Thread: Pay Pal Disputes to force your hand

What do fellow directory owners do when submitters try to open a dispute to force you to give them the exact spot they want?

I had one guy submit to the top of directories even though his paid link should have gone to 'shock' paid directories. I moved the link and he got all pissed, ended up simply refunding him.

Had another guy now submit a directory to a category that has nothing to do with directories, but is somewhat related to his directory. I created a niche category just for him under directories, in the long term it will be much better suited for his directory. Now the SOB opened a dispute saying it was not described trying to force me to move the link to the exact spot he wants. He paid $4.99 FFS for a permanent link and he says it's not worth it!

WTF, I mean seriously WTF.

That is insane that someone would go to such lengths to hurt your credibility with paypal over a link placement? How can paypal even honor such fragrant disputes as a placement? They kind of have you in a hard spot though, you don't want people to be able to see negative marks on your paypal account but who wants to give in to idiots either. This is why I am trying to get out of all my directories, I hate running them

You did good Grim, throw the money back in their face. I cannot imagine a few bucks is worth bowing down to some idiot, ya know?

I tend to refund people that are going to be a problem and tell them to take their business elsewhere.
Who needs the headache?

Originally Posted by Zap

I tend to refund people that are going to be a problem and tell them to take their business elsewhere.
Who needs the headache?

Same here, it reduces the stress level.
But to file a dispute WITHOUT emailing you and telling you their problem is just plain dumb.
Those are the types of customers one does not want to have.

Either way, refunding is the best option. Paypal will not back you up and will refund the payment regardless of the purchase made (digital goods). The only time you can fight it is if you have physically mailed something to the client and have proof of it.

My experience is the exact other way, digital goods they will not refund for. Been through that many times and read many, many others saying the same thing.

Beg to differ on the digital goods and paypal not backing the seller.
Had one dispute not too long ago and after I answered the dispute with my reasoning why there should be no refund, including the customer never contactiing me, plus my website which plainly has a no refund statement, paypal sided with me.

Take it case by case.
Sometimes one loses if one fights, sometimes one wins by fighting.

But in the case of people who do purchase links on a directory, it is best to just refund and tell them to move on.

I have had experiences with paypal purchases from me on templates / hosting and paypal refuses to back up a dispute. A real PITA.

I think it depends largely on the rep as well, that place appears full of ummm well I'll let you think of the best word

Originally Posted by Pete99

I have had experiences with paypal purchases from me on templates / hosting and paypal refuses to back up a dispute. A real PITA.

I haven't had that many disputes, but all were unsuccessful on my part with Paypal. I suppose it's a case by case like you said.

Paypal are bad...have many issues...my money gets deducted without any reason...i mean what is this...

Originally Posted by Manish Pandey

Paypal are bad...have many issues...my money gets deducted without any reason...i mean what is this...

It's not totally w/o reason, sometimes people are able to use the payment service and twist it to get their money back when they shouldn't. Price you pay for accepting online payments.

Credit card processors are even worse!

Those have to be the worst chargebacks, when someone uses their credit card to pay.
Either through paypal or 2co.

Credit card companies are quick on the draw to do a chargeback.

Through a merchant account it's even worse, if you know what you're doing you can get out of paying anything on a credit card. I know the system inside and out being a merchant, if I wanted to I could as well but am not that lowly.

I've had people however order in their name, with their email address, their IP, shipped to their name and address, they even signed for the package, claim nobody else is at their house, yet get out of paying for it.

When this happens we have no say, all money is stripped from us, we lose processing fees as well, plus a nice charge back fee! Fee is usually about $15 per phase I believe, each chargeback can have 2 phases!

Crooks abound in the world!
Yes, easy to say, never got the merchandise.
Either ship more merchandise or refund.

Interesting topic. I'm not sure why a submitter feels they can dictate how a directory owner should operate their directory. We face this issue on occasion, and at times its easiest to just refund the payment and delete the listing.

We do note in our guidelines that we reserve the right to edit, delete or classify a listing as we see fit and we do not offer refunds once a listing is published (accepted) but will remove a listing permanently at the owners request.

In the few occasions that a submitter has demanded that we move their listing to the category submitted or refund their submission fee, we've referred them to the guidelines. We have followed up by sending a refund a few days later anyway.

I haven't had a dispute filed so I can't comment about it, but it is interesti ng to note others' experiences.

Put in your Terms and conditions that the editor reserves the right to move the submission to the category THEY feel is more relevant than the one submitted, that way paypal have to side with you in the dispute as the buyer should have read the TOS before submitting.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Kevin

Put in your Terms and conditions that the editor reserves the right to move the submission to the category THEY feel is more relevant than the one submitted, that way paypal have to side with you in the dispute as the buyer should have read the TOS before submitting.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for that!

/me runs to edit her terms! mg: