Not refunded yet? WHAT TO DO NEXT

[AliGardiner]

File Complaints against PayPal: Who to Contact in the UK
Please DO NOT underestimate the power of filing complaints. They will get PayPal's attention because they must be answered. If you file enough of them, you just might get the result that you were looking for.
The alternative to NOT filing complaints against PayPal is to let PayPal keep your money until they decide when and how you get it back -- if you get it back. In this case, doing SOMETHING is better than doing nothing.
TIP: Links to all the mentioned contacts are provided below. Click on the name of the contact or click on the "HERE" to be taken to your contact point!
(1) A good first place to start is Consumer Direct.
You can find a link to their site HERE. They cover a wide variety of consumer complaints as well as free advice on how to proceed with your complaint. They are the FIRST stop you should make when considering a complaint against PayPal.
(2) Contact the FSA.
As mentioned in the introduction, PayPal is now a licensed bank in the European Union -- of which the United Kingdom is a member. In the United Kingdom, The FSA (Financial Services Authority) regulates all banks allowed to operate in your country. You can find a link HERE.
On their main page, to the far right, you will see a button named CONSUMER INFORMATION. That is where you want to start. NOTE: I know some persons are still angry PayPal got backing from the FSA a few years back -- but that was before PayPal was a licensed bank!
NOTE: Do not be misled. The fact that PayPal moved its headquarters out of the UK DOES NOT MEAN they are no longer subject to FSA authority. PayPal is STILL SUBJECT to FSA authority!
PayPal (Europe):
Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in
the United Kingdom as an electronic money institution. PayPal FSA
Register Number: 226056
(3) Contact eConsumer.
This is a joint program run by over 21 countries to resolve online complaints and fight against consumer fraud. You can find a link to them HERE.
(4) There is also Trading Standards Central.
This is a one stop shop for consumer protection information in the United Kingdom. You can find a link HERE.
(5) Contact your European Union parliament member.
He or she can advise you about proceeding with a complaint against PayPal for violation of Directive 2005/29/EC The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive.
(6) Contact your Member of Parliament.
You would be surprised about how willing they are to help their constituents. At a minimum, they will be able to provide you with specific and voluminous information on where and how you can file complaints regarding PayPal Europe.
THE LINKS WILL NOT WORK IN THIS POST. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT - DO NOT RING THEM. PUT IT ALL IN WRITING SO YOU HAVE A COPY READY FOR ANY COMPLAINTS TO THE FCA. FOR EVERY COMPLAINT THE OMBUDSMAN HAS TO GET INVOLVED IN IT WILL COST PAYPAL AROUND £500.
I HAVE NOTIFIED BBC WATCHDOG AND INTEND TO NOTIFY ALL THE LARGE TABLOIDS. PAYPAL ARE GOVERNED WITHIN THE UK AND HAVE TO ADHERE TO UK AND EUROPEAN LAW. THEY TOOK ON BANK STATUS SOME YEARS AGO AND ARE GOVERNED BY THE FCA.
THEY OWE ME £311.00 AND HAVE BEEN WAITING FAR TOO LONG NOW. IF THE COMPANY WAS REPUTABLE AND HONEST OTHER BANKING ORGANISATIONS WOULD BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY WERENT BUT ARE NOW !
If your systems have failed paypal then get cheque writing !

[kernowlass]

@joan9

Firstly you have NO paypal buyer protection if you use the friends / family option to pay AND you risk your paypal account being limited as its against paypal rules to assist a seller to evade their paypal fee by paying using that option.

Secondly  >>

When you send a bank funded Instant Transfer payment, two things happen simultaneously:

- PayPal sends a request to your bank for the funds for the transaction. It takes 3-7 business days for funds to come from your bank. Those funds can't do a u-turn as they start to process the minute you authorise payment.

- PayPal pays the seller up front for you, instantly, so that the seller will not delay in processing your order.

When refund or cancellation occurs for that payment within a few days of it being sent, the funds that PayPal paid up front for you are returned.

However, the funds from your bank account are still in transit. They haven't reached your PayPal account yet.

As soon as those funds clear, they are available for you to use or withdraw.