How long does it take for a refund to show up as 'Refunded' or get an email

[ajmonger]

I sent someone some money. They said PayPal was going to hold it for 21 days (I know that can happen).
They offered to refund it and we could try again. They sent me a pic saying they'd sent the refund. I know it can take a few days to get the money.
I haven't received an email advising of the refund and the transaction still says Completed.

How long will it take for it to say Refunded or for me to get an email?

[kernowlass]

@ajmonger 

How did you send the funds which paypal option?

How did you fund the payment?

Why would trying again not make it 'on hold' next time if they are subject to the new seller hold.

Equally the hold is between them and paypal and nothing to do with you, you have paid and they should send your item.

[ajmonger]

It was for concert tickets from someone who said they couldn't go.
They asked for me to send as Friends and Family.
I funded it from a bank account.

They said they couldn't wait for the first payment. I assume the follow up payment would get held as well. So I'm quite suspicious and am about to report them, but just want to know how long it would take to see that a refund had been initiated.

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@ajmonger 

The 21 day hold does not apply to friends/family payments. 

Also when you send a friends/family payment you are sending a gift of money without any buyer protection, your seller knows that so then they can 'pretend' the funds are on hold and 'pretend' they have issued a refund.

If you had been refunded (even if on hold or pending) it would still show in your paypal account and you would have a paypal email to say a refund had been issued.

Pointless reporting them really as you broke paypal rules as well as them in sending payment using the f/f option for purchasing goods or services. You negated your buyer protection.