Unauthorised payment to Pitney Bowes

[mahadevdave]

Hi

I paid the full price including postal charge for a part for my car from the USA, however when checking my Paypal account I found an unauthorised payment of $15.94 to Pitney Bowes. From reading other messages  on the message board it was clear this is some kind of scam involving overseas purchases.
Has anyone managed to resolve this kind of dispute or am I wasting my time reporting it to Paypal?

Regards

Mahadevdave

[kernowlass]

@mahadevdave

Its not a scam, when you import items from abroad you get customs charges.

So instead of paying on delivery the payment is taken up front so your item can be delivered promptly.

You are responsible for all import taxes, its nothing to do with the seller or his postal fee.

[mahadevdave]

There was no mention of these additional charges on the eBay advertisment, therefore the payment remains unauthorised.

The fact it is not made clear in the eBay listing means it is a scam.

Just look at all the other complaints on Paypal message board about unauthorised payments to Pitney Bowes. Clearly they think it is a scam also.

I have raised it with Paypal and if I do not get a satisfactory answer I will consider closing my account.

[mahadevdave]

Also on the eBay listing there was a delivery charged which was paid when paying for the goods. Regardless of all of this Paypal made an Unauthorised payment from my account. This cannot be disputed as it is in black and white on my Paypal Statement.

[kernowlass]

@mahadevdave

Of course it was not on the ebay listing, it had nothing to do with the seller.

If you go abroad and buy certain items then you declare them going through customs and pay a tax.

But you don't expect the store that sold you the item to know any of that.

Its the same on ebay if you buy certain items from an INTERNATIONAL SELLER then when you pay the tax is sorted out for you beforehand. If they did not then you would still have had to pay the tax when the postman delivered the item.

[kernowlass]

@mahadevdave

Read this answer to another poster from a paypal employee   >>>>>>>>>

Hi Arteas,  

Thanks for posting. 

You are correct that these charges are for shipping and import charges. The Global Shipping Programme involves a partnership between eBay and a third-party logistics company, Pitney Bowes. The full amount you paid to the seller includes a portion to cover duty, tax and postage costs (including international tracking). This portion was sent directly to Pitney Bowes.

Pitney Bowes communicate with customs and works out the import costs with them and adds this to their shipping total. 

I hope this helps.