HI All,
I need some advice on this please.
I have sold two brand new iPhones. I had the Ad. on Gumtree and the buyer contacted me via SMS and offered to buy both phones and he asked to pay via Paypal. His story was that he would come to check out the phones and then ask his "business partner" to transfer the money. He then came to pick up the phones and sent SMS to his partner, the money came through ($75 less as Paypal charged me for the transaction). I then handed over the money and moved the funds to my bank account.
Few days later I received email from Paypal saying the buyer contacted them and he claims that we agreed to ship the phones to him once he makes the transfer and he hasn't received the phones yet. After long and painful series of emails and calls and providing the Gumtree Ad that shows that I mentioned pickup item in my ad, Paypal eventually closed the case in my favour.
Few days later i received another email telling me that the buyer filed a case with the credit card company and the CC company has issued a chargeback and they will try to dispute it on my behalf. A few days after, the CC company has closed the case for the buyer favour and charged back the amount and Paypal put the negative balance on my account.
It has been really devastating experience and saddening to see how people making frauds as their full time job.
I have dealt with PayPal not with the CC company, and Paypal close the case in my favour I don't see how they can pass the charge back to me. It should be between Paypal and the CC company, isn't it?!!
Do you have proof of purchase?
File a police report of stolen iphones, contact apple and have the IMEI blocked.
Essentially force the buyer to cough up or return the goods.