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Why would paypal investigate a payment?

Buyer paid yesterday.
When I went into my paypal account it says payment held, and in the dispute section, email sent to seller.
I never received the email.
The buyer is a 0 profile, do paypal make random checks on new account holders?
Is it because the buyers address is a brain injury unit in a hospital...
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Comments

  • dazzer68
    dazzer68 Posts: 1,159 Forumite
    This happened to me last week. I sold a buy it now, wardrobe, the buyer paid for it via paypal, collected it left great feedback, then i had email from paypal, they were investingating it, payment held. The money was refunded to the buyer with no explanation to me, just was told i didnt tet a proof of delivery and was nothing paypal would do about it. So ive lost a wardrobe and am £40 minus in my paypal account. Seems to be happening more and more, with this type of scam going round. Good luck getting your money back.
  • Luckily i had not posted the item yet, I only realised that the payment was on hold because I looked at my paypal account this morning - the email from paypal went to my spam.
  • sgh1976
    sgh1976 Posts: 424 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I had 2 last week. 1 within about a minute of the item being paid for (under £5).

    1 of them, they took the money straight away but the item was still with me and the 2nd is still on hold in my PayPal account, despite me clicking on issue a refund.
  • I had a couple of these way back in the summer, supposedly random paypal checks. The money was eventually restored but on both occasions took about 3 weeks. Luckily with both paypal placed the hold within 6 hours of payment so I had not posted anything. Just a frustrating situation for both buyer & seller.
  • This happened to me in the summer, as a buyer. I won the auction and paid immediately, and received the emails from paypal confirming payment.

    The following day I received an email from the seller, querrying the payment hold that paypal had put on the funds. I couldnt understand why as it was a nominal amount (less the £5 inc p&p) so I contacted paypal who released the funds straight away and the woman I spoke with said it was a random hold that the system implements. I received my item a few days later and left positive feedback. I never received any return feedback from the seller though...
  • This happened to me in the summer, as a buyer. I won the auction and paid immediately, and received the emails from paypal confirming payment.

    The following day I received an email from the seller, querrying the payment hold that paypal had put on the funds. I couldnt understand why as it was a nominal amount (less the £5 inc p&p) so I contacted paypal who released the funds straight away and the woman I spoke with said it was a random hold that the system implements. I received my item a few days later and left positive feedback. I never received any return feedback from the seller though...

    How did you manage to get through to an actual human? I have tried their phone system and it's just an endless loop of automatic options which lead to a pre recorded answer :mad:

    I won an auction 8 days ago and paid straight away, then i checked my email and the seller had mailed me to say he was in my area the following week and could deliver by hand to save postage if i paid in cash. I cancelled the paypal payment and paid the guy in cash and we are both happy and have both left positive feedback for eachother. Then a few days later i saw Paypal took £367 from my bank account and in my Paypal account it says the transaction has been 'placed' on temporary hold whilst they investigate. Very annoying...
  • deanos
    deanos Posts: 11,241 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Uniform Washer
    dazzer68 wrote: »
    This happened to me last week. I sold a buy it now, wardrobe, the buyer paid for it via paypal, collected it left great feedback, then i had email from paypal, they were investingating it, payment held. The money was refunded to the buyer with no explanation to me, just was told i didnt tet a proof of delivery and was nothing paypal would do about it. So ive lost a wardrobe and am £40 minus in my paypal account. Seems to be happening more and more, with this type of scam going round. Good luck getting your money back.

    Thats why you should only accept cash on collection for collected goods, so easy to scam if using paypal as you have no proof of delivery
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 74,408 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    deanos wrote: »
    Thats why you should only accept cash on collection for collected goods, so easy to scam if using paypal as you have no proof of delivery

    Except of course that when selling on ebay you can't refuse paypal if buyer wishes to pay that way.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • deanos
    deanos Posts: 11,241 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Uniform Washer
    soolin wrote: »
    Except of course that when selling on ebay you can't refuse paypal if buyer wishes to pay that way.

    I would just return the payment, don't care what Ebay rules say to be honest too risky letting someone collect and paying with Paypal
  • morganedge
    morganedge Posts: 1,320 Forumite
    dazzer68 wrote: »
    This happened to me last week. I sold a buy it now, wardrobe, the buyer paid for it via paypal, collected it left great feedback, then i had email from paypal, they were investingating it, payment held. The money was refunded to the buyer with no explanation to me, just was told i didnt tet a proof of delivery and was nothing paypal would do about it. So ive lost a wardrobe and am £40 minus in my paypal account. Seems to be happening more and more, with this type of scam going round. Good luck getting your money back.

    jeez. I think I might stop selling on Ebay now. I was actually gonna list a few things tonight! How annoying!
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