PayPal Chargeback from Client

tbs152

Hi all

I'm a freelance writer. A few months ago I did some writing for a client in America for about £350 which they paid by PayPal. I sent the articles and we were all square.

Now they have filed a chargeback for all three payments, making me £350 in the red. I've mailed PayPal screenshots of email delivery and proof that the articles are being used, but does anyone else have any other advice in this tricky situation?

Essentially I was dealing with a bad apple, I always thought they were a bit dodgy!

Any help would be appreciated!

tbs152

cyberbob

Why is the chargeback happening as a few months ago sounds like its out of the 45 dsy paypal dispute period. So i would guess its a credit card charge back . For that you only need proof of posting to defend.

Now the but you state email delivery. Paypal does not cover for those non tangible items. So I'm afraid unless I am misreading your post or you sent hard copies as well you wont be protected and will lose

tbs152

Hi cyberbob

The claimant is saying that the goods were never delivered. I have sent PayPal screenshots of email delivery, and have pointed them to locations where my writing is being used by the claimant. There are 3 different chargebacks for 3 different transactions, all for writing services.

I cannot believe that after having spent my time on writing scores of articles, it's so easy for a scammer to effectively steal the money back. A lesson hard learned perhaps, in future I shall post as well as email, just to be sure.

Is there honestly no way I can even have a chance at winning this? I've told PayPal that I'm willing to let them see any of my files. And if not, how long will they take to decide? And if I get a negative balance as a result, how long can I take to pay that off?

Thanks!

tbs152

I don't know if this makes a difference, but I just got this instant message from the claimant:

You were very mean and supposedly "busy" to finish up the work, leaving us jeopardised. In addition you brought up some responsibility theories and much more, hoping you were so cool and unbeatable. As a result, we decided to go the same path as you did and teach you the lesson of a lifetime. As you can see it does not feel very good. So fair games does not really apply here, nor does human feelings.

Last message received on 26/05 at 00:41

This comes after I appealed to their human side. He refers to my discontinuing our working relationship because of lack of payment (I actually gave them half the articles free!).

Interesting "professional" attitude, right?!

suited-aces

Does anyone know if OP was able to goad the !!!! into admitting an unfair chargeback, would paypal accept it as evidence?

theonlywayisup

AFAIK a buyer cannot have buyer protection on an item 'tailor made'. I would heavily argue that a piece of writing is tailor made and as such the buyer has no protection. I do not know to what extent buyer protection should rule out any claim, but it may be worth digging deeper.

I also don't know if Paypal accept that if a buyer had no protection, then they cannot claim, so the seller cannot be disputed his funds? Either way, I would argue to Paypal that if a buyer had no buyer protection they cannot make a claim/chargeback. Therefore the funds should be freed.

However, there are some transactions that we do not cover including but not limited to payments for intangible items, services, real estate, businesses, vehicles (including, without limitation, motor vehicles, motorcycles, caravans, aircraft and boats), custom made items, airline flight tickets, eBay classified advertisements, licenses and other access to digital content. In addition, items prohibited in the PayPal Acceptable Use Policy are ineligible for coverage.

soolin

OP as you have two identical threads running do you want me to send this across to be merged with the other one?

It's confusing having people respond on different threads.

tbs152

Hi soolin, sorry and yes if you could merge them I'd appreciate that.

tbs152