Day 36 – The Accidental Phone Call

April 12

Received an automated call, and place on hold. It’s a PayPal rep called – “Sherry”. Sherry did not know why she was calling….. I gave her a moment to read the notes. Sherry explained that she was just calling because PayPal had noticed that funds were “due to them” I launched into explaining the entire issue to her at length. This was easy as I had kept good notes. Sherry flinched for a moment, and then without taking a breath, she immediately transferred us to chargeback division. On hold again ….

A Plan

Transfer to Stu. Gave Stu a few minutes to read the notes. Stu asked why the client has not cancelled the chargeback. Reminded Stu that the Buyer had done this. Stu suggested the next steps of getting the customer to call PayPal and explain that the chargeback had been cancelled. This sounded like progress…. Stu gave the call back number as – 402-935-7733. The customer was to ask for the “Accounts Security Department.” The customer might also have to complete and submit an affidavit form, which PayPal would supply if necessary.

This all sounds so very intelligent and useful. This can’t fail!

So why that title of “PayPal is Evil?”

If I had started this blog nearer to the beginning of this process, I would probably come up with a kinder; gentler title.

But once you hit a hundred days, with no resolution in sight; with one obtuse response after another from PayPal; and with a systemic failure to be even vaguely helpful … Oh and did I mention PayPal still holding onto a decent chunk of our money even after being reimbursed over 100 days ago ……

Well, when you go through this experience, you lean towards adjectives, that may be construed as being less than flattering. Just as the cream of today’s marketing firms try to create an “unreasonable attachment” to some brands. PayPal, is striving to create a reasonable loathing of its brand, through some of the poorest treatment a financial agent can muster.

So that’s why we ended up with the title – PayPal is Evil.com. It succinctly captures the essence of the PayPal brand in one simple, and hopefully memorable phrase.

I will not be copyrighting it, so please feel free to use it liberally. Whether amongst friends or colleagues, or even with people you have just met. It is our duty. Which brings me to my next point …

Why make this site?

When a company can do so much damage through negligence and mismanagement, I feel we have a duty to warn our fellow shoppers and ebayers of what may easily happen to them.

Often we do not have the time, the skill or inclination, and that is understandable. But I have two out of three, and I after having lived through PayPal Hell, feel it is my moral responsibility to find the time.