Filing Mail Fraud Against Buyer

[catscratch9]

Anyone ever filed mail fraud charges against a buyer, and is it worth the effort?

Here’s the dirt: Buyer won an expensive item in a multiple-bid auction. She sent immediate payment via PP. She also sent thank-you emails. The item was shipped insured, signature required, and was received by buyer at confirmed shipping address. More thank-you email in my eBay message center, plus pos. feedback. One month later, no warning, buyer files chargeback. Credit card co. claims unauthorized charge. What? OK, I have all my documentation, including SC. PP says this should be an easy resolution, however, after reading tales of woe on these boards, I’m less confident.

Here’s the question: If after say, 30 days, I want to light a fire under someone’s behind (because I refuse to allow CC to spin this out for 75-90 days) should I file a mail fraud charge? After all, buyer is trying to keep goods and money, and the PO was used in the transaction. Or, do I have to wait until chargeback is actually finalized? I have met postal inspectors, and they are scary dudes. If they showed up at my door, I would get my business straightened out- I think it could be very motivating for my buyer, and she deserves it. Does anyone have any experience with this?

[PayPal_Andy]

catscratch9-  Well...you pose an interesting question.  Here's my personal thoughts, take them as you will.  PayPal is working on your behalf to recover the funds.  From what you're saying, it does sound like you have a pretty slam dunk case.  Of course, I don't have specifics, but knowing how we work chargebacks, what you have should be perfect.  But of course, the credit card company makes the final determination. 

Personally, I would wait until the chargeback is complete. Yes it typically takes 75-80 days for a resolution, but I'd hate to start what amounts to a criminal investigation when it's not decided if I'm going to get my money or not.  Afterward, if the card company comes back and says that they're siding with the buyer, then I'd pursue every possible avenue to try and get what's mine.

But it's your choice.  I'd hate for you to sic the mail authorities on the buyer, they tell their credit card, then the credit card finds against you out of spite or something.  And by no means am I implying that that would happen. Again, just my thoughts on the matter. 🙂

Andy

[ezdude9]

same as my story. paypal will simply take your money and also charge an additional fee for fighting the case on your behalf. I have been an 8+ year paypal user/seller and just learned the lesson that paypal seller protection is only good until buyer files a chargeback with credit card.

let me know how to file a 'mail fraud' against buyer.  maybe i should try that route as well

[catscratch9]

I believe that you can file a claim online with the US Postal Inspectors, but I'm only at stage one of researching. I don't think they'll resolve business issues, but they will investigate patterns of fraud. I'm thinking that just having these guys show up at the door would get the garden-variety scuzzies to think twice.