posted on August 23, 2001 05:15:26 PM new
Has this ever happened to anyone else...
I paid for an eBay item via PayPal, but the seller was accepting PayPal for the first time. He copied and pasted a logo from someone else's auction and didn't know that it was linked to an email address. Me, being stupid and not checking, basically, paid the wrong person. Here's the interesting part.
The person who I sent the wrong payment to, says that he never saw the payment show up on his account. I checked his eBay rating and it was pretty high 300+, so I don't think he would be trying to rip me off. Well, I called PayPal and their records showed that the transaction has been completed. They put a hold on the person's account and are doing the investigation.
Has this ever happened to anyone else?? What I want to know is where did my money go??
Does the payment show as "claimed" or "unclaimed" in your history? If it is unclaimed, you can reverse the payment and send to the correct email address. If claimed, you would need to contact the recipient of the money to send it back.
An easy way to tell?
-unclaimed payments display only the email address
-claimed payments display the name and email address of the recipient
posted on August 28, 2001 11:48:45 AM new
paypaldamon,
Thanks for the reply. I checked the status and it was completed, also the name and email of the person is shown. Does it make a difference if I pay via check or credit card?? Also I am verified and my address is confirmed, doesn't that mean most of my payments will go through without the recipient having to claim/accept the payment??
BTW...I just sent a Paypal payment (via Credit card) to another recipient and the name and email of the person is also shown instantly when I clicked on the "completed" status link, I am sure that person did not claim my payment seconds after I sent it.
Sorry, I have one more question, my credit card has already been charged for the payment that was sent by mistake. Hypothetically speaking, what happens if PayPal concludes from their investigation that the person has my money but he doesn't have funds in his account balance for PayPal to transfer the money??
Thanks.
Richard
[ edited by rookies101 on Aug 28, 2001 11:49 AM ]
The payment has gone to that party (if it is claimed). I would try to advise the party as such before filing a complaint. There is no difference in the funding method (echeck,credit card,etc) when filing a complaint.
The Buyer Complaint Process does not guarantee recovery---I would recommend trying to work it out with the recipient first, as they may not know how to view it in their history.
Users have their preferences set to accept certain kinds of payments---it will depend on the individual account you are sending to.
Your chargeback rights are still intact, but I can't guarantee your PayPal account won't be impacted if you file one (I don't know your account history).
posted on August 28, 2001 02:12:27 PM new
Now that comment "We can guarantee your account won't be affected" bothers me. This buyer made a mistake and someone has their money. If paypal won't take the time to research who got the money and help them out, why should this buyer take it in the shorts. If a chargeback is the only way to get their money back, why should you close their account. You have a stupid policy. You punish the innocent and praise the guilty. Why not close the account of the person who has fraudulantly kept their money. Someone has it, and if they don't then paypal does. I have a claim with paypal right now against a seller who did not send my merchandise, I have been waiting for 25 days only 5 more left for paypal to conduct their investigation. I have been told the same thing, if you initiate a chargeback we can't guarantee this won't affect your account. Well that stinks. I have never charged back anything on paypal, but we get penalized if I do, even though I did not get my merchandise. The innocent suffer again. I am an ebay powerseller and unfortunately I have to use paypal as the customers demand that. it is not the only service I use and also is not my preferred method anymore. I use to only accept paypal, but after you starting protecting the guilty, I do not recommend it anymore. i would appreciate your comment on this paypaldamon.
posted on August 28, 2001 03:15:40 PM new
paypaldamone,
Thanks again for your reply. The person I sent payment to (who has 300+ feedack on eBay) says that he didn't receive it, so there's really nothing I can do but to take his word for it. So, basically, from what you're saying, it sounds as though unless that guy sends back the money there is nothing that PayPal can do??
"Your chargeback rights are still intact, but I can't guarantee your PayPal account won't be impacted if you file one"
To be honest, I don't mind my PayPal account being impacted if that means I get back my $800!
posted on August 28, 2001 03:19:39 PM new
corksmom, you're fighting a tiger of your own creation.
We read here from time to time, sellers who express concern that buyers will abuse the chargeback potential of credit cards.
