So, I bought a DS game and I suspect it's a fake...

[SoupDragon]

The seller has been NRU'd on Ebay and has had 1 -ve in the past stating the games are fake.
I started a PayPal dispute because the game hadn't arrived.

It arrived and I then emailed the seller to say that it had now arrived but I wouldn't be cancelling the dispute because I suspected the game was fake. They have emailed me back asking me to return the game to Hong Kong for a refund (I can return just the cartridge, keeping the box and booklet!).

So, clearly it is a fake since they haven't disputed this and are happy to have just the cartridge back. Do I return the cartridge and trust them to refund me the original cost and my return postage to HK (they didn't say they'd refund this but I don't see why I should pay it) or do I amend the PayPal dispute to say the item is fake (and do I have to return it in this case?)

Keep it - keep the paypal dispute open and change it to the fact that it's fake - Paypal may want you to send it to them.

Yes, my gut feeling is that fakes like this shouldn't be returned to the seller.

Does anyone know how to put further information on/amend a PayPal claim??

there's usually an option when you're on the dispute page on paypal

You can either phone them, or you can add a comment to the last response. It's easier to phone them TBH because then you can be sure they'll see it. Emailing them works to but takes three days.

I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to return fake items on Ebay - think I read it on MSE.

www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_contact-phone Will bring up your details when you are logged in.

But here's the number

For general PayPal account enquires, please call us on 08707 307 191
PayPal Customer Service Centre opening hours are:
06:00 to 22:00 Monday to Friday
08:00 to 22:00 Saturday
09:00 to 22:00 Sunday

I don't really want to phone because as soon as I pick the phone up, some child or other will start screaming.

I've looked at the help stuff on PP, I've read the email they sent (it escalated straight from dispute to claim) and I've searched but can't find any kind of helpful link.

Have just seen that the phone lines are open ti 10pm though.

Is the number a premium rate one? The claim is only for £13 and I don't want to spend that in phone calls!

on your account overview there should be an option to view the dispute next to the transaction details

I can view the claim but not do anything to it and can't find how to send any further information. The only option I can see is to cancel it and start again.

oh i think once it's escalated to claim you can't put any further info on

PayPal's "help" says "On the Claim Details page of the Resolution Centre, click the Resolve Complaint link. " Except I can't see a resolve complaint link!

PayPal is sh*te! There doesn't seem to be any way of doing this other than cancelling the dispute and stating again. Is there an email "contact us"?

www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_contact-general

Do you not fancy an R4 soupy?

Where did you find that SEA?? I thought I'd looked everywhere Ta.

Bubble, I'm sure I will fancy one eventually... I'd forgotten about it actually.

was dealing with my own dispute (HK too) and got help from the boards

The Pay Pal help screens clearly state that I can click a "resolve claim" link on the claim details page to add further info. I can't find such a link anywhere. Anyway, have emailed them.

Am I within my rights to play the game in the mean time...? And if so, how do I delete my saved ga,e from it if I have to return it...

Soupy - I have a new one here if you want it, email me if you're interested, has memory card and will fit 20+ games on - (bubblerock jl [email protected] - no spaces)

Neither paypal or ebay care about goods being fake.

I bought some Nike Air trainers, when I got them they were so horrendous-not even a good fake.
I opened a 'fake' dispute with paypal, luckily the seller then offered a refund as long as I returned them, but paypal didn't say one thing about them being fake, just closed the dispute.

Totally agree with Ivegotaheadache. I'm in America and used to sell on e-bay alot. If you read the discussion forums from about 2ish years ago (not that you'd want to), some independent consumer group here did a study and found that almost 90% of the goods coming from China, HK, etc. were fakes. E-bay was and is so eager to get a hold in that market because their sales are dropping here, that they weren't charging sellers listing or final value fees, and were turning a blind eye to the fact that most of the merchandise was bogus.

I NEVER buy anything on e-bay in a high fraud category from here, because they are so lax on oversight, and NEVER EVER buy ANYTHING from that area of the world, because oversight there is non-existent.

Actually I can see that Paypal wouldn't want to acknowledge that goods are fake - they wouldn't want to be associated with it - if they can just get away with it being a buyer/seller dispute and not investigating so much better.

Paypal are completely useless in my experience when things go wrong. We had a problem with bank accounts and had to go to the financial service ombudsmen but because their terms of use are weasely (they include so much wiggle room for Paypal they are basically forced to do nothing to help in any circumstances as it's your choice to use the service ) they were not forced to do anything about it. ARRRGH

Now I only use them for very low value purchases and assume I will get no help with anything!

I wouldn't care too much about it being a fake ordinarily (I did suspect it given it was £20 under the RRP!) but the seller's been NRUd by Ebay.

Bubblerock, I need to be sold on th R4 - I really have no idea what they're like or what they involve