Thought I would start a tread on PayPal horror stories as many bidders and sellers use their services on eBay. Perhaps others can learn from our experiences.
This is one of mine.
I won an auction on eBay that consisted of two items. The photo in the auction showed the two items and two Score Board certs that were to come with these items. The photo showed one of the items decently enough, but the second item was smaller and I couldn't really judge it.
After winning the auction, I promptly paid with PayPal out of my bank account and asked that the seller send me the tracking number when the items had been shipped. The seller stated he would ship the items the next day.
After not hearing from the seller for four days and with no replies to my e-mail requests, I filed a complaint with PayPal due to non-receipt of my items.
Now keep in mind, PayPal states that paying via your bank account is just as safe for the buyer as using a credit card.
After I filed my complaint, the seller was sent an e-mail by PayPal and his account had a hold placed on it. The seller then sent my items and I received these about four days after the complaint was filed.
Upon reviewing the items, I found that only one Score Board cert was included and the smaller item was a blatant forgery.
I then sent PayPal an e-mail stating that I had received the items, but wanted to amend my original complaint because of the forgery. Thought that would be all I needed to do.
I then wrote the seller about the forgery and he stated that if I wasn't happy to just send the items back for a refund. I packaged everything up and send it back with a signature confirmation required. The items were delivered back to the seller and he personally signed for these.
I then notified PayPal that the items had been returned and sent copies of my shipping receipts, the seller's e-mail stating that I could return the items, and the tracking number.
PayPal responded that since my original complaint was for non-receipt of the items, and the seller provided proof of delivery, PayPal found in the seller's favor and was releasing my funds to him.
I personally couldn't believe the idiotic response I had received from PayPal as this amount was over 300.00.
I called and talked to numerous people at PayPal and it seems that one would tell me something, and another would state the opposite. Even though they each could pull up the file and see everything related to this transaction, they were clueless.
I then appealed this decision to release my funds to this seller due to the simple fact that the seller had received both items back.
I once again sent the signature confirmation number, and copied the info from the USPS website showing when it was delivered and that the seller had signed for it. The seller also had the items relisted on eBay at this time and I sent PayPal that auction number as well as the one I had won so that these clueless individuals could see that the seller had the original items back, and on auction again.
The seller challenged my appeal, even though he had the items back, and on auction.
Didn't matter to the good folks at PayPal.
Because I had originally filed for non-receipt, I could not amend, change, or add to this original complaint. And, since the seller could show that the package was delivered to me originally, that satisfied PayPal. They denied my appeal and stated my money was being released to the seller.
Now I am really pissed off at the stupidity of PayPal and their nonsensical reasoning.
I started researching the seller. I found out that this seller had three accounts and was cross using these accounts to bid up his own items.
I wrote the seller and as frankly as possible stated that if I didn't get my money back, the research I had was going to be sent to eBay and his accounts would all be closed, and he would be permanently banned.
I received my money back the next day from this seller.
The seller's eBay accounts have also been closed.
Moral of this long story, always use a credit card on PayPal to pay for your items and you will have some real protection against fraud, not just lip service. Also, make sure you are absolutely correct in whatever category you file a complaint under because PayPal will not let you amend it in any way.
This is one of mine.
I won an auction on eBay that consisted of two items. The photo in the auction showed the two items and two Score Board certs that were to come with these items. The photo showed one of the items decently enough, but the second item was smaller and I couldn't really judge it.
After winning the auction, I promptly paid with PayPal out of my bank account and asked that the seller send me the tracking number when the items had been shipped. The seller stated he would ship the items the next day.
After not hearing from the seller for four days and with no replies to my e-mail requests, I filed a complaint with PayPal due to non-receipt of my items.
Now keep in mind, PayPal states that paying via your bank account is just as safe for the buyer as using a credit card.
After I filed my complaint, the seller was sent an e-mail by PayPal and his account had a hold placed on it. The seller then sent my items and I received these about four days after the complaint was filed.
Upon reviewing the items, I found that only one Score Board cert was included and the smaller item was a blatant forgery.
I then sent PayPal an e-mail stating that I had received the items, but wanted to amend my original complaint because of the forgery. Thought that would be all I needed to do.
I then wrote the seller about the forgery and he stated that if I wasn't happy to just send the items back for a refund. I packaged everything up and send it back with a signature confirmation required. The items were delivered back to the seller and he personally signed for these.
I then notified PayPal that the items had been returned and sent copies of my shipping receipts, the seller's e-mail stating that I could return the items, and the tracking number.
PayPal responded that since my original complaint was for non-receipt of the items, and the seller provided proof of delivery, PayPal found in the seller's favor and was releasing my funds to him.
I personally couldn't believe the idiotic response I had received from PayPal as this amount was over 300.00.
I called and talked to numerous people at PayPal and it seems that one would tell me something, and another would state the opposite. Even though they each could pull up the file and see everything related to this transaction, they were clueless.
I then appealed this decision to release my funds to this seller due to the simple fact that the seller had received both items back.
I once again sent the signature confirmation number, and copied the info from the USPS website showing when it was delivered and that the seller had signed for it. The seller also had the items relisted on eBay at this time and I sent PayPal that auction number as well as the one I had won so that these clueless individuals could see that the seller had the original items back, and on auction again.
The seller challenged my appeal, even though he had the items back, and on auction.
Didn't matter to the good folks at PayPal.
Because I had originally filed for non-receipt, I could not amend, change, or add to this original complaint. And, since the seller could show that the package was delivered to me originally, that satisfied PayPal. They denied my appeal and stated my money was being released to the seller.
Now I am really pissed off at the stupidity of PayPal and their nonsensical reasoning.
I started researching the seller. I found out that this seller had three accounts and was cross using these accounts to bid up his own items.
I wrote the seller and as frankly as possible stated that if I didn't get my money back, the research I had was going to be sent to eBay and his accounts would all be closed, and he would be permanently banned.
I received my money back the next day from this seller.
The seller's eBay accounts have also been closed.
Moral of this long story, always use a credit card on PayPal to pay for your items and you will have some real protection against fraud, not just lip service. Also, make sure you are absolutely correct in whatever category you file a complaint under because PayPal will not let you amend it in any way.
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