Buyer doesn't pay then sends fake echeque but eBay closes case!

[kustomizer99]

Has this happened to anyone else?

A buyer didn't pay for an item and made no response, so after 10 days I opened an unpaid item dispute.

The buyer then issued a PayPal eCheque and eBay recorded the payment as received, even though it would take several days for the funds to clear.

I've been informed by PayPal today that this eCheque has failed and they have cancelled the transaction. There is however no record in PayPal of the dispute ever even occurring, as if they've just erased it.

But even worse is that Ebay still consider the 'payment' to have been made, and I cannot reopen an unpaid item dispute. When I try to do so, I simply get told that the case is closed and I can't proceed any further in contacting anyeone at Ebay about it.

What the heck do I do next? Is anyone else tired of these time-wasting, inept loopholes for scammers?!?!

[kustomizer99]

hi digital*ghost,

Yes, on My Ebay it was marked as 'payment made' and I also received a notification saying that the dispute was closed due the buyer 'paying'.

I then checked my PP account to find it had zero balance and that the so-called eCheque would take several days to clear. Not sure how that constitutes a 'payment'.

I've never actually had an 'eCheque' before -- and looks like I didn't get one this time either!

[digital*ghost]

Unfortunately, I don't have much to say (or offer as help) except hmm, interesting. :8} (Just because your case was closed automatically and mine wasn't  - I wonder if it was an anomaly or there was something else that made a difference ?:|). I can understand the reluctance to call, but I would be doing so (especially if the FVF wasn't something to scoff at), since the error was theirs. 

[kustomizer99]

This is the message I received from eBay as soon as the eCheque 'payemtn was made last week:

'Your unpaid item casewas closed because your buyer paid for the
item. Please ship the item now and mark it as shipped in My eBay.'

Well, lucky I didn't follow their directions!

And this is what I heard from PayPal this morning:

'An eCheque payment from xxxxxx could not be processed from the sender's bank. Please do not post any items. We have canceled this transaction and advise that you contact the sender to make new payment arrangements.'

So yes, there's obviously a glitch somewhere, and I hope for an early resolution to it.

[patchoo78]

People have been reporting PayPal glitches lately, might have something to do with it. 

Either that or the buyer didn't have enough money in their account and it was rejected

[kustomizer99]

'People have been reporting PayPal glitches lately, might have something to do with it. 

 Either that or the buyer didn't have enough money in their account and it was rejected'

It seems like a bit of both. I wouldn't have a problem with the buyer if he sincerely meant to pay but is having trouble, but his complete lack of response leads me to think he has no intention of paying and may have tried to trick me into sending the item thinking his eCheque would be good.

Anyway, let this be a cautionary tale - -just because eBay tells you it's OK to go ahead and post something, that doesn't mean it is.

[janeababe]

Have you tried contacting the buyer, to see if they can pay again? An e-cheque can take up to 7 days to take cleared funds from the bank account of the buyer, so its possible that when paypal tried to take the $$, there wasnt any there.

Otherwise, a quick call to Paypal is whats next on the list IMO.

Good luck 🙂

[kustomizer99]

Hi! Thanks jane.... yes, I've contacted the buyer a few times but he's never responded. He only issued the echeque after I started a dispute, but even then he didn't actually say anything to me.

When the echeque went in last week, it said it would be cleared by Jan 28, but then on the 28th I was notified by PP that it 'bounced'.

I've contacted the buyer again, politely, I doubt I'll ever hear back though.

[*new2vintage]

You really need to phone Paypal and persist with this until it's hopefully resolved. Also phone ebay and tell them you'll send a copy of the Paypal email to them. Even if you need to spend a while on the phone it should be much quicker than communicating via emails.

[2106greencat]

hi digital*ghost,

Yes, on My Ebay it was marked as 'payment made' and I also received a notification saying that the dispute was closed due the buyer 'paying'.

I then checked my PP account to find it had zero balance and that the so-called eCheque would take several days to clear. Not sure how that constitutes a 'payment'.

I've never actually had an 'eCheque' before -- and looks like I didn't get one this time either!

OP - depending on the date of the e-chq it may still clear, I have had some take up to 7 days. Does not explain the 'payment received' dilemma and I would definitely be calling PP if funds aren't available in a couple more days.

[syrupsmummy]

There has been a problem in communication between eBay and PayPal when eCheque is cancelled. It's not new thing. It's been like that since I started to sell.

When eCheque is cleared PayPal will automatically let eBay know and eBay will show the item is paid.

But when eCheque is cancelled for whatever the reason is PayPal won't let eBay know. So eBay keep showing payment pending.

So I always check PayPal account if eCheque doesn't clear within 8 days to see if it's cancelled.

Fortunately all cancelled eCheque buyers paid after I contacted them letting them know their eCheque was cancelled. So I've never be in the situation OP is in.

I would ring eBay (not email) and ask someone to fix it up.