While extrordinarily rare, the potential is real to abuse the chargeback, not to protect one's self from errors or scams, but because one sees such abuse as the means to some end.
PayPal's statement is with respect to such abuse. PayPal has stated that they will terminate the relationship with a buyer who has exhibited abusive chargeback behavior. This is not a random threat directed at everyone, it is targed at a very few cases. Damon has been very clear, it is not intended to intimidate the cardholder who legitimately needs to invoke cardholder rights.
Clearly, frequent chargebacks is a solid indication of abuse.
Credit card companies are the same way, for what it's worth. ALL of them will dump a customer who submits frequent chargebacks. Chargebacks are a pain for everyone involved, and should be used only as a last resort.
posted on August 28, 2001 03:38:15 PM new
I filed an investigation regarding a seller who did not ship the merchandise. PayPal added the money back into my account and then put a hold on it. According to the seller, they took the money from her account. After the investigation was completed, it was determined that I should get my money returned. But I was told that the seller had a "0" balance. Where did THAT money go? It seems that in situations such as this that PayPal has a lot of leeway in handling that money. For all the seller knows the money taken out of her account was given to me. For all I know the money was never there to begin with and I am just out of couple of hundred dollars. Where is the guarantee against fraud that PayPal advertises?
posted on August 28, 2001 05:39:01 PM new
Thanks for everyone's replies.
This is the first problem I've had with PayPal, granted it was my fault to begin with.
This seems like an open and shut case to me. At this time, I am just coming up with the worse case scenario. Let's assume after PayPal's investigation that the recipient must refund my money, but he has a $0 balance. Is that the end of PayPal's liability?? Does PayPal usually take the full 30 days before I should expect a reply or should I start inquirying after a certain time frame??
I want to wait til PayPal concludes their investigation and see what happens before I dispute the charge on my credit card so it doesn't get messier.
[ edited by rookies101 on Aug 28, 2001 05:40 PM ]
[ edited by rookies101 on Aug 28, 2001 05:40 PM ]
posted on September 2, 2001 07:38:43 PM new
NEW SELLER PASTED SOMEONE ELSES LOGO INTO THEIR AUCTION. I WOULD PURSUE THE SELLAR. IT WAS THEIR ERROR. FILE A FRAUD REPORT WITH EBAY. THE FACTS WILL SHOW THAT YOU WON THE AUCTION. YOU PAID THE LINK IN THE AUCTION. YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE GOODS. THIS PUTS THE PRESSURE ON THE SELLER TO GET HIS SO CALLED FRIEND TO COUGH UP THE BUCKS. OUR AUCTIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INSURED WITH A 25.00 DEDUCTABLE, FILE THE FRAUD REPORT AND COLLECT. YOU CAN ALSO PRINT COPIES OF THE AUCTION, PAYPAL PAYMENT AND ANY CORRESPONDCE YOU HAVE AND MARCH DOWN TO THE POST OFFICE AND FILE MAIL FRAUD CHARGES AGINEST THE SELLER AND PERSON WHO PAYPAL SHOWS HAS YOUR $. THE POSTAL PEOPLE WILL PURSUE THIS FOR YOU. YOU'D BE SURPRISED AT HOW FAST THEY FIND YOUR MONEY!!! GOOD LUCK
posted on September 3, 2001 10:58:25 PM new
YES, It has happen to me. High bidder sent me a payment which I never got. So when the bidder check into it, he found that the payment when to some other account - but get this this account did not belong to anyone.
So the person cancel it and I did get my payment...
posted on September 4, 2001 11:18:03 PM new
rookies101:
If Paypal determines that you are due a refund, they will try to take it from the other guy's Paypal balance, but they solemnly promise that they will NEVER go into anyone's bank account to get funds.
So, if your adversary ends up having a zero paypal balance when paypal goes to collect for you, YOU ARE SOL as far as Paypal remedies. This is the bottom-line meaning of Damon's statement, "The Buyer Complaint Process does not guarantee recovery".
That's when you must initiate a chargeback request DIRECTLY with your credit card company, but don't linger too long lest you lose your chance there, too.
Thanks for the confirmation, that was what I gathered from the posts. I have already contacted my credit card company and they told me that I have to wait until I receive my statement before I can begin the process of requesting a chargeback.
