Paypal prompting me to break the law in order to resolve my claim over buying counterfeit goods :0s

[dean_dodds]

I bought 4 Disney DVD's from www.century21shop.co.uk and when they arrived, I was horrified to see they were posted from Thialand, and surprise surprise the DVD's were blatently fake.

They don't have the Disney Hologram, the print is all smudged/ghost like, the back of the DVD cover says "for sale in the USA/Canada only", and Region 1, even thought they should be region 2.

I rang the police to report the website, and have had a visit from a police officer, who has given me a crime reference number, however Paypal have said that won't do, and I have to get a statement from a retailer to confirm they are fake, or they have agreed to refund me if I post the fake items back to Thialand.

Two really strange things

1. It would be against the law to post counterfeit goods through the post, so returning the item would mean I was doing something illegal.

2. I was informed by the police officer who came to my house that if I was stopped when walking around shops with fake DVD's that more than Likely I would be arrested, on suspission of dealing in counterfeit goods.

I have however rang around retailers to try and see if they would agree to give me this letter. So far I have spoken to the Disney Shop / Morrisons/ HMV / Tesco & Asda, who have all said that its not something they could supply, yet when I rang Paypal to explain I was told that unless I supplied that, or posted it back, they would challenge my Direct Debit indemnity claim with the bank.

When I explained that the 2 options which they want me to explore would both mean I would be breaking the law, I had the reply (from a Supervisor at Paypal), that lots of people every day sell Fake items, so the chances of me getting caught with them would be slim to none. HELLO, how can a company like Paypal think its acceptable that because all the other criminals out there deal in fakes, that its acceptable for me to risk it.

What a joke, I am going to speak to the retailer disputes team at the bank to explain that the only options paypal are giving me are illegal ones, and will also be reporting Paypal to the FSA to let them know as well, and see if they aren't happy with Paypal's ludacris requests in order to protect a buyer of fake items.

I have offered photo's of the items missing the holograms etc, but they don't accept those either.

What can I do?, I don't want to get ripped off, and also don't really want to break the law in order to prove my case in getting the money back.

The crime reference from the police isn't good enough, even though I have reported the DVD's, and the website that they were bought from.

Another Paypal con in my eyes, to protect the people who sell fake items, as that is where Paypal is making their money.

[PayPal_lucy]

Hey there,

Once you say they are counterfeit you do not have to post them back at all. However, we do need to see a written document form a dealer or ever the Police will do, stating the items are counterfeit in order to issue you with a refund.

If the Police were to confiscate the items as they are counterfeit they would provide you with a letter stating this. That would be fine to provide for your case.

However without any document we can’t close the case in your favour. Did the Police not want to confiscate the items for evidence?

[dean_dodds]

Hi,

The Police advised they wouldn't confiscate the item because the offence had happened in Thialand, and because there is no UK contact, they wouldn't be able to act.

HOWEVER she has said that the police wouldn't be able to just put in writing something in couterfeit, as they aren't experts in that particular feed.

Please can you help in looking through the comments I will write next, and you come up with a solution that is possible, rather than just saying what the policy is.

• The items cannot be posted back as are illegal (you have said its not reqd now they are fake)
• Morrisons/Asda/Tesco/Disney Store/HMV have all said they aren't able to provide a document like you are requesting when I have rang them.
• The police have said you would be arrested if you were to walk around the streets with fake DVD's if you were reported.

If its illegal to do either of your two requests (walk around with fake DVD's, or post back), then what can you say.

I have already done a direct debit indemnity so have my money back, but am making sure Paypal are happy with the end agreement. If Paypal only give me two options which both risk being arrested then I think I will just report it to the bank with the retail complaints/fraud dept, as you are being unreasonable in your requests in order for me to get my money back.

You have to remember here, It is me who has been ripped off because someone has been selling fake DVD's, yet its me who you are ruling against, and making it impossible for to do what you ask.

Surely you must have instances where its just not possible to do what you ask, as they aren't allowed/possible

[PayPal_lucy]

Hey there,

I have read your points there and I can see where you’re coming from.

However we aren’t asking you to do anything illegal, carrying the items to a store to get them authenticated is not illegal. You aren’t going to be seller the items.

You also have a crime reference number so they know you have already reported the issue. And as the Police have said they are not experts in the product so how else are you to get the DVDs authenticated?

Getting the documents to prove that the items are counterfeit is the only way to have this case closed in your favour. Without the documents the case will be closed and the funds returned to the seller.

I don't like to be so harsh, but I have to be honest.

You can try your local DVD rental store to see if they will be willing to help or also trading standards may be able provide a document.

[Blisschick]

I'm having same issue, why would hmv go out there way to do this? Seems like its a good idea to move to Thailand and sell fake DVDs via PayPal.

[poppasmurf]

Just rent a POBOX OFFICE in Thialand.

Then operate a drop shipper of fake dvds.

Job done see you in Rio or Jail which ever comes first.

LOL

[elle49]

This is aute bull**bleep** as paypal is fully aware that most if not all retailers destributors ect will not supply these documents it is an easy way out for paypal.  I! have gone further with my complaints with this idiot request . I am taking the fake goods to the police and have called the Accc. Paypal is condoning counterfiet items to be sold and not offering the buyer any other option to plead there case. Shame on you paypal!

  The onus should be on the sellar to prove the goods are authentic . Paypal supports illegal activities. I will also be reporting paypal to the correct authorities regarding this.

[asharpshooter]

Hello there, I’m in the same position as you .

Me I've contact ASA Advertising Standards Authority cause this is an online retail that  sales in UK. told them about the fakes (there are not even close to the ones advertise one is in Chinese) but got no luck with it. Made a claim to paypal no luck ... and I won't pay 10.5 £ to post it so I’m waiting to get an answer from others. They say that and that but they don’t do anything about it. I'll follow this and I will let you know if any action is taken place.

[lola123]

I too was lulled into a false sense of security that Centry21shop was ok to buy from.  It is a co.uk, says on the website 100% money back guarantee and that I could pay via paypal.  I ordered my DVD's and alarm bells stated ringing when I see they were shipped from Thailand.  I opened the box and they were obvious fake DVD's.  The Little mermaid has a spelling mistake on the front and The Jungle book was in the wrong font and had a spelling mistake on the back.  I tried contacting century21shop to say I was unhappy with the DVD's and wanted a full refund and got no answer.  My husband told me to take them to the local police station but I contacted Paypal to open a dispute and amazingly they asked me to send them back to Century21shop even though they were fake!!! I sent them back at a cost of £9.81 and have the proof of postage but because I didn't send them tracked, Paypal have closed the claim as they cannot prove that Century21shop have received the DVD's and no surprise that Century21shop are not responding to my emails requesting confirmation that they have received them.

I am horrified that Paypal are so blase about websites selling fake DVD's and not seeming to care!!!

[storm777]

Hi all i hope i can help as have also had the same problem with paypal and no shop will give you the letter they ask for as they are not permitted to do this not even the disney stores i have tried them all

but all i can suggest to you all as i got my money back is i phoned trading standards and took the dvds into them which they then sent away to fact (federation against copy right theft ) which then contacted trading standards who issued me a letter stating they were fake,  what makes me laugh is even after i send this information to paypal which was very hard to obtain they then wanted proof they were destroyed its a joke they dont even read your letters stating you went to trading standards not a shop lol this is the only way you can get the proof they request . the website i bought mine from has now been shut down thank god but more are opening up every day im affraid and its like paypal dont want to give you your money back even after you provide proof you no longer have them there with fact they asked me who are they lol .

please be warned you are not paypal protected and getting your money back is very hard .

Hope this helps Donna 🙂