Paypal: Friend or Foe?

[jaxhawksfan]

Just had the worst experience of my Paypal life. I have been using Paypal for about 10 years, buying stuff from Ebay, selling some things around the house and such. I just sold a scope for $445 bucks on an auction site and requested payment from the buyer via Paypal. The buyer sent the money and I verified it was in my account and requested it to be then transferred to my bank account. I shipped the scope the next day. Later that day, Paypal put a hold on my account saying that the buyer fraudulently paid me. I contacted the buyer (as any reasonable person would do) and they assured me that the money was sent. Paypal said it was "suspicious" and they were going to take ten days to investigate the payment. The buyer contacted Paypal and they told him he must verify his account by going online and verifying a small transaction that paypal would make on his account. This is fine, but the guy was on a 15 day trip in the hills of Idaho and didn't have internet access. Paypal then told me that if I could prove that the item was delivered and signed for then they would release my money. Saturday, I gave them proof that the scope was signed for and requested my money. They denied me, stating that because it wasn't a "verified" address in their system that I wasn't due the money sent to me. End of the long story: Buyer calls in today to find out what the hell the problem is and they tell him there is nothing wrong with his account and they have no idea what he is talking about. Finally he convinces them that they are holding my money for no reason and they release it to me. So, 5 days later......the money is now available for me to transfer into my bank. Completely unacceptable since I had to PAY them for the convenience of this transaction. If the guy was indeed a criminal and wanted to rip me off I would have no recourse via Paypal. They sound like they protect the buyer, but they sure as hell don't protect the seller.



Apparently I'm a dumbass and had no idea how Paypal operated and the "fine print" college course I had to enroll in to learn how they operate was missed.



Anyone else have problems with them or have heard of problems with them?



(I will be shutting down my Paypal account as soon as the money hits my bank because I don't want these bastards having access to my bank account)

 

[bri]

Jax . do you know if this was the guy's first time using paypal?

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

I can count on one hand the number of problems I've had with PayPal and their customer service is actually very good. Keep bitching and talking to supervisors and you will get what you want.

 

[jaxhawksfan]

Bri I don't think it was this guy's first transaction with Paypal. Stu, I'm tired of bitching at them. I have already wasted too many hours on this waiting on hold to be told a different answer from each person I talk to. This last time it was a supervisor who I spoke with and he basically told me tough shit, that is their policy and if they need to reverse a charge 4 months after it happens then they can and will do that. I won't be doing business with an organization like that.

 

[bri]

I remember the first time I used it I had to verify my bank acct and address.







Not sure if it was paypal but I remember a year or so ago Klemmer complaining about someone tapping into one of his accts and buying like a $2400 TV. It took him awhile to get it straightened out.

 

[TJD]

I've never had any problems with Paypal. Just completed two transactions that were quick and painless.

 

[bookjones]

Eh, I have been PayPal-ing almost since it's inception. Have always LOVED it and LOVE that more and more normal online retailers are offering it as a checkout option instead of having to type card and mailing info. and create new accounts with them. Think in all these years I have had maybe 2 incidents max of any sort out of countless transactions. A pain at the times to be sure but once resolved were fine and they just don't come close to negating all the zero-hassle transactions I have made with it---eBay, charities, retailers, Craigslist, sending funds to family/friends, online software purchases, service purchases. It's been wholly awesome in my book.

 

[the canadian dream]

You always take a risk when a 3rd party is involved in transactions but paypal has a good track record. I wouldn't let this one incident sour you to paypal jax. Still a well respected and well ran company.



Understand the frustration though. Lack of communication is always something that will turn me off a company also. Sounds like other than this case your experience and dealings with paypal has always been satisfactory. is this true? I have had bad service from some of my favorite stores and companies before. But the good experiences have always out shadowed the rare disappointing ones.



With that said can i have your credit card numbers?

 

[Kerfuffle]

Glad you got your money. Reading through your post I was worried the payment was going to be fraudulent and then you'd be out the $445 for the item you sent and no recourse.

 

[phranchk]

I know several merchants that are reluctant to use paypal for the simple reason that someone can put up a dispute and you can't get that money until the dispute is resolved, which could be weeks. There are people out there that will fraudulently dispute an item or service and the merchant gets screwed.

 

[winos5]

I used paypal a few times. Didn't really have any problems. In general I'm trying to avoid buying stuff via the internet.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

I used to Ebay for about 5-10 years back when it was still profitable to do so.

I never had an issue with Paypal, but a buyer tried to con me out of a purchase by creating a page that resembled a Paypal payment. He kept sending me the link, but I never saw the money in my account. When I called him on his shit, money magically appeared in my real account.



Mind you, this is one of about 1000 transactions.



Currently, keep Paypal around for people I know-- so payments can transfer easily.

 

[The Count Dante]

I have not had any issues per se but I use it so rarely anyway.



But I am not surprised at all.

 

[MassHavoc]

I've used it once, maybe twice, and that is only if I was forced to. And I don't know how long ago that was. I remember their being some extra fees involved somehow, and I refuse to use third-party shit that likes to take on extra fees unless absolutely no other way. (ticketmaster, stubhub, ect..)

 

[jaxhawksfan]

You always take a risk when a 3rd party is involved in transactions but paypal has a good track record. I wouldn't let this one incident sour you to paypal jax. Still a well respected and well ran company.



Understand the frustration though. Lack of communication is always something that will turn me off a company also. Sounds like other than this case your experience and dealings with paypal has always been satisfactory. is this true? I have had bad service from some of my favorite stores and companies before. But the good experiences have always out shadowed the rare disappointing ones.



With that said can i have your credit card numbers?

In the past I have had no issues. This issue though has soured me by the way I was treated, the misinformation I was given, and the fact that if this was indeed a scammer I would have been screwed with no recourse through paypal. I won't be a seller anymore using the site because I feel like they do not protect sellers, only buyers (many of whom are scammers). I don't use this as a business, I only sell shit when I am strapped and need the money.

 

[canucklehead]

Bri I don't think it was this guy's first transaction with Paypal. Stu, I'm tired of bitching at them. I have already wasted too many hours on this waiting on hold to be told a different answer from each person I talk to. This last time it was a supervisor who I spoke with and he basically told me tough shit, that is their policy and if they need to reverse a charge 4 months after it happens then they can and will do that. I won't be doing business with an organization like that.

you know that a bank can do that too, right? do you not use banks?

 

[TJD]

Like Paul said, I only use my paypal when it's between another party that I know.

 

[jaxhawksfan]

you know that a bank can do that too, right? do you not use banks?

Oh trust me, I am well aware that banks can/do this as well. Think "direct deposit". Even if you are paid by your company, they can go into your bank account and clean you out anytime they want (or just reverse your pay a day or two later). I learned that the hard way as well.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Oh trust me, I am well aware that banks can/do this as well. Think "direct deposit". Even if you are paid by your company, they can go into your bank account and clean you out anytime they want (or just reverse your pay a day or two later). I learned that the hard way as well.

Then you've had a rough ride, my friend =D

 

[jaxhawksfan]

Then you've had a rough ride, my friend =D

And yet I'm still standing strong. Just call me Rocky.