To be utterly raging with anger at PayPal and Microsoft?

[yellowallpaper]

In April I signed up for a 30 day free trial of Microsoft office 365. Cost £79.99 for the suite.
I forgot to cancel after 30 days, but contacted them a few days later when the money was taken from my paypal account.

Before anyone wastes their time saying I should have put a note in my diary etc etc, yes I know that so don't bother commenting on it, it's not the issue --though I'm sure it's a great opportunity to kick someone for their busy lives/forgetfulness.

I was prepared to accept it if told they would not cancel and refund but at least I'd have up to date Office. I was pleasantly surprised when told, as I hadn't used it, they would cancel and refund.

Cancellation happens
No refund
I left it several weeks in case it has to go through channels
Contacted them again, told it hadn't been actioned and the refund would go through. Left it again several weeks, checked. No refund.
Saturday phoned, spoke to a person from Microsoft who said a refund had been given and gave me a reference number.
Phoned PayPal who said reference number wrong and there was no refund (which I knew as I can actually access my fucking account), and to phone Microsoft.
Phoned Microsoft who told me refund was made, same reference number and to contact PayPal.
Contacted PayPal who told me the same as the first person, no record of it.

Opened dispute with PayPal citing Microsoft had cancelled (it's on my account as cancelled) but not refunded.
They denied the claim the next day saying Microsoft said they'd taken the payment because I hadn't cancelled despite my account saying it was cancelled, 4 agents saying it was cancelled, and not hav g access to office 365 unless I pay again

I appealed this decision with PayPal, pointing out the facts with supporting paperwork, and they again closed and denied the case.

So I am down nearly £80 and don't even have access to Office 365.

I feel like I am living in a Catch 22 world. I have spent literally hours talking online on on the phone and have zero result. I won't give in because I'm so bloody furious that 2 of the biggest companies in the world are happy to screw over someone on minimum wage.

I had similar dealings with Paypal this month, & eventually told them that trying to work with them was like being in a Kafka novel.

Don't give in!

Had similar issues with PayPal when selling stuff on eBay due to having to move (landlord selling house) and they blocked my account and refused to let me withdraw any of my own money from dozens of eBay sales for some obscure reason (nothing to with buyers disputes as all were happy and left positive feedback).

Luckily I had enough savings for deposit and first month's rent on another place because if I had been relying on the eBay money for that I would have been stuffed and effectively made homeless by PayPal who were a nightmare to deal with and the last thing I needed at a very stressful time...

PayPal are filth. I won't deal with them at all anymore. An appalling organisation which facilitates organised crime on a grand scale and couldn't give a flying fuck about ordinary customers.

Don't get me started on Microsoft's ineptitude when it comes to paying for Office 365.

Messolina. I was thinking Kafkaesque but couldn't spell it, but that's how I feel!

God, I'm not alone! I won't give up. I've gone to the Resolver site and they provided an email template which I've sent to Microsoft. I absolutely hate both of them and fuck their "you are a valued customer" shit. They didn't even read the supporting evidence.

Microsoft didn't even open their own records to see it was cancelled.

I'll go to the financial ombudsman if that's what it takes. They at least listen and talk to you.

Was the PayPal payment linked to a card? You might have more luck disputing the transaction with your bank.

If not, continue speaking with Microsoft. Don’t phone, just email and send all relevant screenshots. Ask for a manager if necessary and give a clear timeline of events in an official complaint - they’ll soon realise their error. Basically they have promised you a refund and cancelled the service but made an error with the refund.

I wouldn’t bother with resolver tbh

I had a huge issue with Microsoft, and in the end lost approx £80 too.
They are useless in my experience...

Every year I call Microsoft and spend 30-60 minutes on the phone with them resolving payment for my Office 365 account.

Every. Year.

I let them know that it's happening every year. But nothing changes.

I'm depressed with it all already.

I had a similar experience with Google pay and another company recently. It really sucks! I hope you get it resolved soon!

Have you tried ringing PayPal? I find them far more helpful over the phone. You can do a card chargeback as well with your bank.

I've phoned PayPal and Microsoft a couple of times. PayPal just puts me through to the resolution centre who have twice denied my claim.

I'll phone my bank though about a chargeback as I'm not sure how this works.

Update. After months of frustration I went on the Resolver site, filled out a template email addressed to Microsoft. Got a call today from Dallas, Tx telling me they would facilitate my refund!

Result after just one email. Excellent, drinks on me