Bad Guy Paul Prunier - SCAMMER

[ElexisC]

Oh I hope he gets his refund, but i think the credit card or bank would be more helpful than Paypal in getting it done.

 

[Big Borg Reptiles]

Oh I hope he gets his refund, but i think the credit card or bank would be more helpful than Paypal in getting it done.

She* . That's why I told her to make sure to use a card through PayPal, even if PayPal pulls some BS the bank sure won't. From what I understand the bank has already put the funds on hold (she called less than 24 hours after sending it I think). I was in the same boat as you elexis, I've heard stories of PayPal making excuses with live animals, but if nothing was sent in the first place in not sure how they could NOT offer protection.

He hasn't responded to the PayPal refund request in any way, shape, or form, so I have a feeling he wont respond to the claim either. He seems to be the type of guy who does this when he needs money and then disappears again for a while.

 

[ElexisC]

She* [emoji14]. That's why I told her to make sure to use a card through PayPal, even if PayPal pulls some BS the bank sure won't. From what I understand the bank has already put the funds on hold (she called less than 24 hours after sending it I think). I was in the same boat as you elexis, I've heard stories of PayPal making excuses with live animals, but if nothing was sent in the first place in not sure how they could NOT offer protection.

He hasn't responded to the PayPal refund request in any way, shape, or form, so I have a feeling he wont respond to the claim either. He seems to be the type of guy who does this when he needs money and then disappears again for a while.

Well I hope she gets her money back. It's a shame we have people like that in the reptile community but there's people like that in all walks of life. Just makes me love the animals so much more and hate the human race even more.

But as I said, wish I could remember the names, that when they filed even though nothing was shipped as soon as they said it was a live animal paypal would tell them they don't cover live animals and do nothing. I do believe even that buyer protection still doesn't apply to live animals I would have to read it again. so I hope the bank gets it straight for you or her.

 

[Sauzo]

To beat a dead horse, I agree that Paypal doesn't like to get involved with the condition of an animal as long as it arrived alive but they most certainly will intervene on a non delivery. That's still considered "goods" not received. OP, if you don't have any claims with Paypal in the past and have a pretty good track record with them, I would imagine you will be taken care of. I had issues with "goods" and I have been a member of Paypal for a VERY long time and never had a bad claim. This first claim I had they jumped right on it and got it taken care of in less than a week. I wish you the best.

 

[cindy thomson]

If you paid with a credit card call your bank and have them do a charge back.
Credit card fraud is illegal. Anytime you buy anything on line pay with a card.
And the first excuse you get cancel the order and call your bank. anybody who wants to sell any snake for 430 dollars will jump through hoops to do so. Never mind this nonsense like my son fell asleep or I am too tired to take pictures etc. Do it tomorrow and anybody over 18 years old should have a credit card.

 

[MCMB]

I'm going to upload the pictures directly to fauna in case the external links I used in my first post ever get deleted (sorry about that admins! )

I've uploaded the first four pictures here
- initial communication with Robert
- paypal transaction
- his new ad on "Ball Python Classifieds"
- his member history on "Ball Python Classifieds"

 

[MCMB]

- 2nd text transaction with Paul
- facebook screenshot showing Paul no longer had the albino
- 3rd text transaction with Paul and/or Amy

 

[MCMB]

- image his wife sent over (newly hatched albino)
- image his wife sent (albino)
- image his wife sent (kingpin)
- Paul blocked Nick on facebook

 

[MCMB]

If you paid with a credit card call your bank and have them do a charge back.
Credit card fraud is illegal. Anytime you buy anything on line pay with a card.
And the first excuse you get cancel the order and call your bank. anybody who wants to sell any snake for 430 dollars will jump through hoops to do so. Never mind this nonsense like my son fell asleep or I am too tired to take pictures etc. Do it tomorrow and anybody over 18 years old should have a credit card.

Just an update. I did call the bank March 18th, letting them know everything. When I checked my account, the payment was in "pending transactions" so I assumed that they had put a hold on the payment.

Today I checked and the payment had cleared. I called the bank and was told, the process was more complicated than just a chargeback. The payment had initially been authorized at that point in time, was pending, and finally went through. In the meantime, my bank is still investigating the claim before any kind of reversal will be done.

 

[Sauzo]

The first things other than the sketchy communication that would have made me say "No thanks" and move on is why is his Paypal acct Paul Plowing but all his other stuff is Paul Prunier. And the biggest thing is his Paypal acct is unverified. Anyone who does anything with Paypal would almost always have a verified acct. It takes like 5 mins to do. Wish you the best at getting the money back. I also always look for a phone number/contact number and I will call it and talk to them to try and get a "feel" for them. If my gut feels weird, I just wont do the deal. And I make sure to call a few times with different questions and stuff just to make sure the person in question isn't using his buddies house to run a scam.

 

[lillyorchid]

Yikes.

 

[cindy thomson]

Wait a minute. You sent some scammer 430 dollars he sent you nothing and your credit card company did not do an immediate charge back. That is interstate credit card fraud
plain and simple. If it is that simple to beat someone like that so many more slime balls would be doing it. And there are different stories with pay pal. They did tell some people that they do nothing if it involves animals. If one calls and asks they will tell you out right that you cannot use pay pal to buy or sell animals. I can't figure out when a seller registers with them and they tell them they sell snakes how they can get an account. I would call my bank again and demand that they charge back YOUR money. You received nothing and they see that as OK. ?

 

[Big Borg Reptiles]

Cindy I actually took the phone from Victoria earlier because she didn't even know what to say to them. My exact question was, if she called within 24 hours to tell you she realized this was a scam and he didn't even have the product, why would you not hold the funds? Apparently it's "not that simple". He's done this before, and the only reason I can see to do this is as a short term loan. Last time he did it before Christmas, this time he was short on money for bills. By the time PayPal tells him the funds have been reversed he has the money to pay them back, and the cycle starts over again. Unfortunately, this all happens at the expense of the buyer.

 

[Big Borg Reptiles]

I'm a pretty level-headed and non-violent person, but id REALLY like to punch this guy in the nuts lol

 

[Sauzo]

I'm surprised Paypal doesn't ban him if this has happened regularly for this long. Maybe that's why he isn't verified....he CAN'T get verified lol. Well as long as you get your money back and learn from all the red flags this transaction has thrown, at least to me, it's a good lesson especially if it doesn't actually cost you $430.

 

[Mister Internet]

Careful, he'll SUE YOU!

 

[nickolasanastasiou]

Was the Paypal payment funded via credit card or via bank account (debit card)? Just so I am clear.

 

[Big Borg Reptiles]

It was sent through a debit card.

 

[nickolasanastasiou]

That can present some challenges. Sorry.

 

[MCMB]

I logged in to paypal today to escalate this to a claim when I saw that it had already been escalated by Paul on the 19th!!!

It says that paypal has contacted Paul for more information and the status is currently "waiting on seller". Is there anything I can/should do in the meantime?