how long does it take for money to show up in your paypal account?

horseykitty

I've just sold something and the buyer is sending a relative to pick it up later this afternoon. I assumed it would be cash on collection but when they rang they said they've paid through Paypal.

Underneath the £ sign on the eBay sold page is what looks like an egg timer and the message 'payment initiated on 13/7. Yet when I click on the view paypal transaction link 'Transaction ID invalid' comes up and there is no money in my account.

I thought payment was instantaneous - Have I been paid?

Thanks

charlies_mum

If the egg timer is showing, then payment hasn't cleared. Independently sign into your Paypal account and check again. If nothing is showing, phone Paypal.

Do not let anyone collect until payment is cleared.

horseykitty

Thanks charlie's_mum. I've just checked me account, the money's not there and when I rang Paypal they said there was nothing pending. I'm going to cancel the collection.

ConnorH

Good thinking. Payment should always be cleared before you have any item shipped to the buyer or picked up. Contact the buyer and let them know of the payment situation and possibly ask for more time before they come to collect it, giving the Paypal transaction a chance to process. If the process isn't even happening though, maybe advise the buyer on cash on collection.

Best of luck!

- Connor.

soolin

If it sounds like a scam, looks like a scam and quacks like a scam......

Well done for checking your paypal account and making sure payment was there, however if you clicke don anything at all in the original 'paypal' payment then change all your passwords immediately, just in case.

Incidentally, as this appears to be an item that might attract scammers- can I ask if you are familiar with the 'paypal on collection' scam?

If not, go and read the postage sticky thread.

soolin

ConnorH wrote: »

Good thinking. Payment should always be cleared before you have any item shipped to the buyer or picked up. Contact the buyer and let them know of the payment situation and possibly ask for more time before they come to collect it, giving the Paypal transaction a chance to process. If the process isn't even happening though, maybe advise the buyer on cash on collection.

Best of luck!

- Connor.

'Clearing' happens immediately with paypal unless it is an echeque. If you mean 'cleared to bank account' then if this was a scam then even withdrawing the money to the OPs bank won't help- there is no way of avoiding the paypal on collection scam in these circumstances.

horseykitty

Thanks for all your answers. I have managed to speak to him and he can't understand why it hasn't cleared. He was very nice about me not wanting to let it go without a cash payment - it seems his nephew was unlikely to have any money on him to pay for the item. We have left it thus: he is away until next weekend. If the payment clears/is made he will collect it next weekend; or he will come over with the cash.

I am trying to keep an open mind about whether this is dodgy - his feedback is 100% over 150+ items. Whenever, I buy something that needs collecting I always pay cash - saves Paypal fees - so I was surprised when he said he's paid via Paypal.

I'll give him until the end of next weekend and then relist it. I've never had any problems in the six years I've been dealing with eBay - but this just started a little bell ringing. I hope I am proved wrong.

I have changed my password on Paypal - thanks for that soolin.

soolin

horseykitty wrote: »

Thanks for all your answers. I have managed to speak to him and he can't understand why it hasn't cleared. He was very nice about me not wanting to let it go without a cash payment - it seems his nephew was unlikely to have any money on him to pay for the item. We have left it thus: he is away until next weekend. If the payment clears/is made he will collect it next weekend; or he will come over with the cash.

I am trying to keep an open mind about whether this is dodgy - his feedback is 100% over 150+ items. Whenever, I buy something that needs collecting I always pay cash - saves Paypal fees - so I was surprised when he said he's paid via Paypal.

I'll give him until the end of next weekend and then relist it. I've never had any problems in the six years I've been dealing with eBay - but this just started a little bell ringing. I hope I am proved wrong.

I have changed my password on Paypal - thanks for that soolin.

This is nothing to do with an uncleared payment unless paypal have another glitch. Even an echeque would show in your paypal account and just show as uncleared. The only other thing it might be is if you typed your paypal id wrong, so payment has been made to the wrong account .

However, I am hoping this is not in the highly scammed categories of electricals, phones or baby items- and you didn't say whether you are aware of the paypal on collection scam.

horseykitty

No, soolin I am not aware of the 'paypal on collection' scam.

The item is a car accessory and the buyer does have the particular model of car that it is intended for.

horseykitty

I'm not mystic meg - he bought the car recently off eBay

soolin

horseykitty wrote: »

I'm not mystic meg - he bought the car recently off eBay

I love it, it made me smile!

OK, paypal on collection scam in brief.

Paypal payment is received and buyer (or relative) collects. Then when they have the goods they claim INR and of course get a full refund as seller cannot prove delivery. AS per the postage sticky thread the only delivery proof paypal accept is online tracking.

Marks of the scam tend to be, sending a different person to collect as this gets round any hacked accounts or small claims possibilities. Wanting to collect the same day they pay and seeming to be really really nice people (the best con people are really plausible- otherwise it wouldn't work)

If the item is cheap then I wouldn't worry, it's only for higher end items where you can't afford to take the hit that you need worry