I've been ripped off by a buyer - ALL EBAY SELLERS NEED TO READ THIS !!

[onefootinthegravy]

So a buyer paid me on 5th July and I duly sent out the item. We both left feedback on 11th July, both happy.
And then on 15th July payment has been reversed.
He has claimed back his money by doing a 'Paypal Reversal' - the money was withdrawn from my Paypal account - he as the goods and the money back

On his feedback he has done this before

I have written to ebay and they have palmed me off stating they cannot check my Paypal account - and told me to contact Paypal who directed me to there Seller Protection page that has basically told me there is a risk of this happening in every Papypal transaction!!!
There is some protection for the seller if your a business trader but none for just a personal account.
Thankfully my feedback is up to 1200 and this is the first time it's ever happened to me but I sure as hell will not be selling something of value (ever) on Ebay !!

[southeastastra]

oh that's crap, ebay really needs to sort this out.

[icecreamsoda]

why didn't you remove the money from your paypal account as soon as you received it?

And why didn't you check his feedback before selling to him?

It is really crap, but tbh the more I hear about ebay the more I am certain I would never use it. ever.

[forevercleaning]

blimey i never knw this could happen. what if the money is transferred on into our bank accounts? Can they get in there too?

I ask this as i never leave money in a paypal account, when i have sold something, i move it straigthaway into my bank. Any safer by doing this?

Reading that has put me right off ebay.

[onefootinthegravy]

Apparently this does happen - I've been on the Ebay community boards - one guy sold a phone for £260 and it happened to him - so the buyer got the phone & the money back !!
There doesn't seem to be any procedure in place at all to protect the seller whatsoever - you have to pursue yourself through the small claims court wtf ???

[slalomsuki]

Wow I never knew that. I have sold loads of things but don't leave feedback until they do if you see what I mean.

Paypal means very little in my opinion. I have had trouble getting money back when the seller responded with a ficticious proof of delivery. I had to get Royal Mail to vouch for me at my end since we live in a very unique place and only get parcel deliveries twice per week and even then it was given back to me as an ex gratia payment

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

I think even if you take the money out your paypal account they can still do it - you just end up in a minus figure with paypal. Ie; you owe Paypal money. It stinks. Ebay stinks when something like this happens as they don't want to know.

[expatinscotland]

how shocking!

i got ripped off by a buyer early last year and haven't used Ebay since.

[onefootinthegravy]

The feedback was entered only after I had sent the item out - so I never knew at the time - I don't withdraw from my Paypal account unless its on over £50 because Paypal charge you

[Tutter]

i wonder if i should close my paypal account?

i've sold £500 worth of furniture - due to be collected on friday. have withdrawn funds from paypal already, but sounds as though the only way to be sure would be to close your account?

[onepieceoflollipop]

That's awful.

I last bought on ebay over a year ago and since reading some horror stories (mainly on here) I shan't bother again. I haven't had any bad experiences but I can't risk it.

[forevercleaning]

god im shocked. should i close my paypal account? Not selling anything at the moment and worried about them eityher getting through to my bank account, or putting the paypal one into minus?

[onefootinthegravy]

Look at this

[bubblerock]

Tutter - if they are collecting only ever let them pay by cash on collection, you will have no traceable means of proving they actually received the items and they can easily claim the money back through Paypal.

[onefootinthegravy]

Sorry if I'm scaring you all! I'm just saying it can happen - check your buyers feedback - to be as sure as you can be if it's a large amount!

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

Paypal have a specialist team apparantly - you can email them.

Email [email protected]

[Tutter]

they are using a courier, bubblerock - i'll get their details so it can be traced

plus he has 327 pieces of feedback (100%) so he should be ok i think

[MrsBauer]

How can someone just do a reversal? I thought you had to prove non delivery or item not as described to get money back from PayPal?

[nicolamumof3]

I can't believe that that is awful...how much do they charge for putting money into your bank account from paypal. I've been put off transferring funds at mo because of yet MORE fees, but think its safer out of there now!

[TracyK]

Oh god! We've got a sports car on there for £4500 - maybe we won't accept paypal - just a bankers draft.

[pedilia]

Blimey I never knew you could do that

[forevercleaning]

i cannot remember if it is a further 25p to send your money over to your bacnk. You are right it is fees fees fees all the way with ebay.

Seriously considering finishing with it, especially after reading onefoots link.

More or less washing their hands of you before you start IMO

[missjennipenni]

If you can prove DELIVERY, you are ok! so basically, if you send by recorded or special delivery, and have a signature, Paypal will find in your favour!

[onefootinthegravy]

Surely the fact that he has left me positive feedback is prof of delivery ??? And they do not want to know

[Lauriefairycake]

I don't understand this, how can they not want to know - what have they actually said to you ? You can't do a chargeback if the goods were received and you can prove this and they then leave feedback stating it's with them.

[pgwithnumber3]

I too am getting very frustrated with Paypal, this has happened to me twice recently.

Am I right in thinking you HAVE to offer paypal now? Can you put if it is a high value item - no paypal, cheque and bankers draft only?

Fucking joke ebay is becoming - especially with this non-negative feedback for buyers.