Bank or PayPal claim?

[NorthernGirlie]

Or neither? Probably neither...
My cleaner didn't turn up for a clean in July (she actually lost my key so couldn't get in but that's another story)

I paid via my bank to her cleaning business account. She ghosted me for a while about the key u till I asked for a refund. Then she said she had problems with messenger, her bank, her Facebook page...

I eventually got her to agree to pay via PayPal. She did (via PayPal cheque, whatever that is) but stopped the payment.

I've said she has till Friday to pay before I raise it as a dispute - I know I'm unlikely to get it back (it's just under £50) but I want to try - she shouldn't be able to get away with it!

So - PayPal or my bank?

PayPal; if it was listed as a goods or services payment you, as the customer, have added protection. PayPal will refund you then they will go after the cleaner for the money - if withdraw it from her PayPal account if it has any credit in it!!

It was her paying me via PayPal cheque then cancelling the payment so not sure Goods and Services kicks in?

I'm so pissed off - I know it's not a large sum of money but her actions and pretence of being a "business woman" all over the socials has irked me

I would still try PayPal as you can show she created the PayPal cheque then cancelled it; you never know they may agree; otherwise you’ll have to go through your bank but I suspect they will decline as it was a bank transfer rather than a card transaction.

I posted on her page when she'd ghosted me for a couple if weeks via Messenger. Just a simple "please refund for the missed clean and the cost of my lost key"

She messaged via a different social to say she was locked out of FB (but had managed to post) and that what I'd written was slander and she was reporting me blah blah... then blocked me!

I'm a bit wary of slanging her off, she obviously knows where I live and I'm not sure of her character after this!

The only thing I can find on PayPal says I'm not eligible to proceed because she made the payment via Friends and Family so I have no recourse

Surely that's not right?! It says my end she paid with PayPal cheque 😭

If you sent the original payment by bank transfer then you're unlikely to be able to get it refunded.

So, because she used f&f to send the cheque, there is little you can get in the way of redress through PayPal; the whole point of g&s is that the fee charged is what gives the buyer protection.

Looks like your only redress now is small claims court; it will cost you about £35 to issue proceedings against her but you can add that to what she owes you. If she then fails to pay within 30 days of judgement being received in your favour, you can instruct bailiffs - which is another cost but, again can be claimed back from her. Before you can start proceedings you need to send her a letter before claim/action giving her 14 days to settle the debt before you go to MCOL (money claim online) to seek a ccj against her - this may be enough to force her hand and get payment from her but, if not, then you log in to MCOL and complete the forms to issue proceedings. They guide you through each step on the website.