As coronavirus-related restrictions continue to exist, Vapers and Vape businesses still rely heavily on online sales of vaping products, so the INDEPENDENT Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) in the UK has offered some gateway tips to businesses experiencing online payment issues, namely Paypal.
In the UK, e-cigarette products are widely recognised as smoking cessation and harm reduction tools. However, with regard to coVID related lock-in, Vape stores were deemed "non-essential" and the industry had to adapt and shift its business online. In a press release on its website, IBVTA highlighted that some businesses were having problems using PayPal. The association said it was working to establish a dialogue with payment platforms to discuss their attitude towards the industry and the implications of their actions.
At the same time, IBVTA lists the following steps businesses can take to mitigate the impact on their businesses: If their PayPal account is active, consider withdrawing funds to their bank account to minimize the potential impact on their business in the future. If PayPal has frozen funds in their account, please make sure they follow the instructions to complete the information requested from them.If PayPal has frozen their account and they have contacted them to appeal for the release of funds, please keep a contact record with them - what they sent and when. If they have contacted PayPal to request the release of funds and they have not responded after eight weeks, they can report it to the Small Business Financial Services Ombudsman through a complaint. Complaining to the Financial Services Ombudsman is easy and doesn't cost anything. For more information and how to file a complaint, see here. Check out alternative transaction gateway providers, make sure to read all the terms and conditions carefully, and consider whether payment gateways are compatible with their e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify, etc.