Buyer has done chargeback 3 months after leaving positive feedback, what to do now?

EndlessStruggle

I had a book sell on ebay, they paid on 30th Jan. I posted and they left positive feedback on 3rd Feb. Now fast foward to today, I check my emails and have these emails saying...

Dear Me


We were recently notified that a payment you received was reversed by the buyer’s bank. A bank reversal can be requested by the bank itself or the bank account holder.

Transaction ID: .....
Transaction Amount: £3.00 GBP
Email:......

We have placed a temporary hold on the funds until our inquiry is complete.

We are reviewing the bank reversal and will contact you again via email with information on what to do next. You may be asked to provide additional information about this transaction.

Yours sincerely,
PayPal

THen this one...

We need online tracking or proof of postage

---

Dear .......

---

Transaction details

---

Buyer's name:..
Buyer's email:........
Transaction ID: ...........

Transaction date: 30 Jan 2012
Transaction amount: 3.00 GBP
Your transaction ID: .....
Case number: ....

On 15/05/2012, we were notified that the above payment was reversed.
Reversals occur when the bank or the bank account holder reports that the payment was not authorised. Although we’re required to return the payment to the bank in these instances, we don’t debit your account if the payment is covered by our Seller Protection. Fortunately, this payment is eligible for our Seller Protection and you can keep the money as long as you provide us with an online tracking number or proof of postage.

Please be sure that proof of postage meets all of the following criteria:
- It shows the status as posted or delivered, or shows a postmark
- It confirms the date you posted the item
- It includes the recipient's full address

The most commonly accepted proof of postage is a copy of your postage label that shows the postmark.

Note: Proof of delivery is an acceptable alternative to proof of postage.
For more information on proof of postage or proof of delivery, please refer to the ‘Protection for Sellers’ section of our website. Just visit https://www.paypal.co.uk, click ‘Safety Advice’ near the top of the page, then click ‘Protection for Sellers’.

Here’s how to provide your postage information:

1. Log in to your PayPal account at https://www.paypal.co.uk 2. Click ‘Resolution Centre’ near the top of the page.
3. Click ‘Resolve’ in the Action column.
4. Follow the instructions to upload or fax your information.

Once we can confirm postage, we’ll release this payment from your pending PayPal account balance and it will be available for you to spend or withdraw.

Please provide this information within 10 days.If we don’t receive a response from you by 25/05/2012 , this case will be closed and the full payment amount will be deducted from your PayPal account.

Yours sincerely,
PayPal


So as they left positive feedback I have thrown away the proof of postage, I don't keep them after they leave feedback as I didn't think I would need them. So what do I do now? I'm not distraught afterall it is only £3 but I don't understand why wait this long? Had I still had proof of postage I couldn't have even claimed from RM as it has been so long etc. Why would anyone wait 3 months for an ebay item to be delivered? This makes no sense to me at all, but just want advice on what to do next as I have no proof of postage but not sure what option to select on how to resolve as the feedback told me they had received the item and I don't want any strikes against me etc.

theonlywayisup

If you don't have the certificate of postage you will lose the dispute. A chargeback only needs it to be defended in your favour. A chargeback can happen 180 days after the transaction payment date, longer in some rare cases.

EndlessStruggle

Thank you for replying so quickly. As a private seller I haven't had many problems, this is the first chargeback I've had. I had no idea they had that long, I think I will do the accept liability option as I am not really going to worry too much over £3 but explain my side in the comments part, is this the best option?

davmail

Oh dear,this does not seem fair at all,so glad I left e-bay and paypal,the odds are stacked against you as a seller,seems like another seller ripped off!!!

Why would they do a cash refund if they have the item?and left feedback?I thought once they left feedback,that was it?Surely they have to return the item?This does not seem correct,another e-bay thief?

F&L

I would contact the buyer. Advise the buyer what has happened and ask for them to contact their bank to advise that the item was received ok. I've had bank chargebacks and the buyer has always been the one that has assisting in resolving them (I don't have certificates of posting as I don't use a post office to send mail).

EndlessStruggle

The buyer buys a lot of things from eBay and looking at past feedback is not shy on dishing out neutrals and negatives so it does look like they got the book. I will wait for a few more replies and look into what to do. These problem buyers are starting to put me off eBay for sure!

theonlywayisup

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

The buyer buys a lot of things from eBay and looking at past feedback is not shy on dishing out neutrals and negatives so it does look like they got the book.

I don't quite follow that logic.

They may not even be aware of the chargeback. Contact them and see if they reply.

EndlessStruggle

I'm assuming they did the chargeback because they didn't get the item...? I meant that it looks like they don't just leave positive for everyone before they get items. I'm guesssing there could be other reasons for the charge back?

Thanks for the advice, I assumed the buyer had done the chargeback but reading stuff I can see it could have been the bank, I have contacted the buyer so will wait and hear from them before I do anything. Is just confusing as I am not well at moment and all over the place. Thanks for everyones help, I'll post their response but if they don't reply I guess in 10 days they will get their £3.

lovinituk

Unfortunately it won't just cost you the £3. Paypal will charge you for processing the chargeback! I think it was around £7 last time it happened to me although that was a while ago.

EndlessStruggle

I spoke to Paypal, the problem was that the person paid with Paypal and that Paypal then couldn't get the funds from the persons bank account but as I said to them the person is still buying on the same eBay account so they are going to look into it. They said it would only be the £3 so I am going to wait for the reply from the buyer and see where it goes. He did say if I had receipt it would side with me so now I know to never get rid of the receipts. But I had no idea this could happen. There seems a lot more to selling on eBay than I once thought! Once again thanks everyone.

shaun_from_Africa

Quote:

Originally Posted by EndlessStruggle
The buyer buys a lot of things from eBay and looking at past feedback is not shy on dishing out neutrals and negatives so it does look like they got the book.

theonlywayisup wrote: »

I don't quite follow that logic.

They may not even be aware of the chargeback. Contact them and see if they reply.

I agree with EndlessStruggle in that I also think that the buyer received the book.
It was sold at the end of Jan and feedback left a few days later.
I know that buyers can leave feedback by mistake, but if this was the case, why wait over 3 months before doing a reversal on their payment card?

Add to this the fact that the reversal is for unauthorised activity and not for goods not delivered, and I think that either the buyer simply can't remember ordering the book, hence they don't recognise the payment, or they are totally unaware of the reversal and it's a screw up by their card issuer.