PayPal Warning

C. Brattain · Post by **C. Brattain** » 21 Aug 2005 10:37 am

This just happened to me and I thank everybody should know what PayPal can do.
On August the 15th a guy sent me $253.00 payment in full for a guitar. On August the 17th I mailed the guitar. On August the 18th I received a email from PayPal that this guy had a fraudulent bank account so they took the $253.00 out of my account. I had already shipped the guitar so I was out $253.00, nothing I could do. I received a email from the man who bought the guitar and he said PayPal had tried to collect the money from a old bank account he had closed
and he would fix it. I fill out a long form from PayPal yesterday and sent in in. Today I received a email PayPal that they had put the money back in my account. I checked my account and PayPal had put only $245.00 back in my account. Thru the whole mess they treated me like I was a crook.
I thank I will find another way to send and recieve money, anyone have any ideas please let me know. Thank you, Chuck

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 21 Aug 2005 12:10 pm

not sure but I believe all EBAY/PAYPAL purchases are fraud protected up to at least
$200..maybe more

But this is a very interesting issue to say the least. Once money is transfered everyone pulls the trigger and ships the item sold..

Curious for sure..

t

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 21 Aug 2005 3:12 pm

Dear C. I'd be very grateful to PayPal if I were you - If it was a bad check you'd be out both the guitar AND the $$$. BTW I've used PayPal for years and now ONLY use it for eBay. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread IMHO. Yer out 8. bucks right! Qiutyerbellyachin'

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Dave O'Brien, Okeechobee
'72, '75 & '78 Emmons D-10's
www.banjobubba.com

C. Brattain · Post by **C. Brattain** » 21 Aug 2005 3:35 pm

Thanks Dave, but I do not except checks so I would not have sent it, I sent it bcause I trusted PayPal and then got took for a ride.

Ron Victoria · Post by **Ron Victoria** » 21 Aug 2005 4:03 pm

I use PP but it takes at least 5 business days to clear because it's linked to checking. It took me a few transactions to understand why sellers didn't mail the purchase out as soon as they were notified. I, being a good guy, always mailed out the item right away. But seeing how you almost got burned, I will wait until the funds clear. I prefer to pay with on-line banking as it's free and the person receives the bank draft faster than PP clearing.

Ron

Michael Garnett · Post by **Michael Garnett** » 21 Aug 2005 4:14 pm

www.neteller.com

Those guys are really safe and I've heard good things about them

-MG

C. Brattain · Post by **C. Brattain** » 21 Aug 2005 4:50 pm

Thank you Mitch, I will check them out, Chuck

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 21 Aug 2005 7:29 pm

I think the key is make sure everything clears BEFORE you send the goods, even paypal. I will take personal checks, but the buyer is also informed checks need to clear before I ship. Money Orders and cashiers checks come up counter fit now, so I make them wait til they clear, too. If they won't clear in the end, and you spent the money, the bank looks at you. And if you shipped the goodies, you'll be out that, too. I don't have trouble with forum bro's, but there are lurkers out there---------

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 22 Aug 2005 2:37 am

I just took two postal money orders to the bank to deposit them, and the teller checked them out over the phone before she would deposit them. She said she had been burned by fakes in the past so she always checked. I was sure they were good but she checked anyway.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Fender Steel King, Understanding wife. http://www.Charmedmusic.com

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 22 Aug 2005 6:52 am

Chuck, did PayPal take their service charge out of the $245? Or was their service charge $8? (Seems sorta high.)

I accept PayPal payments every day and I've never had a problem. They warn not to send the goods yet on payments that haven't cleared, and tell you the expected clearing date.

I'd complain about the $8 difference, unless it's just the service fee.

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/b0bxicon.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
System Administrator 
My Blog

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 22 Aug 2005 8:53 am

Chuck, the paypal system is automated of course, so when something goes awry, they get the money back from where it got sent, in this case you. There are dispute resolution tools on the website, and you eventually can talk to a person- but being dealt with by an automated service can I guess seem like "being treated like a crook."
The current paypal charges are 2.9% plus $.030 for U.S. transactions. A bit cheaper that taking a merchant card like visa. In the case of a $253 transaction, that comes out to $7.64. That should be what's missing from your $253 payment. It's only free to the buyer....
Although I'm a bit suspicious of PayPal being owned by ebay, I don't blame them! I've done at least a thousand paypal transactions with no problems, knock on formica.

