

It happened to me - if you sell something your money is "locked" until the buyer gives you positive feedback or 21 days passes

That is how it should be.

Possibly, but it falls down if your buyer is a lazy ass and doesn't bother giving any feedback

Exaxtly my point.1 week ago i sold my 1st item(Apple ipod) and still have not recieved any feedback from the buyer.Really p$sses me off when they can't be bothered when it only takes 2mins at most.Luckily i don't need the money but for someone desperate to get the payment for Christmas is now well + truly f---ed through Paypals changing of the rules,probably to suit them aswell keeping peoples money in their own account for 3weeks.

It happened to me a while back when selling an old bit of PC kit. I managed to get in contact with someone at PayPal for reassurance as when I searched the internet the 21 days thing had been abused by scammers. Buying items then running a charge back from their bank so that they don't pay a penny.

Anyways when I did speak to someone at PayPal they advised me the reason for the hold is because of increased fraud in the PayPal system over the years. Believe it or not PayPal have had to refund a lot of transactions when seller have not been genuine. So by holding the funds buyers can receive their goods and PayPal doesn't lose out.


One thig I did mention though is that of where the money is been held and the subsequent interest that is been gained upon it. Obviously PayPal will be coining it in if you stop to think of how much money passes through their systems on a regular basis.