Tell HN: Another PayPal Farce - Refunds my money to customer
I received an email from Paypal over a week ago which states that they've decided to open an investigation of their own accord into a transaction of mine and that they require more information from me. I explained the transaction and that the buyer was furnished with a calling card code which they can use to place calls overseas in exchange for the payment made.
Today I receive the outcome of PayPal's decision. They decide to reverse the transaction and refund the customer. They provide no reasons for the decision they've made (which seems to be pretty standard for them based on what I've read).
So now the money's gone and I can't resell the calling card code either. Great.
So I write a complaint to PayPal:
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To: PAYPAL
You have decided to reverse the transaction on this case:
Inquiry by PayPal - Case ID: PP-001-*
for transaction ID: 6VB
Can you please explain your decision?
I explained previously to you when the investigation was opened that in exchange for the payment the buyer made, the buyer was sent a Calling Card Code.
This same buyer has made the same purchase on two previous occasions over the course of a year as you can see from the following transaction codes:
8TK6 9PD3
Yet you have decided for no apparent reason to investigate and reverse the third transaction.
You have arbitrarily opened an investigation into a regular transaction and have created for me an unnecessary cost of time, effort and money. Furthermore, you have damaged my reputation to a repeat customer of mine.
I request that you reconsider the said case and explain your decision.
Richard
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I emailed the buyer as well and he's decided to pay again for the previous transaction ;)
The way PayPal treats its customers baffles me sometimes. If it has a legitimate reason to open an investigation and concludes that the transaction is wrong/fraudulent or whatever, then it should state its reasons rather than leave its customers in the dark.