eBay help needed - problem issuing a refund

[2isamagicnumber]

Can anyone help been on the phone to eBay and PayPal all afternoon.

I need to refund a buyer as the item I posted has not arrived. The buyer opened a case and I advised today I would give them a full refund, was waiting for 15 days as per Royal Mail. I have tried to issue a refund today and paypal won't let me. It says I have insufficient funds however my account is linked to a bank card so I thought the payment would go thorough.

I have tried to link a bank account but don't think this has worked. Even so when I looked at transferring funds said it would be up to 5 days! As I don't have Internet banking. Surely there must be a quicker way?

So fed up, won't bother selling on eBay again. Any advise would be great.

I had exactly this problem AND it took the full five days to refund. Really frustrating, could be easier to make a direct payment to them by PayPal....one person got so frustrated I sent them a cheque so at least I knew they had it 1st class...have no idea how THAT can be cheaper than electronic!!

you need enough credit in your paypal account - so you will have to transfer funds from your bank, which takes a few days - 5 I think? Then you can refund your buyer.

(from Paypal you just hit the button 'add funds' btw).

oh and please do not send them a direct payment from paypal, because ebay won't count that as a refund and will refund them the money too and so you risk giving them double their cash. You must refund them correctly.

(sorry for triplicate post).

Thanks for the messages. Can't believe there isn't a quicker way. I'm going to have very annoyed buyer having to wait even longer to receive their refund!

Can you can get a friend to make you a direct payment from their paypal account? It would be instant and then you would have the funds in your account. I have done this - but I did only need about £5 paid in!