But if that is the case, using the same logic, far more scams are
done these days with fraudulent Money Orders (See Craigslist for scam
alerts).
So that leaves PayPal. And if you feel safe using them, great.
Unfortunately I cannot share that naivete due to what happened to me
when I was purchasing a computer for $2,300 from a guy who had listed
on Ebay and accepted payment through PayPal. I sent an E-Check by
accident instead of what I usually do which is simply using my bank
as a source. But then I was contacted by the Seller who told me his
account had been frozen but it had never happened before and that
he'd take care of it. I smelled a rat, and now was glad it was an e-
check, so I contacted PayPal and asked if I should stop payment on
the e-check. Though, by law, they could not tell me why his account
was 'frozen,' they informed me in no uncertain terms that my money
was utterly, absolutely and completely safe because before they would
ever 'unfreeze' the Seller's account, he would have to prove that he
had the item, prove that he'd shipped the item, and prove that I'd
received the item. Well, that's a great system, I thought, so I
believed them and I let the payment go through.
Big mistake.
No computer came and there was zero contact from the Seller. I
contacted PayPal who informed me that I needed to file a claim and
wait ten days which I did. After ten days I was informed that I had
'won' the claim but they were sorry to inform me that there was no
longer any money left in the Seller's account to refund to me. So
I'm screaming at them that I would have stopped payment but for their
assurances, and now it appears to me that they just allowed my money
to come through in order to pay back other earlier claims against
this guy (maybe that's why his account was frozen?!!!) OR they
actually released my money to him without following the guidelines
which they used to assure me that my money was safe. When I told
them that I didn't stop payment due to their assurances, they grew
very quiet and said, well, that representative wasn't supposed to
tell you that!!!
Well folks, PayPal may be Ebay's Baby, but safe is the last thing you
are when you deal with them. They have a clause that we all agree to
when using them that states if you want to sue them, it must be in
Santa Clara county in Northern California. Well, just so you know,
that's been challenged and deemed unconscionable law (I mean, what's
someone in FL or NY supposed to do?!) The problem is that they still
pull the contract out, don't even show up in whatever court you are
suing them in and refer to the contract until the Judge reads the
earlier decisions. So I contact them and they have completely lost
all sympathy and stopped all efforts to get my money back to me.
Instead, they have shifted into self-protection mode. They told me I
had to file a police report so I called my local Police Department
and spoke to the officer in charge of internet fraud. He informed me
that they had top people on such cases at PayPal but I would have to
file my police report in the town where the Seller lived
(Cleveland). Long story short, this has been over two years ago and
I've never received a penny, nickel or dime back of my $2,300. As
far as I'm concerned, PayPal is as much or more at fault than the
Seller for encouraging me to continue payment to this fraudulent
Seller. PayPal still says I have "open issues" on my account as if
they are making any effort at all to rectify the situation.
So, Jeff, as far as Western Union or Money Orders being too unsafe
for Ebay, perhaps we need all be aware that Ebay should clean up
their own backyard. You ARE NOT safe using PayPal, regardless of
what they say...period. If at all possible, learn from my experience.
I just wonder how many others have fallen victim to PayPal's
ineptitude or predatory practices.
Patrick
On Mar 28, 2008, at 11:16 PM, Jeff Potokar wrote:
western union is very often used to scam people out of their
money... so i can see why ebay may have decided against that form
of payment.. makes total sense to me.
jeff
On Mar 28, 2008, at 10:19 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I wanted to bring to the attention of the sellers on MoPo, the
latest eBay action I encountered.
My last group of 74 listings, were ready to post, and as I tried
to list them, I kept getting blocked by eBay. The reason? My
PAYMENT DETAILS included acceptance of PayPal, personal checks,
and money orders. But it also said WESTERN UNION was acceptable.
That, apparently, is unacceptable to eBay, at least until they
purchase Western Union. A couple years ago, eBay prevented
listings if CASH was accepted.
I'm sure these restrictions are for our own protection. Do you
think they can make PayPal, the ONLY form of acceptable payment?
Marty Davis
Vintage Film Posters
43215 N. National Trail
Anthem, AZ 85086
623/551-6655 tel
623/551-6622 fax
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
OneSheet (eBay Screen Name)
www.vintagefilmposters.com
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