An Unpleasant Surprise in New PayPal User Agreement

[HaleysComics]

Online sellers who accept PayPal payments on or off eBay were in for a surprise this week when they noticed changes to the company's user agreement. Catching the most attention was an extension to the Dispute Filing Window. Buyers will now be able to file Item Not Received and Significantly Not as Described claims against sellers for up to 6 months after purchase.
"We're increasing the time for buyers to file a merchandise dispute (Item Not Received and Significantly Not as Described) from 45 days to 180 days," according to the update page on PayPal.

Full story here http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y14/m09/i18/s01

[Merking]

Does this mean a buyer could accidentally damage an item say 5 or 6 months down the line and then file a successful dispute against a seller?

[peterpunto08]

If they claim that item arrived damaged.....then yes, I believe so.
That's the basis I'm currently working on anyway and although I'll accept Paypal I'm going to be very cautious about it from now on

[TonyBridger]

PayPal have been doing this for about the last 4 months here in the UK.

Its worth noting that PayPal states this applies to sellers on ALL websites and not just to eBay

[countryfeedback87]

PayPal have been doing this for about the last 4 months here in the UK.

Its worth noting that PayPal states this applies to sellers on ALL websites and not just to eBay

Thanks for that Tony, I was rattling my brain thinking this policy already applied!

[squern]

There is one positive note to this: Previously, buyers had to claim within 45 days, but Surface Mail typically takes 60 days, depending where you are.

So, a buyer thought he was at risk if the item had not arrived before the 45 days were up, and so motivated to claim INR.
This despite being told that delivery would be in 60 days, and having agreed to it.

On eBay, you were required to respond to a INR claim right away, so you could be forced to refund, up to 15 days before the item was due for delivery, and take a chance on the person being honest when it turned up at the agreed time.

Another reason not to use eBay. But 180 days is a bit excessive, and will open up a whole new crop of scams

[HaleysComics]

This not only applies to the bay but to eBid & anywhere else paypal is used.

[burgyeb]

Sure wish Dwolla was an integrated payment system here. They are only offered in USA now; and not near enough businesses accept them as a payment method. I have an account with them, but the funds are useless, as the places I want to use it with, do not accept Dwolla.

[HaleysComics]

to bad most sites don't use square or amazon payments then we could forget paypal.

[TonyBridger]

This not only applies to the bay but to eBid & anywhere else paypal is used.

Theres an echo in here