Payment dispute after 96 Days?

[brawas73]

I had a buyer who filed a payment dispute outside of eBay for a order that was placed 96 days ago, claiming that the item was not as described. My only response options are accept and refund, or to “provide evidence” which then prompts me to upload a file showing my item was as described. How can I possibly do this when it is my word against theirs?? I accept returns and I respect eBay money back guarantee rules. Is there no timing limitations for external payment disputes?? This item has been in the possession of the buyer for 3 months. How do I beat this abusive buyer?? Thanks in advance 

[coastaltechsolution]

eBay MBG is 30 days BUT this is a dispute the person filed with their financial institution 

Sad to say that some CC will still help the card holder out even after 96 days 

This all depends on you, what was the item worth? are you willing to refund and pay the $20.00 dispute charge when the CC company sides on the card holders side? 

[cstpos]

@brawas73We always just accept the return without arguing with the buyer (which can lead to them intentionally damaging the item). We have our listings set up so that the buyer pays all shipping costs. Once we get the item back, we immediately take pics opening it and of the item (and powered on if applicable). We then issue a refund minus the shipping costs (to  them and the return to us). I know there is no absolute way to prove or disprove an item's condition, but at least we make an effort to honestly document our items.

A buyer has 30 days on ebay and up to 120 days with their credit card bank to dispute a charge. Once they open a dispute with the credit card bank, ebay can no longer be involved, other than being the selling platform and for you and the buyer to communicate.

If you get the item back and they have damaged it, make sure you report them to ebay. Add them to your Blocked Buyer List. There is also an option on the refund portion to deduct because your item was missing parts etc.  I would still reply to the claim of INAD and upload the ONE picture you're given to show all the info you can provide to back up your claim. It is sad that ebay ties our hands and sets such ridiculous limitations on allowing sellers to defend their position. Neither ebay nor the banks want to offend a paying customer, even the unethical ones.

Remember - if you issue a partial refund, ebay will keep the entire Final Value Fee amount. If you issue a total refund, they will refund your fees minus $.30. So you have to consider if the shipping costs (which you might end up paying anyway if the buyer continues to dispute) outweigh the cost of the ebay FVF. If ebay steps in to help resolve a dispute and you lose (which you probably will) they can also charge you a $20.00 dispute fee. They really stack the deck in favor of dishonest buyers. I wish I had better news for you -  it's galling to be taken advantage of, but also a part of doing business. Be sure to check that your fees are credited to your account if that's how you decide to proceed. Best of luck.

[eleanor*rigby]

---

@brawas73 wrote:

Is there no timing limitations for external payment disputes??

---

If the buyer paid through PayPal, they have 180 days to request a refund for a purchase. If s/he used a credit card, or funded his/her PayPal account with a credit card, s/he is bound by the terms of that credit card issuer regarding -"chargebacks." Federal law requires credit card issuers to offer a minimum of 60 days from the date of the statement on which the charge for that item appears, but some cards allow a year and some have no limit whatsoever. 

[gjs_16]

---

@cstpos wrote:

@brawas73We always just accept the return without arguing with the buyer (which can lead to them intentionally damaging the item). We have our listings set up so that the buyer pays all shipping costs. Once we get the item back, we immediately take pics opening it and of the item (and powered on if applicable). We then issue a refund minus the shipping costs (to  them and the return to us). I know there is no absolute way to prove or disprove an item's condition, but at least we make an effort to honestly document our items.

Remember - if you issue a partial refund, ebay will keep the entire Final Value Fee amount. If you issue a total refund, they will refund your fees minus $.30. So you have to consider if the shipping costs (which you might end up paying anyway if the buyer continues to dispute) outweigh the cost of the ebay FVF. If ebay steps in to help resolve a dispute and you lose (which you probably will) they can also charge you a $20.00 dispute fee. 

---

I do not wish to argue with you, however wouldn't eaby keep their fees regardless since it's the bank's case?  I realize eaby will kick the money over to the bank but they take that from the seller so eaby is just a middleman here.

I do agree that accepting the return for refund is likely the best option.

[katzrul15]

A poster on here a while back indicated they assembled all their data and narrative reply and took a picture of the screen and data and uploaded the file in order to prevail.

