1. I sold some camera equipment on eBay in October 2019. Buyer paid by PayPal. Everyone happy with the transaction. 2. I get a notification in January that the buyer has disputed the transaction. I contact the buyer to remind him what the transaction was for. He agrees, and says that he just didn't recognise the transaction on his bank statement. He then contacted his bank to say that it was a valid transaction after all. I contact PayPal via their Dispute website portal to say the same thing. All communications between me and the buyer are logged on eBay messaging system. 3. I get notification in February that PayPal have issued a chargeback on my account for the full amount plus a fine of £14. I contact PayPal immediately to enquire why the chargeback was made despite the transaction being valid. They ask me to email <removed> with the Dispute reference and jpg copies of the communications between me and the buyer which prove that the transaction is valid. They say not to worry and that they will contact the buyer's bank with this evidence. I get no confirmation of emailed information that I sent to PayPal. 4. A week later I get notification that the case has been closed. This now means that I am unable to contact anyone in PayPal by phone to discuss my case. 5. I start get chased frequently by PayPal debt recovery - a most arrogant unhelpful bunch threatening me with debt collectors. Very stressful. 6. I raise a formal complaint using PayPal's online form. I submit conclusive evidence that the transaction was valid and that the buyer is happy. No acknowledgement received. 7. A week after raising the complaint I manage to talk to someone at PayPal. They 'cannot access the complaints system' but they promise to contact someone who will contact me to update me on progress that day orr the next. No such contact was made with me. 8. I've been in contact with the original buyer throughout. He has paid me the £14 as a gesture of goodwill. His bank has taken the original money back out of his account and claim that they have repaid it to PayPal. 9. So it seems that my money is either with PayPal or the buyer's bank, and both the buyer and I are out of pocket. It also seems that I am unable to contact anyone at PayPal to resolve the situation. They buyer has also contacted both PayPal and his bank who are blaming each other. So what can I do now? A claim with the FSA? Hope someone could provide some advice. Many thanks Richard
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