Hey all.
Just thought I would share the information as it relates to using Diablo 3's RMAH (Real-Money Auction House) and PayPal in SA.
As you may or may not know, FNB facilitates South-African's ability to use PayPal's withdraw system.
You must have:
- A Verified PayPal account (This requires linking and verifying a credit card with PayPal, any bank)
- An FNB online banking profile (You do NOT have to have an FNB account, just the online banking profile - but an FNB savings account is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, as it saves a lot of errors in the process)
- Diablo 3
After you have created and/or verified your PayPal account by linking and verifying any credit card, you can link your FNB online profile to your PayPal account.
During that linking of FNB to PP, you will be given an opportunity to specify a non-FNB account to link to PayPal.
I strongly recommend against this, as that transaction will often fail, even though PP will still take their fees.
Once you have linked your FNB to your verified PP, you will be able to withdraw funds from your PayPal account to that FNB-linked account.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: This withdrawal process is done from the FNB Online Banking site, NOT from PayPal's site.
During the withdrawal transaction, FNB's page will ask for a reason, or BoP code.
The one we will use (confirmed by both FNB, and the Reserve Bank, as best fit for the scenario) is code 314 - "Subscriptions, Computer related"
Even though our instinct would draw us to code 313 instead, this would be in error. Usage of code 313 requires (in most cases) to be conducted as a service, and as such be performed by a registered company. ie: Not for personal/home use in most cases.
The transaction fees will be pretty harsh, but not to the point where it cuts your "sale" in half. As a general rule, that I have used for years working with international payment services such as PayPal and Moneybookers, I strongly recommend only withdrawing amounts larger than $200. Transactions smaller than that start getting severely chewed by the currency conversion, PayPal fees, bank fees, etc.
(You can cashout your sales of any size from D3 RMAH to PayPal. But only transfer/withdraw from PayPal once the TOTAL is over $200)
Please do note, that the Reserve Bank and any of their agents (such as SARS), have the right to request documented proof of your transaction's validity.
This proof will only be attainable from Blizzard, if and when that request ever comes to you.
Once you have obtained your sales transaction log from Blizzard (could take a few days), you will then corroborate that evidence with the log you can request from PayPal, regarding all transfers done from Blizz/D3 into PP.
I will end here, with a final note.
I do NOT know, but in the process of finding out, what taxes would apply to receiving these funds from using the Diablo 3 RMAH.
Hope this helps someone!
PS: I apologize for the usage of $, as I know most of you will play EU region and use Euro's.
Convert as appropriate.
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