What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? WI
I sold an Apple Macbook on ebay in approximately March 2011 for approximately $2100. The buyer (via secure ebay message) paid the full amount via paypal and also requested overnight shipping. I informed her that I could ship overnight but it would cost an additional $19. I invoiced her and she paid the additional $19. I shipped the product to the confirmed address on her paypal account which read something like (for example purposes only):
120 S Eighth St
Houston, TX 11111
Approximately 2-3 days later, the buyer emailed to say the product didnt arrive and asked me to check on it. The USPS tracking website stated "No such address, returning to sender". I informed her and she said "Oh, I'm sorry, the address is correct but the city is _____ (another nearby city). Can you redirect it?".
I spoke with the postmaser and when the package arrived back at my home post office, they redirected it and shipped it to (for example):
120 S Eighth St
City Y, TX 11112
The USPS shipping indicates the package was delivered to the second city. Approximately a month later, I was informed there was a dispute on paypal that this person never received the computer. I spoke with paypal and they informed me that a credit card chargeback and had been filed and I did not qualify for their seller protection policy because I did not ship EXACTLY to the confirmed paypal address. I spoke with the paypal representative and pled that the confirmed paypal address DID NOT EXIST, and I shipped it to exactly what was indicated, only with a different city. I questioned how could a confirmed address not exist?. He stated that he was going to reward the $19 charge to me because that showed the address I shipped it to in the notes, and he thought I did the reasonable thing in reshipping it like that. I asked paypal if I could provide email copies, tracking information, etc to support my case when they defend me (I was not able to defend myself in the CC chargeback due to paypal policy), and I was told to email it in.
However, a few weeks later (Approximately July), I was informed that I had lost both chargeback disputes and now had an approximately $2,100 negative balance and my account was frozen until it was paid in full. At that point, frustrated and upset, I just stopped using paypal and wrote the account off in my mind. Occasionally they would send me an email saying they are trying to reach me to correct my negative balance and I would delete it. Today, I received a letter from a collections agency about this balance.
Is there anything I can do? Should I bite the bullet and pay the amount? Is it worth engaging a lawyer? I'm sure paypal has their terms structured in a way that I need to play an appeal by their rules, which I don't feel I would get a fair shot at.
Any advice is appreciated!
I sold an Apple Macbook on ebay in approximately March 2011 for approximately $2100. The buyer (via secure ebay message) paid the full amount via paypal and also requested overnight shipping. I informed her that I could ship overnight but it would cost an additional $19. I invoiced her and she paid the additional $19. I shipped the product to the confirmed address on her paypal account which read something like (for example purposes only):
120 S Eighth St
Houston, TX 11111
Approximately 2-3 days later, the buyer emailed to say the product didnt arrive and asked me to check on it. The USPS tracking website stated "No such address, returning to sender". I informed her and she said "Oh, I'm sorry, the address is correct but the city is _____ (another nearby city). Can you redirect it?".
I spoke with the postmaser and when the package arrived back at my home post office, they redirected it and shipped it to (for example):
120 S Eighth St
City Y, TX 11112
The USPS shipping indicates the package was delivered to the second city. Approximately a month later, I was informed there was a dispute on paypal that this person never received the computer. I spoke with paypal and they informed me that a credit card chargeback and had been filed and I did not qualify for their seller protection policy because I did not ship EXACTLY to the confirmed paypal address. I spoke with the paypal representative and pled that the confirmed paypal address DID NOT EXIST, and I shipped it to exactly what was indicated, only with a different city. I questioned how could a confirmed address not exist?. He stated that he was going to reward the $19 charge to me because that showed the address I shipped it to in the notes, and he thought I did the reasonable thing in reshipping it like that. I asked paypal if I could provide email copies, tracking information, etc to support my case when they defend me (I was not able to defend myself in the CC chargeback due to paypal policy), and I was told to email it in.
However, a few weeks later (Approximately July), I was informed that I had lost both chargeback disputes and now had an approximately $2,100 negative balance and my account was frozen until it was paid in full. At that point, frustrated and upset, I just stopped using paypal and wrote the account off in my mind. Occasionally they would send me an email saying they are trying to reach me to correct my negative balance and I would delete it. Today, I received a letter from a collections agency about this balance.
Is there anything I can do? Should I bite the bullet and pay the amount? Is it worth engaging a lawyer? I'm sure paypal has their terms structured in a way that I need to play an appeal by their rules, which I don't feel I would get a fair shot at.
Any advice is appreciated!