by Bill Allbritton

Created on: July 11, 2007   Last Updated: July 12, 2007

The Dark Side Of PAYPAL

Although many buyers and sellers think this Internet icon is wonderful, an increasing number of customers have been irritated, frustrated and disappointed when this internet icon treated them so unkindly- so crudely and wrongly in a manner which ignored logic, common sense, courtesy and surely some legal issues.

So it isn't difficult to find many anti-PAYPAL sites on the net with the use of any search engine.. For that matter, an increasing number of ex-customers, like me are filing lawsuits in small claims courts all across America- and winning.

What led to my lawsuit with PAYPAL began when I received some faulty merchandise- and the seller was unresponsive. When he failed to send me a refund , as promised, I took the matter to PAYPAL's Buyer Protection Program which they tout at every opportunity.

But instead of receiving helpful intervention, I was sent me in a seemingly endless loop between PAYPAL and their unresponsive dealer for the next three weeks until I was told "that my 30-day warranty period had expired".

I was surprised , confused and angry. But what was I to do about it? A local attorney wanted $2,500.00 plus more for court costs just to consider taking the case. Obviously PAYPAL knew that most, if not all customers would ultimately accept a modest loss instead of pursuing the issue-when their anger subsided, of course, and reason prevailed.. As one of my buddies put it: "Are you crazy enough to risk that kind of money for a recovery of less than fifty bucks?".

What about small claims court ? Although I had heard of it, I had much to learn. Not all U.S. states have a small claims court but many - including my home state of Tennessee, allow an individual to represent himself in General Sessions Court without an attorney- so long as he is not representing an incorporated business.

Even so, despite misgivings and some apprehensions, on June 2nd, 2006, I filed suit with General Sessions Court, in Nashville, Tennessee to create case number # 06GC9865 which was placed on the court docket for July 13, 2006. My cash payment, via personal check of $87.75 would cover court costs, plus the cost of SERVICE- the official notification to the plaintiff of the pending lawsuit, usually done by a Deputy sheriff..

This matter of PROPER SERVICE is a critical detail in these matters- a fact which posed a potential dilemma for someone who files a lawsuit. PAYPAL, like many national corporations, has no presence in Tennessee except on the internet. However,

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