Consumer complaint received 2024-05-01 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Problem using a debit or ATM card
Company: Paypal Holdings, Inc
State: TN

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I purchased several varieties of hard-to-find/rare XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX located in Pennsylvania XXXX totaling {$360.00} with my PayPal debit card. 
On XX/XX/XXXX, I completed an additional purchase for {$300.00} with my XXXX debit card. In total, I purchased XXXX XXXX plants through this preorder, with the understanding that they would be delivered in the spring of XXXX. 

In XXXX of XXXX, the company shared in a since-deleted post on social media that they do not have the inventory to fulfill the orders due to crop failure and falling on hard times. However, after piecing together information with other customers, it appears that this was never a legitimate business, or at minimum, there was never a viable business plan. The XXXX XXXX they occupy is not large enough to accommodate roses from likely XXXX or more orders ( this information is based on comparing order numbers from other customers ranging from the low XXXX to XXXX ). Furthermore, they do not possess the materials, support/staff, or knowledge necessary to grow many of these rare varieties of roses. Even through XXXX and early XXXX, they were posting on social media as normal, as if they had inventory to ship without informing customers that they did not have inventory. 

Based on the rough calculation of XXXX orders, it is possible that this preorder generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue. To date, I have seen approximately XXXX confirmed orders on social media that have actually been fulfilled. The company was still taking orders after announcing they did not have inventory. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX to initiate refunds. When I did not receive a response, I initiated chargebacks on debit cards I used in the transactions. I have been able to receive money back from XXXX of my orders, but not both and am still owed {$350.00} from XXXX XXXX XXXX from the order associated with my PayPal debit card. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I received an email from XXXX XXXX claiming to have refunded me for both otrders and told me it would take up to 10 days to process. 

On XX/XX/XXXX when I still did not have my refund I contacted her again. She informed me that there is no money for refunds. However, she then told me that she could send me a refund through Venmo. I have requested my refund multiple times be made through the original payment method ( and their website clearly states that refunds will be provided in the manner of original payment ). I believe the offers of refunds through secondary processors to be a continuation of the fraud. I am still owed {$350.00} from my first order. 

I filed a police report with the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( report # XXXX ) on XX/XX/XXXX, as well as the Attorney Generals Offices in Pennsylvania and Tennessee. The XXXX XXXX recommended I contact my local FBI field office due to the widespread nature of this situation. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX sent an email to customers reiterating they do not have inventory AND do not have funds to refund orders, despite listing refunds as part of the terms of purchase on their website. This violates the terms of sale I agreed to on their website at the time of the sale. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I was informed by PayPal that they " can not touch this '' and refuse to refund me for this transaction of {$350.00} because it is outside of 120 days. PayPal denied by dispute, blaming XXXX for this issue. PayPal has failed to consider the plethora of additional evidence of fraudulent transactions by this fraudulent business.

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief