Paypal dispute for item not received.....I'm a bit confused

[LackaDAISYcal]

I ordered some stuff from a company before Christmas and haven't received the goods.

I've opened a dispute, but have just been checking what the next step is.

I found this on the paypal website:

"Step 3 - Close the dispute or escalate to a claim

You can close a dispute if you and the seller reach an agreement.

Otherwise, you can escalate the dispute to a PayPal claim within 20 days of opening the dispute. We automatically close disputes after 20 days.

Wait until you are 100% satisfied with the resolution before closing a dispute. A closed dispute cannot be reopened or escalated to a PayPal claim.

Select the open dispute in the Resolution Centre and click the desired action at the bottom of the dispute details screen to close or escalate a dispute.

We require more information from you when you escalate a dispute to a PayPal claim"

They say don't close the dispute till you are satisfied as once closed it can't be re-opened and that you can escalate it to a claim after 20 days. They also say that they automatically close disputes after 20 days.

Am I being a bit thick? If I have to wait 20 days before I can escalate to a claim, but they close the dispute after 20 days it seems like I have no window at all in which to escalate to a claim?

Or am I being pedantic?

advice greatfully received thanks

You have 'up to' 20 days to escalate to claim.

I would mail them , give them reasonable time to respond then open claim.

you can escalate it whenever you want within 20 days
If you havent had any response from seller then escalate it now and you'll get your money back
I just did one. Dddnt receive the item, raised dispute, seller didnt even bother to respond within a week so I escalated to clain and paypal refunded me

no, you can escalate the dispute to a claim within 20 days of opening it. you don't have to wait 20 days

The seller will hvae been notified that you've started a dispute already so no need to contact them again

So, I'm just being thick then

thanks...all is now clear

If I don't hear from them in a week I'll escalate it. I've already emailed the e-store (about a week ago) to say I haven't received the goods and not had any response from them

Message withdrawn

I'll give them a few days knickers, but thanks.

pmsl.....that reads like I'll be sending them some unwashed knickers for daring to try and defraud me

Message withdrawn

No, not ebay.

I'll see whether there is a response tomorrow and escalate it if not. I have a feeling I will be kissing goodbye to my £25