PayPal Using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to refuse customer service even though everyone else is up and running San Jose California

"illicit commercial practices"

You forgot to answer the question: Specifically, what actions of PayPal are illicit?

I tried PayPal's Offline Chat (available when login fails) this morning. I got ahold of a support agent using the name Jorge (his chat avatar was "JE"). Maybe the early-morning crew is more helpful because they just had coffee, or maybe Jorge was a new hire who was still on his 90-day probationary period. Who knows? But he dilgently took my information and tried several times to send e'mails, then SMS verification codes to my current phone number.

When nothing was coming through, he finally shared a number where I can fax my ID and proof of address so that PayPAl adminstration can close my accounts internally. That's all that was necessary. That's all the many, many PayPal personnel who I have interacted with had to do, and my issue could have been resolved days ago.

It took a while for this to occur to me because I'm so flummoxed by PayPal's unfathomably horrific approach to dealing with a customer,  but how is it that PayPal is blaming reduced resources. i.e. time and personnel, on the coronavirus pandemic, thereby hobbling them from providing a reasonable level of customer support, but they somehow scraped up the personnel and made time for trolling me for at least 3 days on RipoffReport? Whoever is reponsible for PayPal's rebuttals to me but refusal to resolve my issue should be fired and prosecuted for time theft.   

"It's not my brand that's going to suffer when Ripoff Report surfaces in online searches for PayPal… PayPal has crossed a line in downgrading its public image,"

On the contrary, readers of this report will feel secure with the knowledge that their PayPal accounts are well safeguarded due to stringent security policies. I certainly wouldn't want my account compromised because someone called PayPal claiming to be me.

"a crumbling enterprise that has outlived its usefulness"

PayPal's stock price has increased from $34 to $202 a share over the past five years. A stock value increase of 494% over five years is not an indication of a crumbling enterprise.

"illicit commercial practices"

Specifically, what actions of PayPal are illicit?

Something is seriously wrong at any company that condones and likely encourages their representatives and agents to compulsively insult and attempt to demean a customer after refusing to provide support based on conspicuously reasonable request. It is worth bearing in mind that, to my best understanding, my complaint and any subsequent rebuttals from anyone are permanently in place at PayPal's exense per Ripoff Report policies. It's not my brand that's going to suffer when Ripoff Report surfaces in online searches for PayPal. So, this tween mean-girl approach probably isn't the best marketing model. There's some instability somewhere that needs to be scrutinized and fixed. Be that as it may, PayPal has crossed a line in downgrading its public image, and in the amount of time, energy, effort and manpower it has engaged in in lieu of simply resolving my issue. This is a red flag shining a spotlight on a crumbling enterprise that has outlived its usefulness but refuses to do the right thing by its public, then slinking off with its tail between its legs. Smells like a trend...

Nevertheless, in addition to comlaining to Ripoff Report, I have registered complaints with other watchdog agencies that take illicit commercial practices and internet hijinx seriously, and may even lay down some consequences. So we shall see who's "confused" in how they go about their business.  

"It's unreasonable for PayPal administration to expect a customer to update their information when s/he doesn't use PayPal for months or years at a time"

That's equivalent to claiming that the police should allow anyone to kick in a door based on the claim that they haven't been at that location for a long period time.

Permitting a customer to log into an account without proper verification defeats the purpose of the security credentials.

It appears you are confused by use of the word current in the PayPal User Agreement that states, "You must keep your mailing address, email address and other contact information current in your PayPal account profile." The policy does not indicate the information needn't be kept current if the account is inactive.

In their flaccid rebuttal, PayPal is deonstrating that they would rather support my argument against them than support my needs as a customer. As of the instant PayPal drafted their rebuttal, they acted in bad fail, and with ill will and malice. It's unreasonable for PayPal administration to expect a customer to update their information when s/he doesn't use PayPal for months or years at a time, let alone on a regular basis, thereby rendering PayPal all but forgotten in the mind of the customer.

Further, I have been emphatically and repeatedly asking for help for over a week now in an effort to log in and update my phone number so I could receive the required texted code to complete 2-step verification. Instead of rebutting to my well-deserved complaint, PayPal could have put that time, energy and effort into contacting me to untangle my log-in issue or simply deleting both of my accountsas I have also requested repeatedly.

You failed to follow the PayPal User Agreement that states, "You must keep your mailing address, email address and other contact information current in your PayPal account profile."