"Declan Murphy" <declan_murphy@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3EEC5677.40508@hotmail.com...
> z Louise Bremner wrote:
> > mr.sumo snr. <mr_sumo@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >>Has anyone successfully transferred funds 'held' by 'Paypal' to their
> >>regular Japanese bank or post office account?
> >
> > At the moment, there's a discussion about PayPal and Japanese banks on
> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SmallBizJapan/>. <snip>
>
> I knew that if I hung around here long enuff someone would post a useful
> link. Thank you Louise!
>

Yes.  It was.

Though 'Paypal' experiences would still appear to fall into the "maybe she
will, and then again maybe she won't" category.  No safe bets.  And trust
me - you don't want to have a transfer refused!  Because we're not just
talking about the cancellation fee - which Paypal in their infinite
unhelpfulness informed me would cost just 620 yen.  You also have to factor
in that, for example, $500 is 'bought' at perhaps 118 yen/dollar.  Then,
when it's refused and transferred back to your 'Paypal' account it's done so
at about 129yen/dollar and you're out $42 on the exchange!

My guess is that you want to be sure that whichever Japanese bank you're
transferring funds to is aware that the transfer is coming before the fact.
Their android-like "sumimasen" 's might then be replaced with a
"dekimashita"!  Then again, I may just be living in a dream...

jonathan