Hi guys... Apparently the next chapter in my story is about to unfold. I received an email from our friends at PayPal indicating that my buyer asked their card provider to issue the chargeback that has my account significantly red. If you recall, PayPal told me the bank did it, and then they lectured me on good selling practices, and told me to run along and give them their money.
My question is: Has anyone having had this experience of being ripped off like this had PayPal come back and say they want to help recover the funds? What are the potential pitfalls here? I'm concerned that if proceed with this I'll be committing to a chain of events that has me losing. As it stands right now I've done nothing other than protect my credit card that I can't unchain from my PayPal account...
Also, the end of the note refers to PayPal's action as having placed a temporary hold on my account until the issue is resolved. The last message I got from them on this was that they had actually reversed the transaction and I owed them the balance. They even sent a preliminary courtesy letter stating they wanted their money... Now it seems that's not really the case. I'm so lost... Anyone with experience with this sort of thing, your help is appreciated!
Here's the text of the note, sans the specifics---------------------------------------
We were recently notified that one of your buyers filed a chargeback and asked their card issuer to reverse a payment made to you.
Although a chargeback may appear to be similar to a PayPal claim, it is actually a process initiated outside of PayPal and controlled by the card issuer. One of the unique benefits of using PayPal is that we help you fight unwarranted chargebacks and attempt to recover your funds.
It is up to the card issuer to decide whether or not they believe that the buyer’s chargeback is valid and they are asking for some information about this transaction from you.
----------------------------------- What to Do Next -----------------------------------
We would like to help you resolve this chargeback as soon as possible. Please log in to your PayPal account and visit the Resolution Center to provide some information about this transaction.
Please submit your response within 10 calendar days so that we can process the chargeback for you. Chargeback timeframes are determined by the card issuer and they have requested that you reply with information as soon as possible. Once they receive your information, it may take up to 75 days for the card issuer to make a final decision.
Because the card issuer has reversed the charge on this transaction, we have placed a temporary hold on the funds associated with this transaction until this case is resolved. This action is in accordance with the terms of our User Agreement.
To learn more about how to respond to this chargeback, visit the Resolution Center and click "Resolution Center Tutorials".
----------------------------------- Other Details -----------------------------------
There are no other details regarding this transaction at this time.
Don't waste your time replying to Paypal's inquiry. The buyers credit card company will rule in his favor no matter what you say. And Paypal will do jack squat to defend you. I had a chargeback for over 600 bucks last year and sent Paypal a five paragraph explanation why the buyer was a scammer. Paypal's "summation" of my explanation was this: "Seller has no online viewable proof of delivery and refuses to refund buyer". And that's what they sent to the buyers credit card company! Now you tell me, does that sound like Paypal was defending me? Bull!
My question is: Has anyone having had this experience of being ripped off like this had PayPal come back and say they want to help recover the funds?
Many of had this experience. PP wants YOU to be the "fall guy" on moneys they collected on your behalf. Remember the earlier thread dealing with this?
What are the potential pitfalls here?
There are no real "potential pitfalls" here to you, unless they decide to move forward and have some evidence that you are involved in the scam. (Highly unlikely and remember I believe your story)
I'm concerned that if I proceed with this I'll be committing to a chain of events that has me losing.
That is correct.
As it stands right now I've done nothing other than protect my credit card that I can't unchain from my PayPal account...
Hopefully you have canceled that card when you say: protect my credit card.
Also, the end of the note refers to PayPal's action as having placed a temporary hold on my account until the issue is resolved.
Let them "hold" it until the sheep's go baaaaaaaaaaa
The last message I got from them on this was that they had actually reversed the transaction and I owed them the balance.
PP already paid back the cc issuer back. They are the merchant of record who failed for about a month, to VERIFY the funds they accepted and already gave to you as YOURS. It's their problem. Remember they sent you an email that said that 'you have received a payment".
They even sent a preliminary courtesy letter stating they wanted their money...
Did they send it to you via certified return receipt mail? The "preliminary courtesy letter" is probably the start to an ineffective collections attempt they will try.
Again it's all bull and no need to respond at all other than to tell them once again (if you so desire) via in writing. NO MORE emails or phone calls from them or any agent including any third party collections firms.
It is up to the card issuer to decide whether or not they believe that the buyer’s chargeback is valid and they are asking for some information about this transaction from you.
PP needs no more information about this transaction from you. Didn't you already tell them what occurred? If so... refer them back to their own file for "more information about this transaction" they can pass that on to the cc issuer.
If this escalates you could, as a courtesy to PP supply them with an affidavit. Of course you may want to state up front that they must pay you x amount of dollars for your time and preparation of said affidavit to help them fix their own blunder. Have them send you a check prior to releasing your affidavit. $150.00 sounds about right.
What to Do Next
As peeptoadruth says: Don't waste your time replying to PayPal's inquiry. If they escalate to some sort of official court action... That will be the time.
