Why won't PayPal help?

JLeeFischer
New Community Member

I sent rent funds by accident to @[removed] vs [removed]@email address & by the time I realized the mistake, recipient accepted the fund & won't respond to my msgs to refund. Paypal won't do anything about it b/c they said it was "friends/family" which i selected so that the payee wouldn't have fees w/drawn. Is there no recourse? I don't understand why Paypal won't contact the seller or help. For all I know he isn't even alive and it's just sitting in his PayPal account. Does anyone know if there is a way to seek support? I'm fine with even a partial return of funds, I just am unable to lose a whole month of rent in a foreign country while trying to do humanitarian work abroad. 

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kernowlass
Esteemed Advisor
Esteemed Advisor

@JLeeFischer 

 

A friends / family (or gift payment) is intended as a 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.
However as it is a gift 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 paying his Paypal fees and negates your buyer protection at the same time.

You would also not be able to open a dispute (apart from one citing an unauthorised transaction), which would be automatically closed as you did authorise the initial payment.

Be careful as using that option for purchasing goods is against Paypal rules and can lead to account limitation.


Try emailing the 'wrong' address you sent it to and explain the issue and see if they will refund the funds for you. 
If you funded your Paypal payment via a credit card then contact your card issuer and see if they will help you but unfortunately they may decline as well as it was a gift payment.




Advice is voluntary.
Kudos / Solution appreciated.
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