PayPal is the archetypical faceless service. It works well when it works, but God forbid something goes wrong and you need to do something not on their mindless "menu." They are truly awful.
I have about 1000 eBay transactions, mostly as a buyer, and for the most part they were nice experiences. But I have some that were less than happy, and a couple that were karmic nightmares. In almost all the negative occurrences, PayPal seems to be involved.
I'll relate one of them. I bid on a satellite receiver. I really wanted this particular unit, which was really rare and almost never available. I purchased it immediately (before the auction was scheduled to end) and paid through PayPal within minutes. I really wanted this thing and was amazed at my luck. It cost just under $1000.
I had no response from the seller, not even an acknowledgement of payment. I then noticed that he had placed 3 more of these for sale, and "somebody else" seemed to have found a couple, and they were for sale for the exact same price. More unanswered emails.
I contacted (via an email drone form) both eBay and PayPal, alerting them that there was a potential problem and that I believed an ongoing fraud was taking place. I received "automated" replies, which were meaningless. I was informed that I could not even submit an eBay complaint for 30 days, and that I should try to resolve this with my seller in a civilized fashion. I found that the address and telephone number the seller had used were both fraudulent. I forwarded this information to eBay and to PayPal's uncaring silicon processor, and was rewarded with the exact same form letters again.
Well, these 5 auctions were drawing to a close, and since no one was listening, I bid $10,000.00 for each receiver and, not surprisingly, won all 5 auctions. Still no word from the seller. My 30 days elapsed, and I filed my fraud "form" with eBay and PayPal.
Two days later I received a FedEx package, signature required. I opened the box and found 4 magazines, without explanation, from an address I did not recognize. I checked my email 15 minutes later and discovered a note from eBay / PayPal saying that the seller had supplied them with proof of delivery and that they considered my complaint settled.
I again contacted them, explaining what had happened, and they responded that they could not get involved with "the quality of the merchandise received," but that they had now been supplied with "proof" that I had signed for and received my item, and they still considered my complaint settled. eBay suspended the seller, so I could not even leave negative feedback, and he just started a new account under another name.
I had followed their "rules," and it had gotten me nowhere. I contacted Citibank, told them the story, and told them to reverse the charge. They did. I was happy. But this is not the end of the story. PayPal charged my card again! I reversed it again, and they then hit my "Verified Bank Account." I reversed that as well, changed my credit card number, changed my bank account number, and called the FBI and FDIC. Nobody seemed to care.
If you have to use this service, pay everything with your credit card, and do not get suckered into getting "verified" and giving them your bank account information.
PayPal sent me a note some time later "hoping I was satisfied with their complaint process, and that everything had been settled to my satisfaction. Beep Beep." Unbelievable? I still have not heard from the seller.
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