Paypal & Collection only article in The Sun

StaffsSW · 9 January 2009 at 1:36PM

Cutting edge journalism it may not be, but if it helps to raise the awareness of a fundamental flaw in the ebay/paypal protection policy, then it has to be a good thing.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2112403.ece

THIEVES have been hacking into eBay accounts to buy items using other people’s credit card details, it emerged yesterday.

And because the crooks brazenly turn up and collect the goods in person the seller is not covered by the PayPal fraud guarantee.

They then discover they are out of pocket when the cash is returned to the hijacked account. PayPal say the seller would be covered if they had posted the item and obtained proof it had been sent.

Stephanie Beattie, 28, of South London, was duped and lost £630.

A spokesman for eBay said: “We strongly recommend high value items are not collected in person.” A PayPal spokesman said: “Any item hand-delivered will not qualify for protection.”

I notice there is no mention of the fact that Paypal is compulsary on all listings, therefore leaving people wide open to the scam...

greedbay · 9 January 2009 at 2:36PM

stevew8975 wrote: »

PayPal say the seller would be covered if they had posted the item and obtained proof it had been sent

Paypal continue to exaggerate their cover. Last time I sent an item to a non confirmed address and got a chargeback I don't remember paypal giving me any cover.

Paypal is not only expensive but pretty useless when it comes to fraud.

soolin · 9 January 2009 at 5:17PM

greedbay wrote: »

Paypal continue to exaggerate their cover. Last time I sent an item to a non confirmed address and got a chargeback I don't remember paypal giving me any cover.

Paypal is not only expensive but pretty useless when it comes to fraud.

Under the old rules sellers were never covered if they sent an item to a non conformed address, it was the simple basics we always churned out everytime anyone asked on here.

Under the new rules as long as the transaction is eligible for seller protection the address no longer needs to be confirmed.

soolin · 9 January 2009 at 5:18PM

Gosh, it's nice to see a journalist that understands the collection problem that has worried many of us for a long time.

Sharon87 · 9 January 2009 at 6:28PM

I think the only thing that should be collected is vehicles and something of that size. Even then you should both sign something to say the exchange has happened.

iaingra · 9 January 2009 at 6:30PM

You've got to wonder why someone wants to pay a lot of money through paypal (thus incurring you a large charge) and then collect in person - why couldn't they just bring the money.
If confirmation of address is the problem why not post a 'security code' to the buyers address, then only hand the goods over to them if they can provide the code. That way you know their address just as much as sending something recorded.

soolin · 9 January 2009 at 7:36PM

I did wonder how many people would still misunderstand the paypal and colllection problem.

Firstly cars and all motor vehicles are exempt from the requirement to take paypal, so no worries there.

Secondly as to why anyone would want to pay paypal there are two main reasons. The first may be a legitimate buyer who wants to fund th etransaction via a credit card, so would need to pay paypal. The second is the sinister reason, a scammer would obviously want to use paypal to expolit the loophole as per the newspaper article, that 's the whole point. They pay by paypal, collect item and then chargeback and win their money back. It has nothing to do with confirming address as ther eis no seller protection anyway with proof of delivery.

It's a minefield and the reason why there is so little high end stuff that is now showing as available for colelction on ebay.

huddsman · 10 January 2009 at 10:10AM

iaingra wrote: »

You've got to wonder why someone wants to pay a lot of money through paypal (thus incurring you a large charge) and then collect in person - why couldn't they just bring the money.
If confirmation of address is the problem why not post a 'security code' to the buyers address, then only hand the goods over to them if they can provide the code. That way you know their address just as much as sending something recorded.

If you have money in your paypal account it takes so long to withdraw it that it is easier to use it to pay for something on ebay and if it happens to be a collection item so what?
You are aware of the "large charge" you incur when you sell on ebay but nobody is forced to use ebay.

deddogblues · 10 January 2009 at 10:42AM

I will only accept cash if anyone wants to collect a purchase from me, no exceptions.

soolin · 10 January 2009 at 11:17AM

deddogblues wrote: »

I will only accept cash if anyone wants to collect a purchase from me, no exceptions.

It is a shame though that ebay do not allow that requirement any more. That's what the whole issue is about, we used to be able to insist on it and refuse to show paypal as an option on the listing.

All we can do is offer cash on collection, we can no longer insist on it

soolin · 11 January 2009 at 12:04PM

I'm just bumping this as we have a new thread about a collected item and as usual I am being rather paranoid and worried that the paypal issue may well be overlooked.

Paypal & Collection only article in The Sun

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