I sold an item to a buyer though eBay and have been selling various items for the past few years. Lately I have had problems with sellers not paying after the auction ends or paying and then wanting refunds after they have received the item. I figured eBay was just going down hill.
This time Pay pal was the problem. I sold a cell phone for $90 to a buyer and he paid and the funds cleared and were deposited into my bank account. I sent him the item and he received it and then asked for a refund, I told him he would have to send the item back and he would get his money back minus the shipping and eBay final value fee. He stated that he does not want to return it, that he wants to keep it, but he doesn't think it's worth $90 and wants full refund. I told him no refund unless he returns it.
I never received a reply and then the buyer issued a dispute through PayPal saying he never received the item. I went to provide proof to PayPal and there were only 2 options on the dispute console:
1. Provide proof that I refunded the seller though other means.
2. Authorize Paypal to issue refund.
Those were the only options. I e-mailed PayPal and said that I want to counter his dispute and no longer wish to issue a refund and I provided the tracking number as proof of delivery. They responded and said they would review my response.
Two weeks later I get an email from paypal stating that they have granted the buyer his claim. I had just had 2 auctions end and had $53 in my paypal account. This was pending being deposited into my real bank account, paypal reversed the deposit into my bank account and sent the $53 to the buyer. Meanwhile I just mailed 1 item I had received payment for and PayPal took my payment away, they also took away payment for another item I have not shipped yet, if I don't the buyer will leave me bad feedback and file a dispute even though I never received his money.
PayPal has put my account under limited access and said they will not allow me to use, close, or do anything with my account until I give them 30 more dollars to refund to my buyer. I e-mailed again and asked to appeal their decision and they said I have 2 options, pay them the $30 to refund to the buyer or provide proof I refunded him though other means. They also initiated a transaction to pull $30 out of my checking account, I called the bank and told them to block it.
I went to the BBB.org and found that PayPal has had over 3,000 complaints filed against them in the last 36mo, but as a paying member, they are in good standing.
I now have no paypal account and am out the item I shipped as well as $53 I received form other buyers. I have no idea what to do. I tried to close my PayPal account to avoid them trying to charge my accounts and they will not let me remove my credit cards or bank account or close my account, so I am stuck.
However it appears that I can open another paypal account, buy some expensive things, say I never got them, and get my money back. But that would be the wrong thing.
Michael
Bloomington, Indiana
U.S.A.
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