PayPal Purchase Protection does not protect the buyer.

[rodb221]

I made a purchase on a web site and never received confirmation of the order, no shipping notice or a response when I questioned the order. Zero communication with the seller. No contact at all ever. Web site address, PayPal address and the contact email for the website did not match. Within an hour of submitting a query on my order to the web site contact email I received a PayPay email with a USPS tracking number for something shipped to my zip code. Went to the Post Office and questioned the tracking number and was given an address verbally for that tracking number. It was not my address. As a buyer, not the shipper, you have no access to the shipping information. The Post Office giving me this information was probably something they were not allowed to do but then I knew I had been scammed. I filed a Proof of Delivery request with the Post Office submitting my address. The response I received was that the item was delivered to the address it was shipped to but it was not my address. Again the P.O. probably gave me more information than they were allowed. I also filed a fraud report with Postal Inspectors.

I filed a buyer protection claim with PayPal but my claim was denied because a tracking number for an item shipped to my zip code was delivered. This is all PayPal requires as proof. Not very good protection. The letter from the P.O. stating the item was not delivered to my address was not enough for PayPal to protect me. PayPal even suggested I file these requests with the P.O. to get information PayPal could act on. As a buyer I have no rights to this information and PayPal knows this. I did a Google search for this type of fraud and guess what, it isn't something new. Seller probably did a google search for an apartment complex at my zip code. Sent some worthless tracked item to whatever random address within my zip code they came up with and pocketed my money.  They know PayPal buyer protections are weak and easily exploited.

We pressed the P.O. for information but they cannot provide information if you did not purchase the shipping. The last information I received from the P.O. was that they, the P.O., contacted PayPal and was assured that my claim would be upheld. As far as PayPal is concerned it is over, I lost.

This is what needs to be changed with PayPal terms: If a delivery is disputed, the seller should be required to submit a POD, Proof of Delivery request to the P.O. This will show an address where a tracking number does not. Takes less than a minute to make this request and I received a response in less than a day. No burden for a seller here to end a dispute. Fraud loophole closed. Why doesn't PayPal do this?

I have been a PayPal customer for 21 years. I don't think I have ever made a claim with hundreds of transactions. The web site registration was like one month old at the time of purchase and today, guess what, the site no longer exists. Poof, gone, PayPal weak protection exploited, scam completed. Probably a rinse repeat operation. Why does PayPal offer weak protection for for a specific method of fraud that has been known for a long time?

[kernowlass]

@rodb221 

APPEAL

To submit an appeal on the dispute that was closed, PayPal asks that you obtain a detailed report from the shipper/courier (on their letterhead or some other form of official stationary) that includes the address the seller gave them for the shipment. Or one that includes a statement mentioning your address and saying the item was delivered to a different address.
Check tracking in below link to see where it went.
https://www.17track.net/en

When you have that, contact PayPal via phone (log on to your account and click Contact at the bottom of the page, however that may not be an option at the moment due to covid), or via Facebook (send a Private Message to PayPal) or via Twitter (send a Direct Message to @AskPayPal) and say you want to appeal the denial of the dispute based on the shipper saying the item was delivered to a different address. Once it's submitted (you will be provided with directions on how to do that), the dispute will be reviewed further and a determination will be made.

You also have the option to contact your card issuer if you funded your paypal payment that way and see if they will do a chargeback for you.

[rodb221]

“PayPal asks that you obtain a detailed report from the shipper/courier (on their letterhead or some other form of official stationary) that includes the address the seller gave them for the shipment.”

There is no possible way for me to obtain a specific address. Inputting the tracking number at the link you provided produces the same result as tracking with USPS. City, State and Zip Code, no specific address. There is zero communication with the shipper. They do not respond and their web site no longer exists. I have the address because it was stated verbally to me but they cannot officially give me that information because I am not the shipper.

I did appeal and they told me to get the address which is frustrating because I know that they know I cannot obtain the address because I am not the shipper.

It is the perfect scam because PayPal allows it by putting the burden of proof on the buyer which the buyer cannot provide. When the seller sends that tracking number as a result of a dispute I bet they are laughing out loud at PayPal and the PayPal customer they just scammed.

[kernowlass]

@rodb221 

Hundreds of others have successfully done it which is why i continue to post that advice.

You don't need an address the item was delivered to, you just need USPS to say it was NOT delivered to you. 

[rodb221]

You are giving bad advice because the person that purchases the shipping is the only person that has a right to that information. Some others some where may have gotten what they need but they were just lucky in doing so.

The response from USPS gave more information than they were required to do. Here is the USPS response on USPS letterhead including contact information which PayPal did not accept:

"9361289671090841704665 Item delivered to the delivered address on label on 4-6-2021 to front door. Address provided in case from Rodney does not match. Customer will need to contact the sender and informed them that item address label was incorrect. **Address on company label is incorrect."

We pressed the USPS to be more specific without success.

I am correct when I say that PayPal protection does not adequately protect and puts the burden of proof on the party that cannot provide proof.

[kernowlass]

@rodb221 

Nope i am not giving the wrong advice, I have had loads of folks posting back having had refunds after following my advice.

And the sender has the right to all the information of the delivery of the item BUT you are entitled to information on whether it was delivered to your address or not.

But hey if you don't want my advice then thats fine, doesn't bother me one jot, all I did was post to try and help you.