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eBay, PayPal, Pitney Bowes. Been scammed?
caKes
Posts: 1 Newbie
I am posting on behalf of my father, Charles Hastie (I'm his son) as I'm trying to help him resolve this.
Apologies for the wall of text!!
it is what I am sending out to try and gain some form of response from anywhere really!
We recently *attempted* to make a purchase for an item on eBay. The product was from the USA and I was looking to have it delivered here to the UK. After going through the normal sales process up to the point of payment - I entered the card details as normal and tried to confirm the purchase. It paused for a minute then returned saying there was an error and the payment had not been processed. So I tried again - same story.
We then decided to use my account to buy it instead and I would just get the money from my dad. So we did and it appeared to work no problem. I figured that would be that.
His bank then called him the next day to inform him that he had been charged by Paypal for "unusual" postage and shipping costs for NO PRODUCT. We then recived an email from PayPal saying the transaction (on my dads account) had been declined, which wasn't news to use as Ebay had clearly stated that anyway. We presumed the call from the bank was just a courtesy call to let us know, not that actual money WAS being taken! So much for security of using PayPal.
We now have the bank statement and right enough he has been charged for the shipping and import costs of £184.40, twice. I know for a FACT that is what the payment is for because I have the exact same one om MY statement (as it worked on my account). A total of £368.80!! Payment made to "#PAYPAL PITNEYBOWES 4029357733 NE" For nothing. eBay CLEARLY stated that there was an error an no transaction had been carried out when we tried on my dads account. Because of that, obviously, nothing is showing in the "purchase history" on Ebay, or PayPal - because it CLAIMS to have declined ant not worked, so nothing shows up. Except on the actual bank statement where it is in black and white.
It's beyond beyond ridiculous and he is being charged interest now on money that had no reason to be taken. I'd actually understand a little more if the WHOLE transaction had gone through and we ended up being sent 3 of what we had ordered. The fact that only the dodgy looking shipping costs has been taken is what really worries me.
I have already gone through the "resolution centre" here - which was entriely useless. I pretty much wrote exactly as above in the comments to be told the claim has been rejected due to not enough evidence! At first I thought fair enough mistakes happen, servers may have gone down at the time, perhaps an issue at the bank etc - but come on we're nearly £400 out of pocket here after being LED ON.
Perhaps if there was a HUMAN response and not automated nonsense they would see what has happened here. So, if anyone can shed any light on a similar situation/con then please get in touch! And if anyone has an email for an actual human being at PayPal or eBay that would be grand as well!
This whole passage of text is being copied and sent to PayPal, eBay, Pitney Bowes, Trading Standards, Financial Ombudsman services, a number of money advice forums and citizens advice bureau. Hopefully SOMEONE can actually provide some advice.
Thanks to all who read.
Kind Regards.
Apologies for the wall of text!!
it is what I am sending out to try and gain some form of response from anywhere really!We recently *attempted* to make a purchase for an item on eBay. The product was from the USA and I was looking to have it delivered here to the UK. After going through the normal sales process up to the point of payment - I entered the card details as normal and tried to confirm the purchase. It paused for a minute then returned saying there was an error and the payment had not been processed. So I tried again - same story.
We then decided to use my account to buy it instead and I would just get the money from my dad. So we did and it appeared to work no problem. I figured that would be that.
His bank then called him the next day to inform him that he had been charged by Paypal for "unusual" postage and shipping costs for NO PRODUCT. We then recived an email from PayPal saying the transaction (on my dads account) had been declined, which wasn't news to use as Ebay had clearly stated that anyway. We presumed the call from the bank was just a courtesy call to let us know, not that actual money WAS being taken! So much for security of using PayPal.
We now have the bank statement and right enough he has been charged for the shipping and import costs of £184.40, twice. I know for a FACT that is what the payment is for because I have the exact same one om MY statement (as it worked on my account). A total of £368.80!! Payment made to "#PAYPAL PITNEYBOWES 4029357733 NE" For nothing. eBay CLEARLY stated that there was an error an no transaction had been carried out when we tried on my dads account. Because of that, obviously, nothing is showing in the "purchase history" on Ebay, or PayPal - because it CLAIMS to have declined ant not worked, so nothing shows up. Except on the actual bank statement where it is in black and white.
It's beyond beyond ridiculous and he is being charged interest now on money that had no reason to be taken. I'd actually understand a little more if the WHOLE transaction had gone through and we ended up being sent 3 of what we had ordered. The fact that only the dodgy looking shipping costs has been taken is what really worries me.
I have already gone through the "resolution centre" here - which was entriely useless. I pretty much wrote exactly as above in the comments to be told the claim has been rejected due to not enough evidence! At first I thought fair enough mistakes happen, servers may have gone down at the time, perhaps an issue at the bank etc - but come on we're nearly £400 out of pocket here after being LED ON.
Perhaps if there was a HUMAN response and not automated nonsense they would see what has happened here. So, if anyone can shed any light on a similar situation/con then please get in touch! And if anyone has an email for an actual human being at PayPal or eBay that would be grand as well!
This whole passage of text is being copied and sent to PayPal, eBay, Pitney Bowes, Trading Standards, Financial Ombudsman services, a number of money advice forums and citizens advice bureau. Hopefully SOMEONE can actually provide some advice.
Thanks to all who read.
Kind Regards.
0
Comments
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Go into your Paypal account
Click on the "Help" tab and follow the Contact Paypal "Call Us"0 -
Pitney Bowes is the postage printing element of PayPal not a payment to a seller..this is very weird I would certainly be phoning to ask what is happening.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.0
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Pitney Bowes is the postage printing element of PayPal not a payment to a seller..this is very weird I would certainly be phoning to ask what is happening.
Could it be something to do with the global shipping program ? There's a middle man somewhere, somehow, in the global shipping program, but I don't know who it is.0 -
What have the bank said about these payments? Surely you can dispute the payments?0
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I have also done a little digging and found these:
http://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Buyer-Central/Payment-hijacked-by-Pitney-Bowes-Paypal-refuse-to-help/m-p/2596022/highlight/true#M48149
For anyone else in a similar siuation, you can contact Pitney Bowes by email at PBISGSPCS@pb.com
They have charged you import duties - is the item subject to duties?0
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