Paypal and Mastercard

TFD_2

Out of interest, where on PayPal's site does it say they recommend doing a chargeback?

PayPal's argument in the past has been that you are funding your account with the card, and then paying the recipient with your PayPal balance, therefore the card was not used to purchase the item.

Keith_B_3

It is contained in their Buyer protection (None Ebay policy) scheme (cant remember the exact title but can find it if anyone wants as it is linked directly to my claim when I log in. It explains that where they cant recover the money from an existing Paypal account, that the person trying to recover the money should contact their provider for a chargeback. The only exclusions they mention are not processing both claims at once, and a statement that if the Paypal Investigation exceeds the time limit on the Card issuers requirements for chargeback, that they will directly refund the purchase.

As you may be able to tell I spent most of Sunday reading the small print and worrying about it.

Nat west have said to me that they will still pursue the claim even though Paypal are an interim party essentially (ie the money went from me to them, from them to mr sham seller).

If it helps I can paste the contents of the clause here, minus any weblinks etc? I am extremely interested in the views on this, as it isnt the first time I have had issues with Paypal, and i have had to force them to refund me once before (direct through ebay, seller never sent item, and he was subsequently suspended from Ebay) using their own policy, which they trioed to claim wasnt applicable whenever they claimed it to be so!!

I can laugh about it now, but sometimes I wonder why I bother. I have made so many great purchases on Ebay, and bought some great stuff using paypal, and it is a great shame that some unscrupulous people have to spoil it.

I am more upset with myself for letting it happen in the first place.

TFD_2

I'm pleased that PayPal are encouraging a chargeback. It is crazy though, as ultimately PayPal will foot the bill (assuming the seller has no funds in the account) so surely it would be less time consuming if PayPal just settled it themselves.

It sounds like NatWest have been very helpful, so hopefully it should all be sorted ok.

PayPal have put measures in place - freezing receipts for 30 days - for new ebay sellers or those with poor ratings, to protect customers. It's a shame that they don't do the same for non-ebay transactions.

Jemma-T

Until PayPal/eBay take security seriously and not allow idiots, scammers, former bankers and other miscreants to take money from people then people shouldn't hesitate to do a chargeback. That is their legal right and PayPal/eBay tell porkies and use smoke and mirrors. They have always done this in the the USA (less so in Canada) and get away with it often but here in the EU we have several layers of protection.

I've done 3 chargebacks against PayPal in 10 years and never heard a peep from them. They know the law fine well but would rather keep it to themselves. PayPal is a great service (couldn't do without it) and they charge richly for that service so they don't mind losing every now and again (for "losing" read: "people using their statutory legal rights").

Always best to use a credit card only with PayPal and don't give them your current account/savings account banking info either. If money is taken off your CC and you don't get the goods or they're not what you ordered then your bank is liable because the money is credit (ie your bank's) and not yours.

Keith_B_3

I have only ever done one charge back beofre, Paypal did it for me when I asked in a not so kind and understanding manner. Hopefully this one will be as smooth - I converted it to a claim today (one minute past when I was allowed to do so), and am still waiting for any communication wither from Paypal or the seller/scam merchant.

FYI (board in general) how many people know that Paypal and Ebay were originally part of the same ultimate corporation (I am not sure if they still are, but I know they were in the past)?

Jemma-T

eBay bought PayPal just a few years ago. They were always joined at the hip though.
Were it not for PayPal's income eBay would be having a really bad time of it at the moment trying to explain why their purchasing of Skype was a good idea. They paid US$2600,000,000 (2.6 billion). Current value: 50p and a packet of Mintoes. When I said 'they paid' obviously I meant they persuaded their idiot banks to cough up the cash (that they never had either it now transpires). Ah, the good old days before Gordon Brown didn't control the purse strings

When I mention PayPal chargeback I meant I bypassed PayPal/eBay completely and went to my bank. The people who work for PayPal stick to a very tight script and will ignore any comments you have to make about consumer rights. The amounts were only a few pounds twice and then £30 I think. This was pre-eBay £150 guarantee to cover most cases (you used to have no guarantee just a few years ago unless it was a long time Seller).

I don't know the correct term that Visa/Mastercard use for chargeback but it's a simple enough process usually and I've used it maybe 15 times in 10 years outside eBay. Again, fairly small amounts.