Consumer complaint received 2018-05-31
Company: Paypal Holdings, Inc
State: FL
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Other banking product or service
Issue: Problem caused by your funds being low
Sub-issue: Bounced checks or returned payments

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX I sold a very nice XXXX XXXX automatic watch on XXXX. I shipped the watch and shortly after I was notified of delivery, I was notified that the buyer was filing a claim with his card company that there was a duplicate payment made. PayPal then froze those funds of {$780.00}. I was outraged. I spend many, many hours trying to reach the buyer, calling XXXX and PayPal. Both XXXX and PayPal confirmed that there was only a single payment received. I had no idea what the basis in this claim could be. The buyer never responded to my messages and I began to worry about fraud. I have never seen any evidence that support this claim. I thought surely PayPal could make some calls and resolve the issue quickly. I repeatedly asked if I could be part of a conference call with the card company representative and I was told that it didn't work that way and the call could not happen. After 3 days I was finally able to have PayPal return the funds since they knew there was no basis for the claim. It was a very traumatic few days. 

I am having very serious financial issues as I am trying to conduct a business XXXX XXXX XXXX   largely on XXXX. A major cost to me is storage unit cost. I have been issued a letter of intent to foreclose on a house I have lived in since XXXX after a 37 year XXXX XXXX XXXX. I had to refinance in XXXX to cover cost of a divorce. I retired in XXXX. So Tuesday night XX/XX/XXXX I needed to move money from PayPal for recent XXXX sales to cover cost of storage unit, I had about {$240.00} earlier in the day. When I logged in I was shocked to discover a deficit of about {$560.00}. In a panic, I called PayPal then to discover that a decision had been made in favor of the XXXX XXXX buyer that claimed a duplicate payment even though PayPal records clearly showed only one payment received. So my account was debited for {$780.00} How could this happen. Will I lose the contents of my storage unit if it goes to auction for nom payment? I have spent many angry frustrated hours on the phone Tuesday night and Wednesday. Every time I spoke to XXXX they said the claim was not against XXXX although there was a claim for duplicate payment. I had never had any contact or attempted contain with the buyer outside XXXX until he had filed his claim for duplicate payment. Still never responded to my left messages. PayPal just said the claim was settled in favor of the buyer and it was now closed. PayPal knew that there were no duplicate payments received. After many sleepless angry hours I called PayPal and spoke to another supervisor. I demanded to see copies of all correspondence between the buyers card company and PayPal. I understand the buyer was represented by XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX. The PayPal supervisor just refused to provide any documents.This was MY representative defending My interest. He then told me that I would have to SUBPOENA my own file documents. How can this happen in our country. Is the oligarchy complete? I have never seen any evidence supporting the buyers claim. I have never seen a response from PayPal defending my property. I don't really know that any communication occurred. 

I still have to believe that these things would not have happened in a court of law. I would have been allowed to question the entity that was trying to seize my property. I would have able to review and comment on correspondence. I would have been allowed to examine any evidence if any were provided. I would be allowed to examine documents sent to the buyers card company stating my case. None of this happened. I feel like PayPal should get an assist in the stealing of my assets. 

I am desperate and need help. I no feel safe selling on XXXX and having PayPal intercede in payment processing. So much for their seller protection. I am currently on the financial brink. I can not afford a lawyer. Please help, I'm a XXXX year old XXXX   retired XXXX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation