PayPal say im a thief and to pay up

Ogs

You probably need to understand how PayPal works to work out what im saying here. Heres my story -

Months ago, i woke up to find 3 emails, 1 from some bloke demanding to know why £1500 has came out of his PayPal and into mine, i think "um ok, probably some junk", so i take a look at the other 2 emails, both of which were from PayPal. Both of them were about some case the guy had put on about the transfer, and required my response. I was thinking "erm, ok il just go into PayPal and tell em to give him the money back, obviously somethings wrong has happened here".

So i go onto PayPal, and find my account in the negative of £1500, with the open case that i need to respond to. The options were slim, a refund, or provide tracking details, and something else i cant remember. I tried to do a refund, and it wouldnt let me saying i had no funds, and that id need to do it using my account. Screw that, thats my money.

So i email the guy, completely confused by what had happened, and of course he just wanted his money back, and i was telling him i was trying to etc until we just stopped emailing. I then emailed PayPal, after a day or 3 of generic emails i got one back saying that the £1500 had actually been transfered to a bank account, which was not mine, so i logged into PayPal and found that a second bank account had been added, i was shocked and worried now So i got back onto PayPal and told them that bank account wasnt mine and to basically sort it out. More generic emails followed........

After awhile, the automatic case thing ended the case, refunded his money, and left my account in negative £1500. Countless emails for the following weeks resulted in nothing, so i said screw them, im trying to help sort this out and they arnt, there loss. A couple of months later.......debt collectors ring me.....

Of course, PayPal are demanding i pay them back the money, and these guys (Intrum Justitia) are going to get it. By now ive had enough and ring up PayPal to sort this bullcrap out. I tell the guy on the phone that i had nothing to do with this, so he logged it and said it will be investigated within about a week, and that it should hopefully be put back to normal etc. The next day i receive an email, saying that the investigation had failed as i didnt have "sufficient evidence" to support my claim, im absolutely livid by now.

I ring them back up, completely useless lady on the phone saying that there systems have evidence of the computers used etc, and that if i want this sorted i should get a solicitor. Debt collectors ring again, i tell them about all this crap, they say tell the police and get a crime refernce number, so i ring them. The police say its just an error on PayPals part, that they couldnt see a crime had been commited, and nothing they could do. I ring up PayPal again, tell them this, and the lady pretty much says that there investigation is certain that it was my computer used, so either me or a member of the family that had accessed my password protected PC and PayPal to do it, which is bull, because most of em can barely turn a PC on. They said i can send off for the results (to America i might add) of the investigation, which i did well over a month ago now, only thing ive received is an email confirming they received them.

Debt collectors are still on my back, im getting incredibly frustrated, and i wish a nuke upon PayPal's HQ. Ive explained this story a million times over the phone to loads of different people, and im sure none of them understand a word i was saying, or give a toss. Is there anyone out there that can help me ? Anyone with something similar ? Forgive me for the long LONG post (its actually soothing typing this all out), but i really need some more views on this, any questions just ask, as i know this is confusing. Thanks .

soolin

So basically you got hacked and paypal are sure that any hack came from a PC or an IP linked to you and whoever withdrew the money from your account was linked to you? Is that correct?

Paypal rarely make that sort of judgement without very good reason, and yes they do keep records which is why on the other threads about hacking on here this week paypal have assisted the person hacked and restored the accounts at no cost. So there is obviously something horribly wrong here if paypal are prepared to stand by a statement that the hacker and you are somehow linked, so I would suggest you get yourself some sort of proper legal advice immediately from someone who knows how this all works and can advise you further.

powertron

There was another user who was being sued by Nike. Doesn't look too promising for new users.

frivolous_fay

powertron wrote: »

There was another user who was being sued by Nike. Doesn't look too promising for new users.

Correct me if I'm wrong... but wasn't he being sued for selling fakes Nikes? :rolleyes:

soolin

frivolous_fay wrote: »

Correct me if I'm wrong... but wasn't he being sued for selling fakes Nikes? :rolleyes:

Yes that user was allegedly selling fake Nikes and were having problems with a firm of solicitors acting on behalf of Nike. They weren't, if I remember correctly, actually having problems with paypal.

RFW

Get advice from Citizen's Advice or a solicitor.

The debt collectors can't do anything but pester you, unless you have been taken to court. Also if they harass you, you can report them to Trading Standards and the Police. The CAB would also be able to help you with this.

The main point is where the money went. In any court case they would have to prove the bank account receiving the money was yours or someone you knew.

Ogs

Tried Citizens Advice, they tried to help, but pretty much just kept putting me through to different people, until the last one who just gave my advice for internet fraud prevention, didnt get anywhere (nobody understood how PayPal worked either). Is it possible to get any more information about that bank account, from PayPal maybe ? I mean, according to them it is mine...............

Im ready to get a solicitor involved but i cant help but think this is completely ridiculous and out of hand, and is not needed, but PayPal are being such !!!!!! about it.

RFW

Ogs wrote: »

Tried Citizens Advice, they tried to help, but pretty much just kept putting me through to different people, until the last one who just gave my advice for internet fraud prevention, didnt get anywhere (nobody understood how PayPal worked either). Is it possible to get any more information about that bank account, from PayPal maybe ? I mean, according to them it is mine...............

Im ready to get a solicitor involved but i cant help but think this is completely ridiculous and out of hand, and is not needed, but PayPal are being such !!!!!! about it.

I'm not sure it really matters to anyone giving you advice as to how Paypal works. Essentially a company (in this case it is Paypal) is claiming you have transferred £1500 into your bank account and they want it back.
If they are saying the account is yours they should at least give you some information (ie the name of the bank at the very least).
If they take you to court they would have to provide the full details.

If it was me, I would write to Paypal (when phoning you aren't really getting anywhere and won't get to speak to anyone in authority) at the registered office of where your account is held, address it to the CEO. Your letter should state that you do not owe them money and to cease their collection agents. If they are not willing to provide you with bank details then they should take you to court and prove to a judge that you have received the money (which will not be possible).
Make sure you keep all the information and all your account details.

You could try a third party to help, one of the newspaper financial helpers or Watchdog or before you do that, tell Paypal in your letter that you are going to contact them, it might speed them up.

Ogs

Well the thing is when i explain whats happened, i get the feeling that they think no real money has been moved around here, or any real bank accounts were involved.

It really looks like the only option to get this sorted is to go through the courts, let them bring it etc, that way theyl be able to look into that bank account ?

Anyone know if PayPal actually gives out the bank information when you ring them up ? Also, would contacting the Ombudsman be worthwhile ?

Thanks for the replies btw.

Tirian

Try CLS Direct (Community Legal Service), see if you can draw up a draft letter to send to Paypal and the debt collectors stating that you do not accept responsibility of the debt, the money was not taken with your knowledge or permission and that any further contact from them on the matter without provision of evidence that you authorised the transaction(s) in question will be construed as harassment.

brettcta

sounds like a harsh break.

can u not find out who the bank account belongs to?