Sent money to an unknown person--same name as my friend.

[KK149]

I searched PayPal to send my friend some money. When I found her name, I sent the money. The money was never delivered. I had sent money to someone I do not even know accidentally. I was able to send money to my friend later. The names are the same. One was an unknown person. I used family and friends because I was sending to my friend. I opened a dispute, but my autocorrect changed my dispute message from "My friend did NOT receive the money," to "My friend received the money." The case was determined authorized and closed. How do I get my money back? I sent a money request to the same person, but haven't received a response. Is that likely to get my money back? I talked to my bank and blocked PayPal. But now PayPal says it won't allow me to receive any money until the deficit is paid. I am paid on PayPal so I am concerned that my next paycheck will go to that person and I will have no control over it. What can I do to get my money back? How do I cancel that charge? 

Thank you.

[kernowlass]

@KK149 

If you sent to the wrong person using friends/family then the best option is to reach out to that 'wrong' person and request that they issue you with a refund as it was a mistake. 

If they refuse then you could ask customer services to reach out to them BUT if they still refuse there is nothing you can do about it as it was a 'gift' payment without any buyer protection unfortunately.

Lastly if you funded your payment via a card then you could ask your card issuer but they may decline for the same reason ie it was a gift payment.

[sharpiemarker · Accepted solution]

@KK149 

You’ll need to speak with customer service:

https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/contact-us      

Scroll down to click “Message Us” or “Call Us” option on the bottom.

Or reach out to PayPal at Facebook or Twitter:    

PayPal on Facebook

PayPal on Twitter

Generally, friends and family payments are not covered by purchase/buyer protection. You’re at the mercy of the recipient issuing a refund. Transactions with Completed status cannot be canceled immediately because the other party already has the money. How, you may ask?

Well, PayPal apparently processed your bank payment as “instant transfer” where PayPal pays for you immediately with their funds to the incorrect recipient while awaiting for your bank payment to clear to get reimbursed. If PayPal cannot get reimbursed by your bank, they’ll eventually debit your back up card. You might as well let PayPal debit the funds from the bank or let PayPal debit the back up card, ideally before your paycheck is deposited. Then there would be something to dispute later through your bank/card. 

Well how come PayPal don’t just take their money back from the recipient, then? Good question. I don’t know whether if their system can do that or not so you’ll have to ask them. Plus it would be complicated on many levels if PayPal was to just take the money back at just the say so of anyone. It’s better to get squared off with PayPal so the dispute would be between you and the recipient by way of a bank reversal or a card chargeback depending on how you ultimately reimburse PayPal. Then recipient’s PayPal balance will be on hold the amount in dispute, pending the outcome.

Btw:

Pending transactions with Cancel link can be canceled.

Transactions that are listed as Pending/Unclaimed will be returned automatically after 30 days unclaimed.

Bank payments that are sent as eChecks and marked as Pending can be canceled by calling the bank to cancel it so the eCheck doesn’t clear, the recipient won’t receive payment and that will be the end of it. This is the benefit of paying by eCheck, slow as it is, since PayPal doesn’t pay recipient immediately for you. eCheck has to clear your bank before the recipient receives it.