Paypal: Buyer Beware!

[Onlooker]

Just want to share with you a situation and urge you to be careful if you use Paypal.

In September, I won an Ebay auction for an antique Chinese bed. I was told by the seller, a Western company based in China, that it would take about 2 months before I received the bed.

About a week ago, they were ready to ship it, but notified me that Paypal had not released my funds. I contacted Paypal, who told me that the funds had been moved into the seller's account, but the account was locked until unspecified issues with the seller were resolved.

Paypal has refused to release my money or refund my money, and they never even told me that something was going on (in which case I could have tried to take advantage of both Ebay and Paypal's 30 day protection schemes).

I'm going to have to go to small claims court to try to get the money back (over $1000!), but I also filed a complaint with the FTC and will file an online complaint with the FBI. I'm also taking guesses at the email addresses of various officers of Paypal and Ebay and trying to communicate with them directly.

Whatever issues Paypal has with the seller should have no bearing on my money. They should either give my money to the seller or return it to me. Instead, in effect, they have stolen it.

[pink_poodle]

1. Ever since eBay took over PayPal, it's been one problem after..........

another. I signed on to PayPal on it's second day of operation and loved the system!!! When Ebay took over recently, it all went to hell. Ebay are such creeps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck. I wish I could suggest something.

[hlthe2b]

2. Wow...

Please keep us posted on how this gets resolved. Good luck!