Have not tried what they described - tried to find that thread this morning and could not, even though it was recent.

You are correct, it is unfair.

Was this shipped to  freight forwarder by chance?  If yes, there might be a way to assist.  Where was this shipped?  Did you google the address?

[caldreamer]

Sorry this happened to you.   Scammers have figured out way to keep your item and your money.

If you dispute claim and lose you will be charged extra $20 fee and receive defect on your account.   Rarely can you win "credit card dispute".

[donsdetour]

Information needed to fight such a claim: description of item: addy sent to with phone number: Tracking, if signature confirmation that also: Note some tracking is not stored for long enough. so screen shots showing delivered: use the site that shipping is from not ebays:

Usually will show the zip and delivered... Serial numbers if possible: You get to make a collage of all of this info to send 1 photo to them... Ebay and managed payments way of scamming the seller protection.

As for item was not as described,

return for refund: which will most likly never be returned and you forced to refund.   Remember CC has up to 180 days to do such on...  Of course the seller has no way to block payments that use CC....

Welcome to the new eBay, by listing you give items away with free shipping on top of that;.....

Do not forget to place the user on your blocked bidders list..

Note: if no return when you requested it,  file fraud and theft with law enforcement.

[eleanor*rigby]

---

@cstpos wrote:

A buyer has . . . up to 120 days with their credit card bank to dispute a charge.

---

That's incorrect, as far as an across-the-board statement goes. American Express, for example, imposes no time limit on their card members in regard to chargebacks. Discover does not impose a strict time limit on customer chargebacks. Both cards are acceptable payment options for eBay purchasers.

If a buyer has paid via a PayPal account, s/he has 180 days to file for a return/refund INAD request.

[donsdetour]

thanks for the info:

I do remember a long time ago with folks getting hit like over a year later...

Have not seen them lately...

[lilbama911]

Chargebacks are always problematic because as the seller, you will never know the underlying reason as to why your buyer waited 3 months and some days to initiate a chargeback, claiming item not as described.   Did this buyer leave you glowing feedback?  Not as described can  be ambiguous, i.e., was the item damaged, defective, fake, or misrepresented in the listing?   Chargeback buyers need to offer specific details, otherwise, sellers will always lose chargeback disputes.  Also, where is your item after 3 months and some days?  

You could argue that if your buyer was not happy with their purchase, any reasonable buyer would not have waited 3 months and some days alleging "Item Not As Described" in a chargeback.  Therefore how can you upload supporting evidence that your "Item was not mispresented in the listing but was described correctly when you don't know what the buyer mean by "Item Not As Described", or do you?.

Was the item new or preowned, in a box or open box, electronics or merchandise?  What exactly did the buyer purchase from you?  Let us know.

[pjcdn2005]

With a payment dispute outside of eBay sellers are not being given an option to accept a return.   They can either refund or fight it.  Fighting usually doesn’t go well.

[eleanor*rigby]

---

@pjcdn2005 wrote:

With a payment dispute outside of eBay sellers are not being given an option to accept a return.   They can either refund or fight it.  Fighting usually doesn’t go well.

---

I thought PayPal gave an option to return. Has that changed? I've not noticed anything in their updates, but I could have easily overlooked it . . .

[digital_signature]

Item shipped more than 6 months ago. Got a positive feedback stating that "Item as described". More than 6 months later buyer opens a dispute with his cc company, First reason it said "transaction not found". eBay does not keep the transaction details over 6 months. Then the buyer's reason changed to "item not as described". Provided all the details to eBay with the details including the positive feedback I received. 

Today the dispute decision says I need to pay him the item cost of the product plus dispute fee of $20. What did I do wrong here? So anyone can dispute any item at anytime. And eBay will fetch the money and give it to buyer. What kind of business it this. So Seller loses in every dispute. eBay seller protect is just a myth.

Lost the item, lost the money and paid $20 additional.

Trying to get answers from law firms to see I can file a law suit.

[lakeland_music]

Let me know how that goes.  I'd be happy to throw my hat in the ring.  Their business practices are borderline criminal at this point.