Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: PayPal refund woes for buyer's of fake Microsoft software


Top Poster

Status: Offline
Posts: 3757
Date:
PayPal refund woes for buyer's of fake Microsoft software


by Rosalyn Page on Aug 11, 2010

We've now heard from several readers with problems with the PayPal dispute process after people bought fake Microsoft software on eBay

In the September 2010 issue of PC Authority, we looked at problems with the PayPal dispute process regarding fake Microsoft software. We've now heard from several other readers with similar problems.

Bob from Queensland purchased Microsoft Office Professional 2007 on eBay and paid for it using PayPal. The program installed using the product key and updated online, but when he tried to use the program a warning appeared.

Bob contacted the seller who claimed the program was genuine, but the account was later unregistered, so Bob initiated a dispute via PayPal. He was told that the product must be proven not authentic by an independent third party, so Bob sent it to the Microsoft product identification service.

Refund refused
"Bob was told that the documents must be faxed to the US PayPal office and was given a cut-off date. He requested an extension to wait for the report from Microsoft, but this was denied. Microsoft subsequently confirmed that the software was counterfeit, but by now the case was closed and the refund refused.

Verifying authenticity
We contacted PayPal and it looked into the case and agreed to the refund. The company admitted that it could have provided Bob with the Microsoft details to verify the authenticity (or lack thereof) of the software so that he could have lodged his claim in the 45 days and received his money back. It also said that the fax number provided in Bob's case was the mistake of a US call centre agent as it should have been the Australian number.

Claims against pirated Microsoft software
The company has said that "we will use this case study to adjust our customer service flow. In future, when a person makes a claim against pirated Microsoft software we will direct them to the exact location required to verify authenticity. Further, we will not provide the customer with a US Fax number address.

We will also investigate cases relating to people that have purchased from the same eBay seller. As it stands, the eBay seller account is on hold pending further investigation."


 

continues with comments...



__________________

Exposing the sleazery of ebaY and PayPal

 

Page 1 of 1  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse
Powered by ActiveBoard