I feel so silly, but i put a ad on Gumtree the other day asking for any one selling a I phone 5s for my Daughter for Christmas. I got a reply from a Lady Called Louise saying she was selling one for £130.00. She sent me photos but she didnt live local so i said i would send money via pay pal, she said send via friends and family as she wont get charged pay pal fees. Sent the money and she replied saying she had it and asked for my postal address. I sent her the address, than she replied saying that pay pal would only issuse her £22.00. She said she would refund me and asked me to make a bank transfer. To which i said ok. Anyways i checked no refunded. So i sent her a message saying i hadn't recieved it and she tells me pay pal have said it will take 3-5 days to be back in my account. She than said if i bank transfer her £80 now she will post it out and i can keep the rest of the refunded money, to which i said cancel the refund you made to me and i will send you a request for the £130.00. I did this and she just cancelled the request and is now not replying to any of my mails. The worse thing is i can't open a dipute because i sent via friends and family. What is the world coming to i am now down £130.00 and have no i phone 5s for my daughter for christmas. Can any one help is there any way off getting my money back????
A “gift” or “personal” payments are intended as transfer of funds from family or friends to one another. For this reason, there is no processing fee when payment is made with bank or PayPal balance.
On the other hand, as it is a “personal” payment, there is also no Buyer protection as no goods or services should have been exchanged.
If he was not a close mate or family member you should never use that option as it enables the seller to evade his paypal fees and negates your buyer protection at the same time.
Scam sellers often ask for payment that way as they know this.
Your only hope is if you funded your paypal payment via a credit card then contact your card issuer and see if they will help you.
Advice is voluntary. Kudos / Solution appreciated.
Thanks for the reply looks like i am down £130.00 omg can't believe i have been scammed i didnt no you was unprotected if you send via friends and family i just throught i was doing them a favour so they got the full amount. Will NOT be doing that again for any one looks like its a lesson learnt the hard way.
There are some real nasty people out there who will try everything to get something for nothing out of decent hard working people like yourself. Unfortunately if you pay money as a 'gift' or via friends and family, there is no comeback. If I was in a situation, I would rather add 2.5% on top of the agreed price so they still get their agreed money! but at least I would have backup if things went wrong.
