Help! Confused! Buyer wants to pay via credit card.

Alleycat

Hi,

I have sold a few bits over the past 6 months and always been paid via paypal. This time however, the person is paying via paypal but with a credit card. I have had an email asking me to upgrade to a premier/business account in order to accept payment, but I would prefer to stay as I am and not have to pay the fees a cc would incur.

I am going to email the buyer to request an alternative method of payment, as I say on my listings that I accept bank transfer, cheque, postal order. But I'm not sure how to phrase it. I don't want them to think I'm dodgy, just that I am a bit tight!

This is going to sound a bit daft especially as I buy stuff using paypal all the time, but...how exactly does it work? In order for the seller not to have to pay fees does the buyer using paypal have to have credit in their account?

Sorry, told you it was a daft question!

Paul1_2

Hi,

I use Paypal, but don't accept credit cards due to the high fees charged. Paypal is listed as a payment option, but clarified that I can only accept payment from members who have a credit balance or fund payments via Direct Debit, Credit cards are not accepted. This has worked well for over 60 transactions, if someone hasn't read the ad properly I have wriiten out to them:

Hi, Congratulations on winning *****, unfortunately I have had to reject your instant payment as my Paypal Account does not let me accept Card Payments (as stated on my ad and invoice). I can receive money from PayPal members who use a bank account or their PayPal balance to fund the payment.

Alternatives are bank transfer (bill pay if you bank online) pleae contact for account details and take 3 working days. Cheque ( 5 working days from bank receipt). Cash, at own risk.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

The basic Paypal accounts allows you to accept payments via a credit balance in the Paypal account or if the customer has their bank account linked via Direct Debit to paypal. All card payments (credit and debit carry charges and would require an account upgrade).

Hope this helps.

Paul1

Alleycat

Thank you Paul, you are a star! I was getting really confused. I thought I understood it, but didn't want to sound like a complete muppet if I got it wrong!

jockettuk

i pay through paypal with a credit card as paying by credit card has a extra protection for me ..

Jonni2bad

I think I am right in saying that "officially" you should only list PayPal as a payment option if you are willing to accept payment funded by a card (as in this case) - but don't let that put you off!!

If you upgrade your account then you then get charged for EVERY payment you receive, not just those made by card (which is another PayPal scam).

soolin

Ok, I got shot down last time i posted this but..

If you have ticked the 'I accept paypal' box when listing the item then you are obliged to accept all paypal payments however funded. Failure to do so may result in the buyer reporting you as a non performing seller. The invoice he received will automatically have defaulted to paypal and told him he can pay using a credit card.

The only way to restrict your payment methods is to not tick the 'I accept paypal ' box but to mention in your auction listing that you will accept paypal balance transfers only. You would then need to submit a manual invoice to the buyer.

Here is the guidance:

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/sell/paypal.html

and specifically this is the important bit that is shown in its own box on the page:

"Important: You should only select the PayPal option if you are willing to accept debit or credit cards through PayPal."

Soo

Alleycat

Hi, thanks for the further info. I emailed the buyer last night asking if there was an alternative method of payment and she is happy to send a cheque. Phew! I think I will now not tick the paypal box and just write it into my auction listing.

5bellies_2

jockettuk wrote:

i pay through paypal with a credit card as paying by credit card has a extra protection for me ..

True. If you dispute a Paypal payment because of faulty or missing (incomplete) items Paypal will refuse your claim and you need to dispute it with the credit card provider.

gromituk

I recently bought a small item (£20?) from eBay and PayPal suddenly wouldn't let me pay for it unless I upgraded my account. This caused payment delay of a few days as a sum had to be taken from my credit card with a vertification code in the transaction description on my credit card statement. I had to email the seller apologising for this delay. Why did this suddently happen?

And as jonni2bad says, now I presume if I ever sell anything using my PayPal account I will get charged, however the payment is made. Quids in for PayPal.