Pay monthly order cancelled but seller hasnt initiated refund; seller not returning communication

[Watsoned]

Pay monthly order cancelled but seller hasnt initiated refund. Long story short, some time ago I made a purchase with a seller I had done business with before and pre-ordered an item from them. I used the PayPal Pay Monthly option. Some time later, I initiated a refund/cancellation on the item for various reasons (I did not have and still do not have said item). The seller stated they would refund me in late December, then said they would do it on January 15 (I have all of this in email) I have reached out to them several times but they have not responded to any attempt at communication. PayPal doesnt seem to have an option to dispute this purchase due to it being an active Pay Monthly (there are 3 payments left on it). What can I do at this point to get the money back that I was promised?

[kernowlass]

@Watsoned 

When did you order the item?

[Watsoned]

March of last year. Which may be what **bleep** me despite the seller's promise of a refund.

[kernowlass]

@Watsoned 

Unfortunately yes as you only have up to 180 days to open a paypal dispute.

If you funded your paypal payment via a credit card then you could talk to your card issuer and see if they will chargeback for you if its not too late for them as well?

[MartyMack]

This is straight out nonsense.  This should never happen and it is almost 100% preventable.  The main problem?  The seller done spent your money and all he has to do is not answer his damn phone.  It's that simple, the amount is probably to small for anyone else to care and meanwhile your feasting on a plate full of nothing.  And that sucks.  Whats worse? PayPal has no teeth in their bite to protect you.  I wish Paypal would stand up and "SAll we are is a fancy ATM."  There is no consumer protection on The Isle of Paypal.  The Solution?  Simple.  Whenever a consumer makes an online purchase from anyone, Amazon, Ebay, or Joe Smith... The seller cannot touch the money until the item has shipped. The money will sit on a digital hotplate until its scanned and loaded onto delivery services vehicle.  There have been to many times when Ive seen an item that Ihas a great price just to find out later that instead of it being here in2 days, that its now on back order and its going to take 2 weeks.  That's crap. What I've actually done is given a business a zero interest  business  loan.  No more. If a pair of Air Jordans are really available for a great price I want them.  But I'm not going to send some business my money just so they can collect my money and then go shopping.  We need a new bill of rights for online shoppers that seriously punish the thousands of scammers who do this type of nonsense daily! 

[kernowlass]

@MartyMack 

Did you bother reading the original posters post?

The item was a pre-order and they selected the pay monthly option.