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 22 Aug 2005 11:59 am

I'm with Mark - it's likely just Paypal charges.

It's just a cost of doing business. In the case of Paypal, it offers me a chance to essentially take credit cards at a decent rate. I know I get more buyers using Paypal...in fact, my eBay auctions are 100% Paypal-only now.

C. Brattain · Post by **C. Brattain** » 22 Aug 2005 2:25 pm

Bob, Mark, and Jim---Yes you are right. the sale was $253.07, and service charge was $7.64. When they took out $253.07. They did put $253.07 back in and with held the $7.64 again leaving me the same $245.43. I just looked at the whole thing my mistake, the first mistake I made in 73 years. Sorry, Chuck

Roger Miller · Post by **Roger Miller** » 22 Aug 2005 6:59 pm

I've ran into a strange thing, I have been suspended from ebay, and I don't know why. I have paid the customer immediately and all business handled quite well, then they send me a email that I am suspended. When I asked for a explanation, my letter came back to me.Anyone with a hold on what I'm talking about?

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 22 Aug 2005 7:16 pm

If you have money in your paypal account, the transactions are immediate, but if paypal has to get the money from your bank, the transfer takes several days. I just tried this with Bobby when I ordered strings. I had no money in my paypal account when I ordered last Wednesday. This morning I received an email from paypal sayin that the transfer went through and went throug to Bobby.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 22 Aug 2005 7:25 pm

Roger, have you gone to eBay to check the status of your account? There are plenty of eBay spoof emails (scams) that go around fishing for your account information.

Al Johnson · Post by **Al Johnson** » 23 Aug 2005 6:30 am

Roger the first thing do with an email like that is forward it to spoof@ebay.com they will tell you if they sent it. Like was said there are a lot of phony emails they say comes from PayPal and Ebay. they both have spoof email sites. stay alert. Al

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 23 Aug 2005 7:00 am

I get fake emails saying that my Ebay or PayPal account is suspended every day. Don't believe it. Open a new browser session any time you need to access your account. Don't click on anything in the email, because these folks have set up sites that look exactly like Ebay and PayPal. They are crooks.

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/b0bxicon.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
System Administrator 
My Blog

C. Brattain · Post by **C. Brattain** » 23 Aug 2005 7:16 am

Boy, everybody jumped ahead of me but I will say you have to very, very carefull or they will steel the pass word from a steeler.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 23 Aug 2005 9:35 am

Something I'm not sure everyone realizes- these fake emails that are "phishing" for account information are the work of skilled scammers, not PayPal or ebay. It seems a lot of people have been scammed and/or heard of folks being taken, and assume the auction/finance sites themselves are to blame. Unfortunately in the world today we have to read everything very carefully... can't leave the back door unlocked anymore.

C. Brattain · Post by **C. Brattain** » 23 Aug 2005 10:11 am

I am concern about one more thing, maybe BOB knows this. Almost 50% of the people who pay on PayPal have a uncomfirmed address. I have contacted a lot of them in the past and most of them do not know why. I go ahead and ship anyway but maybe someday I am going to get burned?? Chuck

Larry Weaver · Post by **Larry Weaver** » 23 Aug 2005 3:59 pm

Hi Chuck,
In my case, the "uncomfirmed address" is a result of my choice to NOT tie a bank account to my p-pal account. I use a credit-card instead; one with a very low credit limit that I use specifically for online transactions.

regards,
Larry W

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 23 Aug 2005 4:07 pm

Laughing,i use a bank account with a very low amount,not by choice, just facts.hahaha
Never had any problems. farris

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 23 Aug 2005 4:22 pm

Chuck,- as far as I know, all non-US addresses will be "unconfirmed" so that may explain some of those you come across.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 23 Aug 2005 5:57 pm

I agree with bOb concerning the fraud from fake Ebay and Paypal accounts. I received one of these today. I would not open this email as you can't tell what might happen.