Coinbase.com is NOT an exchange, it is NOT a service... it is a company made for the SOLE purpose of trading and hedging customer funds and defrauding the customers and getting away with it.
I don't know where to begin when it comes to coinbase.com being dishonest in their practices, website, terms of service, and blog responses... all to defraud the customer. For some of the customers that they defraud via the "high risk transaction" scheme, they actually recreate the original transactions and make it right. For others (most likely the larger amounts they pocket), they simply never respond, leaving you hanging and burning.
They even give you back the money they steal from you SOME of the times, to make it look like they are not a total scam. Other times, they pocket the money and simply stop responding to you or respond with this email:
"I am extremely sorry for the confusion on this. I've taken further steps to review your account and at this point we've been able to get you whitelisted. Any future purchases you make from this point forward will not encounter this cancellation. Unfortunately, since the refund has already been sent out on these original purchases, I'm unable to push through or re-create the original transactions.
Again, I apologize for the frustration this has caused. If you need further assistance please let me know and I'll be happy to help!"
What? You admit it was YOUR fault, but you can't give me back my money??? and you're sorry? and you'll be happy to help??? This does not compute!
They have stolen money from people who have previously done HUNDREDS of successful transactions by canceling orders and calling it a "high risk transaction".
They have also canceled bitcoin transfers WITHOUT notice or any record in the history.
Here is a small collection of threads showing how coinbase has profited off of customers by stealing their money via the high risk transaction scheme:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/coinbase-hands-down-the-most-unprofessional-bitcoin-service-ive-dealt-with-339882https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/coinbase-cancellation-issues-are-not-resolved-145797https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.3655636https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/coinbase-is-a-bunch-of-thieves-328076https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.3454765https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/coinbase-steals-and-profits-off-customers-via-high-risk-transaction-scheme-322229https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.3450929https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.3531406https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.3526610https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.3627572http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/14195/did-i-just-get-defrauded-by-coinbasePersonally, coinbase canceled 3 orders of 15 bitcoins that has costed me over $6000.00 as of right now. They simply stopped responding to my support ticket. And the last email I got from them it said the following:
1) It was their mistake, and sorry for all the hassles such as holding your money in limbo for so long and the emotional hassles
2) You have been whitelisted
3) You won't be able to get your money back and the money that you should have made, we have already pocketed it (aka we are selling those bitcoins of yours for a MUCH higher price now).
4) But if you stay with us, we guarantee you won't be robbed again. Thank you and come again.
Personally, I think it is VERY smart for them to give back what they have stolen in the smaller transactions that they flag, such as .5 btc or 1 btc, and pocket the larger ones like mine... So they can say, "see, we made a mistake but we corrected it"
Thanks for ruining people's lives, coinbase.com!
One more thing, we, the customers aren't exactly helpless though. Thank God for the land of the free. I hope EVERYONE (not just the people that have been robbed) files a complaint with coinbase.com. Sure it could be useful for those that have dodged the bullet, but a company like this CANNOT be good for digital currencies in the long run.
Here is the form, very simple to fill out:
http://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-companyAnd from what I've heard, they are quite capable of getting you something compensated.
Just fill out coinbase.com for the company or maybe fill out San Francisco for city. Coinbase obviously doesn't supply an address or contact info.
For bitcoin to be healthy, companies like coinbase.com needs to be weeded out.
Edit:
Here is just an example of how Olaf, there head spokesperson/support tells a lie with ease:
it is unbelievable how he just casually makes a dishonest statement.
Trance,
Sorry for the confusion here. We use machine learning algorithms to prevent fraud and they're not always 100% accurate. If you feel you've had a transaction cancelled incorrectly send support an email. We regularly review transactions and push them through at the original purchase price upon request. I also wrote a bit about our fraud program in the fourth section here:
http://newsbtc.com/2013/11/07/coinbases-olaf-carlson-wee-answers-questions-users-technical-issues/Hope that helps!
This is just a straight up lie, they don't regularly push transactions through at original purchase price upon request. They didn't do it for me because the amount was so high.
From what i've known, none of the higher amts where they have ripped people off have they refunded. Only small amts.