6 AUG UPDATE: PayPal Buyers Beware! - Don't Get Screwed Over Like I Did

I'm sorry for what happened, if it was payment via credit card (via PayPal) you can try reversing the payment.

Sorry to heard this. If you have make the payment through your credit card than file a chargeback with your credit card company. This will force PayPal to refund your money back.

What I don't understand is why did you get shot down for a refund if he's offering a 100% money back guarantee?

After being majorly ripped off years ago by something similar, I now purchase everything over $100 through my Amex credit card.

At least Amex are very supportive.

Whenever I purchase something via paypal that I feel is expensive I always opt to pay by credit card through paypal, you can choose this when checking out, that way if there are any problems then I can just file a chargeback through the credit card company. Although, I have not had any problems yet, but I am prepared

al

Really sad. I didn't know that about PayPal.

Thanks for Sharing with us.

Just took note of this. Thanks for sharing!!

Well that stinks.

If you want to keep agitating, you should consider a well-worded letter to his state's attorney general, the FTC and, for kicks, the BBB.

Thanks, Scott, for letting us know about this hidden clause.

I feel really sorry for you.

Just a random thought: if PayPal has social media accounts, you can raise a stink there. Similar to when someone gets screwed over by an airline, they head to Facebook, get all their FB friends, and all the FB groups they're part of, to like or comment on their post where they tag the company (or post directly on the company's page) - which forces them to respond and take care of the issue because now it's public and potentially damaging to their reputation.

Not that PayPal is the one who screwed you over - but they are at fault by siding with the scammers.

You can make a post similar to the one you made here, and post anywhere and everywhere there are people who use PayPal.

What my friends are complaining about when they talk about Paypal is their practically huge fees on each transaction

I'm really sorry to hear this. With Paypal their decisions can be rather arbitrary and binding, and what makes it worse is that they do not give any special consideration even when it comes to a high-ticket purchase where a lot of money is at stake.

With digital products that you purchase there is always a certain element of risk you have to accept, unfortunately.

I would take a screenshot of the sales page you ordered from and send that to PayPal. If you have a picture showing the guarantee how can they refuse to send your money back?

Sorry for the dilemma. If you paid by credit card you can file a dispute/chargeback with your CC company.

Scott,

I'm sorry for your loss, but I think Paypal has done exactly what they should do in circumstances like these.

Once you made the 2nd payment, what choice does Paypal have but to assume that you were satisfied with the product? You, yourself, indicated satisfaction by (instead of asking for a refund against the initial payment)... paying a second installment!

It's one thing to have buyer's remorse shortly after a purchase, or to evaluate a product for some period of time and then come to the determination that it does not live up to your expectations. It's another thing altogether to make a 2nd payment if you are NOT satisfied.

That's the whole reason that buyer protection does not extend to installment purchases/subscriptions.

I do think you may be able to get some satisfaction by pursuing the copyright infringement issues, but only if the copyright holder initiates legal action against the individual. That is a matter for those two parties to reconcile.

I certainly wouldn't expect Paypal to put themselves in the middle of such a dispute.

Someone further up this thread suggested the FTC, Attorney General's office of the perp's state and the BBB. I agree with 2 of the 3. The FTC will most likely be a waste of your time. However, the Attorney General's office and the BBB are absolutely your best chance for any kind of return of your money.

In my lifetime (I am 62) I have gained positive resolution to many business and personal matters by contacting the Attorney General's office. I have also suggested this to several friends and relatives who also had positive results. Nothing scares the bejeezus out of someone like getting an official letter from the states Attorney General's office.

One additional note in this regards, I would contact his state's Attorney General's office and your states office as well. In all of my uses in 30+ years, I have contacted or filed a complaint with my home state and that was enough. There is or was something in the law about any company doing business in a state can be prevented from continuing to do business in another state (your state) if the matter is not resolved.

The largest $$ use was for my Daughter and Son-in-law who paid for a home inspection when they bought their home which was said to be termite free to find termites within a month of moving in. It cost them $2500 to repair the damage and the home inspection company would only agree to reimbursing their inspection fee.

I told them to file a complaint with the Attorney Generals office who then took their case back to the inspection company. They first offered $1000 immediately. State asked if acceptable, they said no. Inspection company then came back with their final offer of $2000 or take them to civil court. They accepted as it probably would have cost more to go civil.

I got $500 back from a mailing list company when I was receiving 20% returns on my 1st 1000 piece mailing and their guarantee was for no more than 5% - they balked about a refund because I did not want to waste postage on anothe 4000 pieces. I filed complaint and got a full $500 refund.

One last thing before filing the complaints - try to contact the perp one more time - lay out the facts of what you are going to do within 5 days on a specific date of say August 10th, 2015 if he does not refund your money in full as his posted guarantee implies. Also, be sure to make some screen captures of his guarantee page - the AG will need these to decide if you have a case or not. I would not mention to AG about trying to get a refund thru PayPal - it is not their business, the transaction was between you the buyer and them the seller.

Good luck.

What a great share Scott, and thank you for the update. I'm glad you got your funds back. Even though you made a second payment, you still didn't get what was promised AND the seller was violating more than one law, it sounds like you made a logical, coherent argument to the CEO and you got your funds back.

Any updates on the seller?

RoD

Grats. You should also make others aware of this person. There is a FB group specifically there to warn others of shady online marketers.

way to go...and thx re the split-payment warning; I'm a veteran IMer and didn't know that...

Good to know that you eventually got your money back.

.
Scott - you keep money in your PayPal account? Shame on you!

"Yeah I know that but unfortunately I paid directly out of my PayPal account, wish I had not now."

You might find out one of these days when PP freezes your account or reverses a payment or who knows what else, that keeping money in a PP account is a no-no! It's also not necessary - you can pay with a CC or access funds in your bank with no problem _if_ you write your bank a note telling them not to pay direct demands from PP (not payments made thru PP).
.