PayPal Seller Demolition
I’m writing this post due to a recent incident on PayPal which I feel was unfair towards me; The seller.
I recently sold a laptop for £500 ($1,000) to someone online, that person sent me the payment via PayPal and then came and picked up the laptop by hand (locally).
Oblivious to thinking this guy might be a scammer, I didn’t think anything of that as he had already sent me the payment so what did it matter.
Anyway, a few days later I saw a dispute on my PayPal account. This wasn’t raised by the ‘buyer’ supposedly but by PayPal themselves. They obviously have some automated systems to detect fraud etc. Now, the dispute was that they thought the payment itself aka the money may have been stolen; Sent from a stolen credit card on a hacked account to be exact.
Understandably PayPal want proof from the seller to prove the item was sent / handed over. Given that I didn’t sell this via eBay or postage this was impossible for me. What proof could I provide that I handed somebody over a laptop… I think this is a little bias from PayPal. To only accept postage tracking as proof is a bit unfair as there are some things that you cannot provide tracking for. For example; Digital items, I have sold digital items in the past and obviously because this is done online, you cannot provide tracking because you haven’t posted anything. Also pickups as in this case.
I can obviously see it from PayPal’s perspective in that they only cover people who sell with recorded delivery of items and do not cover sellers who do pickups or digital items… so they say although I don’t remember reading that. Anyway, even if that is right, I think their system is flawed. Anybody could just buy something off eBay – go pick it up locally and then raise a claim saying they didn’t get the item. And PayPal saying they will investigate is pointless as the ‘buyer’ will always win in that case because it’s impossible for the seller who sold by hand to provide tracking information.
I think they should really take everything into account. For a start, I have been a PayPal member for well over 2 years so surely hundreds of successful transactions back and forth with no complaints should count for something? That itself proves I am legitimate. So if they believe whoever sent me this payment stole that money; Why not go after him? If they can’t find him, that’s their problem, how was I to know this guy stole the money he sent me via their service.
Despite everything, I lost the case (inevitably) and the unfortunate thing is I had already spent the £500 by the time I saw the dispute. So as a resolution PayPal have reversed the payment and given that I have already handed over the laptop to a buyer which is long gone and spent the £500, I’m £500 in debt thanks to someone elses crime and PayPal’s incompetency.
Why should I be punished because somebody else stole money. A scammer with no track record gets a free laptop and no action against him and I get £500 into debt… that’s justice (NOT). That’s like somebody getting mugged on the street; The mugger getting rewarded and the victim getting charged.
I feel for you, seriously. They really need to think about their system.
You should have taken the details of the person you handed the laptop and got him to sign something.
- Carl
Don’t pay it back and see what happens. Fight it all the way!
Lol, I was gnna do that actually. I spoke to PayPal on the phone and told them they’re system for selller protection is shocking but looks like there’s no way to get my money back. And in court I would probably lose, but I might threaten to take em’ to court… can’t imagine them wanting to pay the legal costs just incase
Have you already paid it off then, or have they given you a bill/invoice?
same thing happened to me, but with credit card processor. Even though I had proof shipment, order, payment, address, numbers and names, didn’t matter and I was out 1300.
Some guy is walking around with a new tv though
I didn’t pay it back to credit card processor company, no problem. Your dealing with Paypal, I wish you good luck.
@ Coffeesh0p, no I haven’t payed it off yet. I’m still thinking whether to just pay it or to just remove my bank account n not pay it or to threaten legal action lmao, what you think?
PayPal can be a really dirty place. I always make sure that I have all of the tracking information paid in full so I have plenty of information to defend my case. As long as you have that, the operators at PayPal are usually very good and judging in your favor.
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Depends if your account is worth that much to you. If you don’t pay it, they’ll probably just ban your account. They banned mine as soon as they realised my site sold drugs, which was a pain in the arse.
Paypal fucked me over recently too. Run by a bunch of morons sadly
thats why people call paypal sucks..
thats a big loss. sorry to hear that
One of the reasons I hate Paypal transactions. There’s always a chance that one of your feet is in the grave. Sorry for your loss man.
Not only you lost your 500$ but the stolen credit card person gained a free laptop.Also the original person (who had a credit card) is suffering a loss of 500$
Hacked money is a money which is generated using credit card software.If the original person will take any action then you will be held because you have the money in the paypal account with a transaction id.
I am afraid,dont sell anything big.You could have taken cash instead of paypal money (as he came to your home…)
thats why i always buy stuffs through paypal and never did it direct… feel sorry for you..
To be honest had something similar happen to me and even with proof of postage, they closed the case, It was so frustrating, every time you ring you get the run around, I got on to a paypal supervisor explained it and got an apology and a refund, basically dont waste your time with PayPal Pawns talk to the supervisor.
I hate paypal lol and don’t remember what is the last time I was leaving a comment on a post… They blocked 3 of my accounts and got me all cash
Fuck paypal, go with moneybookers!