Help! What should I do about slow payment?

beachbeth

On Sunday 17th August I sold a PC game to someone on Ebay and they had good feedback and comments about how fast they were to pay. It is now 28th August and I still haven't had payment!

Two days after they won the item they sent their payment via Paypal and it has just shown up as "uncleared". The buyer didn't email to explain until I emailed last week to ask them about this and they said "The PayPal payment WILL eventually go through... It wouldn't let me do instant tranfser for some reason, so I've had to pay by e-cheque... Not ideal, I know, but it'll get there soon!"

I suggested they cancel this and send a cheque/postal order instead but they said that the Paypal payment will go ahead and they didn't want to do this.

As it still hasn't gone through Ive emailed again today and said that Im not really happy because it still hasn't gone through and its nearly two weeks now. Im aware that they can leave me bad feedback and I can't do the same for them but what do I do? They replied by saying

"I apologise that PayPal is not working quickly enough for you. I completed the transaction as soon as I received the "reminder" e-mail from yourself. Unfortunately, when I paid for the item I won, a Bank Transfer was not available. I do not know why this was the case. I therefore paid by the only other option, that of an e-cheque. You should be able to see from your e-Bay account that the payment is pending. It has left my account, and, therefore, should be with you in the fullness of time..."

Am I being unreasonable or should I do something else? Im worried now that whatever happens they will leave bad feedback. I have 100% good feedback and don't want some idiot spoiling it, but I think that nearly two weeks is long enough to wait for payment. It may not be his fault but its not mine either!

RFW

As they said they have paid, so not much more they can do. I'd suggest a little bit more patience. If you refund now and ask for payment on another form it will take at least another week to sort it anyway.

Just if you think this is slow, I got an email yesterday from a buyer apologising for not paying as he has been on holiday..... sale ended July 7th!

ArmitageShanks

Jeez.....patience??

This is the reality of paypal. No one likes e-cheques but in some situations they're unexplained and there is little you can do.

If I was I would send through an email apologising for being pushy and not understanding the workings of paypal. Appart from anything it may protect your feedback.

frivolous_fay

This would have happened because there was a problem with their usual funding source (expired card, etc) OR because paypal was having an off-day.

Either way, payment is in process. Chill! I remember the time when echeques took up to a month to clear.... fun!

netwalker

Just as frivolous_fay said, there was a problem with their funding source which is not enough to pay this item. It is not seller or paypal's fault, I think. BTW, there should be an estimated clear date in your paypal transaction details.

Marty_J

I imagine your buyer is just as annoyed they had to pay by eCheque as you are.

They probably thought they'd have their computer game by now.

beachbeth

I think what has annoyed me most is the lack of communication from the buyer. He took 2 days before he set the payment going and didn't email to let me know how or when he intended to pay. Since this Paypal payment has gone through he hasn't emailed to let me know what is happening either until I emailed him to ask. I always seem to get the slow payers!

Brooker_Dave

beachbeth wrote: »

I think what has annoyed me most is the lack of communication from the buyer. He took 2 days before he set the payment going and didn't email to let me know how or when he intended to pay. Since this Paypal payment has gone through he hasn't emailed to let me know what is happening either until I emailed him to ask. I always seem to get the slow payers!

He paid quicky enough, however it's paypal who are holding things up.

Cute_'n'_Quirky

beachbeth wrote: »

I think what has annoyed me most is the lack of communication from the buyer. He took 2 days before he set the payment going and didn't email to let me know how or when he intended to pay. Since this Paypal payment has gone through he hasn't emailed to let me know what is happening either until I emailed him to ask. I always seem to get the slow payers!

You were paid two days after the auction ended.

You were paid by paypal therefore you would know that it had been paid payment pending - sometimes paypal sets away an echeque without the permission of the Buyer - I have had this happen to me on a couple of occasions.

It is not the Buyer's fault that paypal take 10-14 working days to clear an echeque even though the funds go out of the Buyer's account within about 24 hours of making the payment.

Sssssss

beachbeth wrote: »

I think what has annoyed me most is the lack of communication from the buyer. He took 2 days before he set the payment going and didn't email to let me know how or when he intended to pay. Since this Paypal payment has gone through he hasn't emailed to let me know what is happening either until I emailed him to ask. I always seem to get the slow payers!

2 WHOLE days!

how the hell does the buyer know funds are pending at your end, does he have access to your paypal account?

frivolous_fay

beachbeth wrote: »

I think what has annoyed me most is the lack of communication from the buyer. He took 2 days before he set the payment going and didn't email to let me know how or when he intended to pay.

2 days isn't that unreasonable, and why email to tell you how they're paying? Paypal email you to tell you.

beachbeth wrote: »

Since this Paypal payment has gone through he hasn't emailed to let me know what is happening either until I emailed him to ask.

Usually buyers are completely oblivious that they have paid with an echeque. By their messages, they certainly didn't intend to pay with an echeque.

I don't think their comms are bad... I think no comms at all would be bad, and if you were getting messages like 'wut's an echeq? send item now thx, ive pd'