Paid The Wrong Person

[cosmicfolklore]

I sold some of my work at a gallery show using Paypal this last weekend, and for the first time ever, Paypal put a hold on my account with $1200 in there. I got off the phone with them last night furious, because they told me that since each purchase was so high (jewelry, go figure) that they would have to hold the funds for 90 days... during Christmas... so... I guess I will just have to wait till Easter to buy presents. The service person at Paypal learned a few new expletives on my behalf. :?

 

[mawnansmiff]

I recently purchased some baccy from a forum member using Paypal. Yet despite sending the money as a gift a £7 charge was slapped on at his end!
Obviously I will reimburse the member but I really do think it is a scam.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[ssjones]

@Cosmic - I just read a similar incident on a watch forum. That person was eventually reach some at Paypal who released the funds. It seems that jewelry is seen a bit differently than other sale items.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Thanks, Al, I was on the phone for about an hour. I was passed from one wrong person to the next. I wish I knew exactly who I needed to talk to. I sure could use that money.

 

[texmexpipe]

Great news, thanks for closing that one up for all of us!

 

[bryguysc]

Glad it worked out for you in the end.

A couple months back, I made my first large(ish) sale via PayPal and had to endure a hold.

 

[sajgre]

Great outcome for OP!

I think it is outrageous that they can hold money for 90days. That is stealing.

I got 6000$ on my PayPal account and all they did was demand some documents to additionally proof it is my account.

 

[crashthegrey]

I am really happy to hear that it worked out. I get nervous every single time that this could happen. Even if you copy and paste, what happens if they spelled their email wrong? I am seriously beginning to doubt the benefits of paying friends and family now.

 

[aam79]

Paypal sucks. If you are a vendor use Square or something they charge less fees anyway. Paypal is also anti 2nd amendment and will / have refused business and held money of companies they suspect of selling gun related products. And as much as I feel for artisans and small vendors getting stuck with fees don't use the friends and family to avoid them because for one you open yourself up to not having any protection as the OP found out, and eventually the seller will get caught and if it's your transaction that it happens on you might never see your purchase, or possibly your money again.
To the OP I'm happy to hear that the person on the other end was an honest person and returned your money, I guess there are a few good people left in the world.

 

[wyfbane]

Glad you got your dough back!

 

[woodsroad]

A Happy Ending. Isn't that just what we all want?

 

[fitzy]

That's ridiculous they wouldn't cancel the transaction. I'm glad you got your money back.

 

[mso489]

shain', great ending to the story! I think you had mostly written off the money, assuming too many recipients would pocket the proceeds and stay mum. Great to hear there are still a good many people out there who look at a windfall and ask, is it mine? Commendable. I hope people have the sense to hire that guy and promote him. Or her.

 

[tschiraldi]

Some paypal users have it set up to automatically accept the payment. If this is the case, you cannot cancel the transaction. If they don't have it set to automatically accept, then you can cancel until they accept the payment manually.

 

[disinformatique]

@Cosmic It is illegal for Paypal in India to hold any funds more than 24 hours. They are automatically withdrawn to your account after the 24 hour period.

 

[thomasw]

I am very pleased it worked out for the OP.
I am very careful about using paypal especially with other private individuals; send the $ as payment for a good/service without fail. In addition, it is in certain specific cases by far the most convenient manner for me to do commerce. It is the only way I can buy northwoods and premium burley from Boswell's; and that fact alone justifies it. But their fees and money transfer holding policies are heavy-handed. Can anyone recommend an alternative to paypal?

 

[ophiuchus]

Not my recommendation, just my choice ... I stopped doing business though PayPal. They may improve with age.
EDIT: I don't mean to say people shouldn't use PayPal. Just out of my comfort level, I guess.

 

[shaintiques]

I have never had a problem with PayPal before this one. And it was my mistake, but there should be an option to cancel somehow. it worked out but I will be more careful next time.

 

[mso489]

PayPal is no one's pal, more like a necessary evil, and often not so necessary.

 

[sasquatch]

I love paypal. Gives me flexible options as a merchant, I'm a verified user so they don't hold my money (and 1200 goes in and out of my pp like butta!). I feel I'm protected as a buyer and a seller. Is it perfect? No. But there's ways around all the things it's not perfect for (send an invoice instead of mis-typing an email with money attached).
I can buy briar in Italy and Greece, I can buy rods from Germany. I can order a goddam guitar from New York and the thing shows up at my house a week later. Like, whaddya want, Scoob?