I will try to explain what happened with as much detail and few words as possible. Won an Ebay auction on Jan 5 for a custom made gown. After about a month or so of slow communication with the seller, I began to have a gut feeling that maybe this wasn't the best idea and since the gown had not even been started yet/nothing decided on, perhaps she would be willing to cancel the transaction. She was very unwilling to, claiming she couldn't afford to refund my money even if she wanted to. I was very angry, especially when she claimed she had already purchased fabric! I had not authorized this nor did she respond to my last email to ask if I wanted her to or even tell me she was. She later claimed she could always exchange the fabric for a different kind. Ok. If I am stuck with this purchase, let her exchange it but I made it clear I wanted samples of available fabrics FIRST so that I can decide. That was the last I heard from her. I sent two emails after that, nothing. It was now Feb 15 and I was really nervous and not sure what to do. Could I open a case against her? Not yet because there was no reason to until the end of that week when she still had no responded. I contacted Ebay and spoke to a customer service rep and explained the situation and that I'd like to open a case. They directed to me a specific page and told me to follow the contact link and email Ebay from there. I emailed Ebay explaining exactly what I told the other rep and clearly stating I wished to open a case against her. I did not hear from them the next day and finally heard from them on Sat afternoon. They tell, there is nothing they can do because it has been more than 45 days since the auction ended. I wrote them back and it was confirmed again that they won't help me. I went on Ebay last night and reread the same Buyer Protection crap they just kept telling me to read. I couldn't believe they would put a time limit on when you can file a complaint!!?? Before filing a case or asking to, I did as was advised and tried to contact the seller and that did not work. The phone number of the seller that tried to call that was on record with Ebay was not in service. There is no address even.
I emailed Ebay as was advised about opening a case, that didn't work. In rereading the policy, it states that a claim must be filed within 45 days of a COMPLETED PURCHASE, meaning once payment is rendered, which didn't happen until Jan 6th. I recounted the calendar, sure enough, when I emailed Ebay stating I wished to open a case I was still within the 45 day period. Even when they emailed me back, I think it was the 45th day, so I would have been able to. Now, it IS beyond 45 days and I can't but it's their fault not mine because they calculated incorrectly. Had they even responded to my email the next day I would have been safe according to them. They claimed the 45 days ended on Feb 19th. Not from the date of purchase. It does not state in the policy, and I printed it out and highlighted, from the end of the auction. It states from the completion of purchase. If it states anywhere else the 45 days begin after close of the auction, then their listed rules are incorrect and misleading thus I have every right to that protected beacuse they provided bad information. I lost $250 on this auction and was basically told to go to hell. Paypal won't help because they go by the same rules. I have done everything legitimately and safely and did NOT make a bad purchase at no one's fault but my own. Their representatives mislead me in terms of how to open a case before it was too late. What should I do?? I need that money back, I am an unemployed student who has just ran out of unemployment compensation. I can't afford a private attorney and if I could the cost to hire one would exceed the amount of money I am suing for.
I emailed Ebay as was advised about opening a case, that didn't work. In rereading the policy, it states that a claim must be filed within 45 days of a COMPLETED PURCHASE, meaning once payment is rendered, which didn't happen until Jan 6th. I recounted the calendar, sure enough, when I emailed Ebay stating I wished to open a case I was still within the 45 day period. Even when they emailed me back, I think it was the 45th day, so I would have been able to. Now, it IS beyond 45 days and I can't but it's their fault not mine because they calculated incorrectly. Had they even responded to my email the next day I would have been safe according to them. They claimed the 45 days ended on Feb 19th. Not from the date of purchase. It does not state in the policy, and I printed it out and highlighted, from the end of the auction. It states from the completion of purchase. If it states anywhere else the 45 days begin after close of the auction, then their listed rules are incorrect and misleading thus I have every right to that protected beacuse they provided bad information. I lost $250 on this auction and was basically told to go to hell. Paypal won't help because they go by the same rules. I have done everything legitimately and safely and did NOT make a bad purchase at no one's fault but my own. Their representatives mislead me in terms of how to open a case before it was too late. What should I do?? I need that money back, I am an unemployed student who has just ran out of unemployment compensation. I can't afford a private attorney and if I could the cost to hire one would exceed the amount of money I am suing for.
