UPDATED 5/16: BEWARE PAYPAL CHARGEBACKS! If you sell on eBay, read this...

[ramram]

I just can’t imagine that Paypal/credit card company wouldn’t have complicity in the theft if they took the funds from you without any kind of proof that the card was returned to you.

Rob M

[Jim65]

As much as I hate to defend PayPal, if a buyer initiates a chargeback through their bank or credit card, it is up to that bank whether the chargeback goes through, PayPal is powerless. If PayPal takes the money from your bank, then you do have recourse through your bank. If they seize your PayPal account, you're screwed.

I speak from experience, unfortunately.

[jbbama]

This kind of scenario really sucks, i hate that you have to deal with this BS. Just an FYI for anyone here, NEVER, NEVER, leave large amounts of money in your paypal account. Also, have that account tied to something other than your primary checking or savings account. Yes, paypal can "freeze your account" until resolved, but at least they dont have your money...you do! I learned this lesson the hard way several years back. Go get 'em......

[Baseball Fan]

Originally Posted by jbbama

This kind of scenario really sucks, i hate that you have to deal with this BS. Just an FYI for anyone here, NEVER, NEVER, leave large amounts of money in your paypal account. Also, have that account tied to something other than your primary checking or savings account. Yes, paypal can "freeze your account" until resolved, but at least they dont have your money...you do! I learned this lesson the hard way several years back. Go get 'em......

Quick question. What could the account be tied to if not checking or savings? I would possibly like to make this change due to this thread.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Baseball Fan

Quick question. What could the account be tied to if not checking or savings? I would possibly like to make this change due to this thread.

Just open a new new checking/ savings account at any bank. Like eBay IDs you an have as many as you want.

[callou2131]

Ebay is losing a lot of card sellers because of things like this. Credit card claims, sending back empty top loaders and getting refunds, etc. The worst is the INAD on prospects. Someone buys a rookie card of player A while they are in spring training. 5 months later the player blows out a knee, or just sucks, and his card values plummet. They return the card that is now worth a quarter what it was worth. Could you imagine if you were in the stock market and could change your mind after 5 months on a stock you bought? These are liquid items, and it needs to stop.

[Baseball Fan]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Just open a new new checking/ savings account at any bank. Like eBay IDs you an have as many as you want.

So, if I have a second account that doesn't have any money it in, they still wouldn't be able to come at me and demand I refund somebody after six months?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Baseball Fan

So, if I have a second account that doesn't have any money it in, they still wouldn't be able to come at me and demand I refund somebody after six months?

They will still be able to come after you but they will not be able to take $ from an account that doesn't have any $ in it.

If it is a fraudulent return/scam you can clear it up while keeping your $ during the process. Now if someone wants to return a item 1 day short of 6 months there is very little you can do but return the $ after they return the item.

There is really no way to avoid the scammers. The good part is even with all the horror stories scammers are fairly rare. Back when I was a bigger seller on eBay I just figured 1 out of 100 sales was going to be a problem. Then about 1 out of 10 of them was going to be a real problem. Just the risk you have to take to sell on eBay.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Just open a new new checking/ savings account at any bank. Like eBay IDs you an have as many as you want.

IF you ever had the main account tied to PayPal, they will go after the funds even if it isn't currently attached to your account. It would be better to open a new account that paypal doesn't know about and park most of your money there.

[sportscardtheory]

I would think that PayPal taking funds from your bank/credit account would also give you the right to refute that "charge" through YOUR bank/credit provider, as the fraudster did. As in, do the same thing back to them.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by rats60

IF you ever had the main account tied to PayPal, they will go after the funds even if it isn't currently attached to your account. It would be better to open a new account that paypal doesn't know about and park most of your money there.

I don't think that's legal. If I rescind my permission to access my account they can't just go ahead and access it.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by jbbama

This kind of scenario really sucks, i hate that you have to deal with this BS. Just an FYI for anyone here, NEVER, NEVER, leave large amounts of money in your paypal account. Also, have that account tied to something other than your primary checking or savings account. Yes, paypal can "freeze your account" until resolved, but at least they dont have your money...you do!

This. I have a dedicated checking account tied to PayPal and whenever it has more than a hundred bucks I sweep the excess to a savings account that is not tied into PayPal. If I sell something big that money goes right to the savings account and does not linger in my PayPal account or the dedicated checking account.