I doubt PayPal will be able to recover my money. If the guy who I mistakenly sent the payment to was honest he would have sent the money back, if he wasn't, I doubt he would leave the money in his account for long.
posted on September 5, 2001 10:24:15 PM new
Hi rookies101,
The Buyer Complaint Process takes 30 days from the date of the claim being filed. Most card companies grant a period of 60 days to file a chargeback claim, so I would urge you to be patient while the claim is being worked.
As a tip---the faster a Buyer Complaint is filed (once a problem is noticed), the more likely recovery is.
posted on September 28, 2001 07:22:30 PM new
Update: Over 30 days, still no response from PayPal. I started another thread, and Damon has requested my info to help me find out what's going on. Hopefully I will get a response very soon.
posted on September 29, 2001 04:26:06 AM new
Perhaps for large amounts (over a few hundred dollars), it might be worth your time to go the the post office for a US Postal Money Order that you send to the seller with SIGNATURE confirmation. Stands to reason...
posted on October 1, 2001 04:58:12 PM new
Well, I finally got the results of PayPal's investigation and it was found that the seller was at fault. Conclusion: Out of $800, they were able to recoop $5.36!!
I guess I will go through my CC to get a chargeback.
My next question is, does this mean the seller just got away with $800!!??
posted on October 1, 2001 07:54:57 PM new
800 less 5.36.
yes he got away with the balance and when you do a chargeback ,it will hit paypal and paypal loses.
posted on October 1, 2001 08:56:13 PM new
hwahwahwahwa,
You're saying that PayPal won't even go after or prosecute the seller to try to recoop the money? It's not like this was a few bucks, this is a fairly large amount of money even for PayPal.
I am glad that I used a credit card, if I had used my bank account to pay I would have been screwed.
posted on October 1, 2001 09:34:14 PM new
if he has only 5.36 in his paypal account and paypal said they wont go into any one 's bank account,their only recourse is then via legal means.
let us know if your cc issuer will accept your chargeback??
i really think ebay has read the handwriting on the wall,person to person venue is just too much risk,too much fraud and too labor intensive for their customer service.
we have come a long way since henry ford to go back to person to person buy and sell,if a person is serious about becoming a retailer,then put your capital on the line and get a website,apply for business certificate and accept credit card just like all the brick and mortar retail shops,
SOME OF YOU MAY NOT AGREE,JUST REMEMBER WHERE YOUR READ THIS WHEN IT HAPPENS.
posted on October 2, 2001 04:47:56 PM new
Well, I contacted my credit card company and the rep explained that I needed to fill out the paperwork for the chargeback which I will receive and it will take another 1-2 weeks for their investigation.
posted on October 21, 2001 06:45:58 AM new
I'm also having a problem with an Ebay seller who misrepresented an item that I paid with Paypal. I filed a complaint and an investigation followed. Paypal placed a hold on the account, then reversed it. I cannot get any replies from Paypal other than "your email was received". Does anyone know how to contact a human at paypal?
posted on October 21, 2001 07:19:44 AM new
until paypal can come up with better customer service and better fraud protection,i advice everyone to consider using paypal for small transactions.
how much can you afford to lose-50 dollars,100 dollars??
common sense- buying on ebay is no different than buying from your weekend fleamarket seller.if he has no way of accepting credit card directly then he either find it too costly to have a merchant account or he is just not a well established merchant,limit the dollar size of your transaction with individuals.
posted on October 21, 2001 10:35:57 AM newI'm also having a problem with an Ebay seller who misrepresented an item that I paid with Paypal. I filed a complaint and an investigation followed. Paypal placed a hold on the account, then reversed it. I cannot get any replies from Paypal other than "your email was received". Does anyone know how to contact a human at paypal?
This sure sounds like a "quality of merchandise" dispute. PayPal does not get involved in quality of merchandise disputes. They clearly state that they don't get involved in quality of merchandise disputes.
posted on October 31, 2001 05:16:03 PM new
I keep wondering why this roofguy keeps putting in his comments.Clearly they are not asked for unless he is a paid papal spokesperson. IS HE OR IS HE NOT ? Do you have an answer Damon.
