Resolving disputes quickly can prevent them from turning into a claim. Read on to learn what are disputes filed with PayPal, situations in which they may occur, and how to respond to them when they arise.
Dispute filed with PayPal is an opportunity for both sellers and buyers to resolve an issue before it escalates to a claim. It allows time for both parties to work together to find a solution and for the seller, it is also a chance to utilise great customer service to solve the issue amicably. Hence, to help you approach disputes better, it is important to understand what they are, why they happen, and the best way to respond to them, depending on the type of issue.
A dispute happens when a buyer has an issue with a transaction and files a complaint through PayPal. It is also the inquiry phase of a claim, where the buyer may bring the issue to the seller’s attention by opening a dispute in the Resolution Centre on your PayPal account. At this point, PayPal is not involved in the process.
However, if the dispute cannot be resolved, either the buyer or seller can escalate the dispute to a claim. Once escalated, PayPal will step in to determine the outcome.
Disputes can occur due to reasons such as:
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to respond to a dispute:
Step 1: Get notification and login
We’ll notify you via email that you’ve received a dispute and temporarily hold the transaction funds. Next, you can log in to your PayPal account and click on Open Cases in the Resolution Centre.
Step 2: Find your case
Click on the Response Required tab to review.
Step 3: Respond
Respond quickly or as soon as possible to your buyer before they escalate it to a claim. Do provide an explanation of what happened and suggestions on how to resolve it.
You can find more information on how to provide the right documents for your case here.
To prevent a dispute from turning into a claim, it is best to respond to the dispute with your buyer as soon as possible. If you don’t respond quickly, buyers tend to escalate their dispute to a claim approximately after 4 days.
Note: A dispute can be escalated into a claim within 20 days* from when the dispute is filed with PayPal.
If you’re unable to come to a resolution within 20 days, you or the buyer can escalate the dispute to a claim and allow PayPal to investigate the case. Meanwhile, if the dispute isn’t escalated within 20 days, the case will be automatically closed on the 21st day and the withheld payment will be released to you. After a dispute is closed, it cannot be reopened or investigated. For more information on how to respond to a PayPal dispute, you may learn more on our Help Centre.
To prevent disputes from happening in the first place, good communication is key and you may start by taking these proactive steps:
Anticipating your buyers’ needs with helpful information and positive communication will help prevent disputes and maintain customer satisfaction in the long run. Plus, resolving disputes quickly before they turn into a claim is imperative in protecting your business, on top of ensuring an easy and secure shopping experience for your buyers.
*Timeline is subject to change. The buyer or seller may choose to escalate the dispute to a claim earlier rather than wait 20 days. If there is no response after 20 days, the case will be closed.