Potentially Unauthorised Funds - HELP!!!!!

Peanuts

Hello,
I have today received an email from paypal to say that I have potentially received unauthorised funds (£40). I sold my item 25 Sep and received payment via paypal 28 Sep. Sent item. The buyer is now unregistered but had 197 feedback comments with 98.5%.
Whats this all about? Have I been conned?
Any help gratefully received

mclaren_2

is it a fake email possibly? log in to you're paypal account and look at the latest mail. if its in there then its real. Now, if it is real, then yes you possibly have been sadly. Personally, i think paypal should take this out of their insurance money, and i would advise you to ask them to do this, as i fear they will take it from you're account.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

Does the email say Dear PayPal user or include your full registered name? If it is the first then it is a spoof email. Forward it to spoof@paypal.co.uk and delete it. Don't be tempted to click on any links within the email. If it states your full registered name then it seems that you were paid with a stolen credit card/funds. Usually PayPal reverse the transaction. In this case they would take £40 from your account.

Peanuts

It is addressed to me in my name and having checked my paypal £40 has been taken out of my account on temporary hold -BOOOOOO

Will paypal refund me????

Sugar_Coated_Owl

This is what is known as a chargeback. As the funds have been placed on a temporary hold it suggests that the matter is still being being investigated by PayPal and the credit card company. If after investigation they favour you then the credit card company reimburses PayPal who then send the money on to you. However, PayPal don't have any control over chargebacks it is all to do with the credit card company. If the investigation doesn't go in your favour then unfortunately you don't receive the funds back.

Peanuts

Thank you - I wonder whether this has been done deliberately by the buyer or just a mistake????

frivolous_fay

Was the address confirmed? Did you have seller protection on the transaction?

Peanuts

I cant go back and check as these details have been blocked by ebay.

frivolous_fay

Peanuts wrote:

I cant go back and check as these details have been blocked by ebay.

Blocked by ebay, or paypal? It's your paypal account you'd need to look at.

kevinyork

Sorry to say such chargebacks are rarely resolved in the seller's favour. It could be because a stolen credit card was used or because the buyer didnt recognise the payment on his statement and has queried it. In either case Paypal WILL NOT challenge the chargeback. If you sent the item by an online trackable method of dispatch and it was sent to a verified paypal address then you may have more luck but otherwise very little hope Im afraid.

See this current thread for details of my similar problem.

The reason Paypal dont defend these chargebacks on your behalf is that they get charged a fee by credit card companies when they accept a credit card payment. This fee is pretty low because of the volume of transactions they accept. However, CC companies increase that fee dependant on the number of chargebacks which Paypal defend. Therefore its not in Paypal's interest to help you out by defending the case on your behalf so they just give the money back and take it off you.

Defence of a chargeback like this could be as simple as providing the credit card company with details of the ebay transaction and the buyer's details. The CC company would probably capitulate at that stage as they would have proof that the eBay buyer was the credit card holder in most cases however they never get those details because Paypal dont defend it. They put the money on Temporary Hold 'pending' investigation to make it look like they are doing something for you when in fact they are not...they are simply killing a bit of time before taking the money back from you for good.

Peanuts

I am doomed then!!
PS The address was unconfirmed