Service Not Provided - Paid Via Direct Debit - Dispute

[Mkoll]

Dear all,

I paid for a service from [a company] to provide an internship and acommodation in China. It was advertised on their website that a certain type of accomodation was available and then was confirmed to me by one of their advisors. After I have been given an internship + paid them on Paypal + booked my flights I was then told that this accomodation had never been available.

This meant my costs were much much higher than they were meant to be. I have disputed the transaction but I am now worried that because it was a service that it isn't covered by the Paypal protection and that because I used a Direct Debit I have no protection if paypal does not rule in my favour.

Does anyone know whether I can cancel the Direct Debit for non-delivery of services from my Bank Account? I don't know what to do. Any help would be appreciated!

[kernowlass]

You are right there is no buyer protection for services so you have a few alternatives.

If the payment is marked as completed then paypal have paid the seller for you and are in the process of uploading your funds to paypal so cancelling the direct debit may put your account into negative until you pay them back.

You could try filing a dispute for item received but not as described as this is the nearest option BUT if the seller does not refund (and some companies will as they don't want paypal listing them as bad sites), then if they don't refund paypal won't as it was not covered by buyer protection.

Lastly if it was a UK company then contact them and state that under distance selling laws they should refund you for misrepresentation and if they don't you have the option of the small claims court.

The motto is always fund paypal payments with a c.c.       

[Mkoll]

Thanks kernowlass. Yea I know, going to have to set DC or CC as primary source (DC has same protection as CC in the UK). Why would anyone set DD as a primary funding source now?? (Can't believe I have to start with).

I just wondered if I could tell my bank that I didn't receive the goods from the company and get them to reverse the transaction (which I've done before). I've already disputed the transaction but the deadline for a claim is in 3 days and the seller just refuses or doesn't communicate.

No they're not a UK company I thought they were but as soon as I started having trouble I checked with companies house (UK company listing) and couldn't find them as I was thinking of using the Small Claims Court. No idea where they are based but I'm going to guess I'm not going to find out. I just wondered if I get the bank to refund the payment will Paypal treat it as a Chargeback or will they come after me to get the money back.

Cheers Again.

[Mkoll]

Just an update to those interested (I will also post on the outcome of the claim). The seller actually implicates themselves by admitting the did falsely advertise on the paypal resolution centre communications. I'd see this as a good sign for the claim response from paypal.

Considering they have said they falsely advertised this should be an easy decision for paypal. I have saved the conversation/communications on the paypal resolution centre just in case I need to refer back to any of them.