What is the point of PayPal claims?

[Zero Kyori]

50% of the time on paypal claims, you'll never see your money. Even if you win, you lose!

[Inazuma]

The few times I've filed a complaint with PayPal, I've gotten my money back. If I were you, I wouldn't have sent the gameboy back. You should have taken pictures of it and emailed it with your complaint.

Getting your money back for not-as-advertised products can be a little trickier than never-sent products (god bless tracking numbers).

PayPal decided in my favor, so that wasn't a problem at all. I also proved to them that I sent it back. If I had taken pics or not, it wouldn't have made any difference. PayPal needs to do a lot more than simply asking the dishonest seller to pay me back.

I've been talking with the seller recently with email and she still isn't paying me back. I doubt it will happen at this point. First she said that she already paid me back, which was just another blatant lie. After that she said she would pay me back when she gets the money. I even threatened reporting her to the police but she doesn't seem to care.

[superlarz]

The few times I've filed a complaint with PayPal, I've gotten my money back. If I were you, I wouldn't have sent the gameboy back. You should have taken pictures of it and emailed it with your complaint.

Getting your money back for not-as-advertised products can be a little trickier than never-sent products (god bless tracking numbers).

PayPal decided in my favor, so that wasn't a problem at all. I also proved to them that I sent it back. If I had taken pics or not, it wouldn't have made any difference. PayPal needs to do a lot more than simply asking the dishonest seller to pay me back.

I've been talking with the seller recently with email and she still isn't paying me back. I doubt it will happen at this point. First she said that she already paid me back, which was just another blatant lie. After that she said she would pay me back when she gets the money. I even threatened reporting her to the police but she doesn't seem to care.

Ask paypal if they are doing anything to get your money back. and file an actual police report to get her moving. Assuming at some point the transaction went across state lines it is a federal crime.

[Inazuma]

I talked with PayPal over the phone again today and asked them to do something about the situation. They explained to me that all they can do is ask her to pay me and nothing more.

Why is that? Oh, it's because the document I used to prove that I returned the item to her was from the USPS intranet. In other words, it's not online tracking but through the post office's own network. It really shouldn't make any difference. It's proof that I returned the item. But PayPal doesn't seem to care. They want online tracking and without it they won't do jack shit. At least I know this for the future but it still sucks.

Anyway, I looked into it and there are a few options available to me outside of PayPal. I can file reports with:
- National Fraud Information Center
- Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Better Business Bureau Online

Plus I can file a police report like some of you have suggested. I just sent one final email to the seller telling them about this and gave them until Friday to pay me back. If I don't get the money by then, I will be sure to file complaints with every place possible.

[Luke]

Anyway, I looked into it and there are a few options available to me outside of PayPal. I can file reports with:
- National Fraud Information Center
- Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Better Business Bureau Online

BBB may be your best bet. I've filed a few complaints with them and got immediate results.

Hope it works out.

[dentman42]

The best way to handle transactions like this is pay via credit card. If PayPal won't follow through on their guarantee, file a chargeback with the CC company.

Fortunately, I've only ever had 3 PayPal disputes, and in all 3 cases, once they received the dispute notice from PayPal, they refunded me. One was an item never shipped, the other 2 were lots that were missing advertised items.

[Inazuma]

*Update*
Well, of course she didn't pay me back so I filed complaints with these 2 places today:

o National Fraud Information Center
o Internet Crime Complaint Center

I will do the BBB also but that'll have to wait till tomorrow. I don't want to waste my entire evening filing out forms. Gonna play some Shining Force III to cheer me up.

[Inazuma]

*Update again*
Just filed my 3rd and last complaint. This time with the BBB. I guess this is pretty much all I can do. Now I have to wait and see if anyone decides to help me.

[Luke]

Anyway, I looked into it and there are a few options available to me outside of PayPal. I can file reports with:

- Better Business Bureau Online

Probably your best bet.