Paypal is trying to SCEW MY COUSIN

[hollycrow]

Hi all, I'm a new member here, but have been lurking for some time. I find this site a great source for info, and hope you guys can help out with the situation.

My cousin sold a high dollar item through Ebay, and received payment through paypal (which I advised him not to do, but he really didn't care about the 3% charge). Now, my cousin shipped the item with a tracking number, and the buyer received the item and all was well. 1 weeks later, he sends an email saying that he took the item to a store for service and it turns out it was stolen, and that he wanted a refund. he also states that it is in police custody and that he can't have it back. WTF. Paypal opened a case and is now trying to collect the money from him. He's been on the phone back and forth with Paypal, and still nothing.

Paypal is doing nothing to protect the seller, and is just helping out the buyer. My cousin paid for the item, and made a copy of the guys drivers license as well as had him hand write and sign the dl copy that he sold for x amount, etc. Nothing suspicious of the item, no file marks, good cond, etc (hard to believe it was a shady product). He faxed the copy of the DL and written receipt to paypal, and they say they didn't receive it. He does it again, and they still claim they didn't receive it. Finally, just a couple days ago, tell him to send the confirmation that he did send it, and he does which they received.

He strongly believes that the buyer switched his item with my cousins, and just sent the bad one to the store. he NEVER offered to send it back for his money back. (example: he had a stolen telescope, buys a legit telescope on ebay, sends the stolen telescope for service to local telescope dealer, keeps the one from ebay, and reports this to paypal, gets his money back and now has a legit telescope). Seems pretty easy to me! I really don't know, but my cousin is calling me and updating me, and seems pretty pissed about the situation.

Any advice.... The case is still open, and my cousin explained the possibilities that the buyer could be trying to screw him. Can Paypal deduct money from his bank account? Is it really that easy for the buyer to screw a seller like this? What should he do.

Thanks.

I've been screwed by paypal before, but nothing on this level.

[Yaz]

Your cousin has a tracking number and the item is delivered. i think your cousin should be fine.

[cardfelon]

If Paypal claims they haven't received the fax is he using the cover sheet they provide that you must print out? It has a bar code that is specific to his case and when the fax comes into Paypal they will know what case the paperwork goes to. They aren't going to take the time to try and figure out where it goes.

[FattyM]

If you use Paypal long enough, you will eventually get screwed. Never leave any money in your account that you are not willing to walk away from. If the buyer paid with a credit card paypal will roll over on you as soon as the buyer files a complaint and starts a chargeback. If you have not already, close the bank account the paypal account is linked to and report the credit cards you used to register lost. Also go ahead and change your contact info, though paypal/ebay keep a record of all your previous info anyway.
Tell him to move on and open stealth ebay and paypal accounts if he want to continue selling. Nothing will come of the -$1500 in the paypal account except threatening letters and phone calls from bottom feeder debt collectors.

[hollycrow]

Thanks for the advice.

if that account closed, would that look suspicious in the judgement. Remember, the buyer is accusing my cousin that he sold him an item reported as stolen.

[GreenBean]

get your cousin to join the forum. 2nd hand info on something like this never works. It becomes a 'he said I said story'. Your cousin will know exactly what he has done. He could be telling you what he thinks you want to hear. That's not fair to you and then to the forum

[slapped]

I would Fax Paypal the same info again also informing them that you are also sending it by Mail,and also send the paperwork by mail-- Return Recipt Requested, and also let them know that if the issue is Not resolved quickly that Your attorney will contact Their (Paypals) Legal Depatment, and if you have to, go down to your local Public Defender's office or if you have a local office of the ACLU --American Civil Liberties Union-- explain the situation to one of their Lawyers (all FREE of Charge) and go from there. But than again, if the item was truly stolen, forget the Lawyer part, because YOU will wind up getting TOASTED

[FattyM]

Originally Posted by hollycrow

Thanks for the advice.

if that account closed, would that look suspicious in the judgement. Remember, the buyer is accusing my cousin that he sold him an item reported as stolen.

I would not close the Paypal account, because it will not matter anyway. Go to the bank and tell them you want to close the bank account, then call the credit card company and report the cards lost.
Eventually, you can go online and close your paypal account, but if it is negative or limited, I do not think you can. You can probaly call them to close once it blows over.

[riversnew]

Actually PayPal is not doing anything wrong. What are they supposed to do? Take your word instead of the buyer's? It does not matter that you purchased the item elsewhere, if it is stolen, the buyer should be able to get his money back if he has documents proving that it was seized by Police.

[abookyent]

keep backups

[diplomatx]

i'll say you learned a great lesson keep everything stealth. pretty much you nor your cousin is at fault. i been thru this plenty of time. its the buyer fault for being cheap should just went and buy it from walmart lol.