Pony Payment Problem - Need Help

Star Warrior · 07-28-2012, 05:07 PM

This has never happened to me before, so I'm not sure how to proceed:

Someone ordered a group of ponies from me and because of PayPal problems, sent a money order. It's been over 2 weeks and the money order hasn't arrived. I've never had any issues in the past with money orders not arriving. Now I don't know what to do! I've been really stressed about this. I hate the thought of her losing her money and not getting her ponies, but how am I suppose to send out a bunch of ponies without getting paid? I would never steal from anyone and want desperately for everything to work out for both the buyer and me. Does anyone have suggestions?

Star Warrior

Angel_Foil · 07-28-2012, 07:21 PM

Have you notified the buyer? I'd take that as a first step. I'm not saying the buyer is dishonest, but it may be something to consider. The paypal problems could be totally fabricated. Does she have good feedback? I'm not saying this is definitely the case, but could be worth looking into. As much as we all hate it, scammers are out there. It could be an honest mistake, or a scammer. Good luck with this.

Star Warrior · 07-28-2012, 07:31 PM

Yes, I should say I did contact the buyer and she said she sent the payment. She doesn't have a lot of feedback, but all of it is positive. I also checked the address I sent her to be sure I didn't mess anything up, went through my recycle bin in case the letter got mixed up with other papers and even checked my bank account to confirm that I hadn't made some stupid mistake in depositing the money order and not sending off the package. Everything is showing that the payment never arrived. :(

Star Warrior

Aadra310 · 07-28-2012, 10:05 PM

I feel that is up to the buyer to make sure any snail mail payment is secure. She should have sent it with delivery confirmation or certified. Sending a money order is like sending cash and should be protected as such. I don't think there really is anything you can do. You don't know that she actually sent it without some sort of tracking although I'm sure she really did. On the flip side, she has no proof that you did/did not receive it.

I know this advice isn't too helpful on this go-around, but, in the future, never take money orders unless the package is tracked so both parties know when it arrives and there can be no question.

Sailorstarpony · 07-28-2012, 11:36 PM

Actually, ask the seller if they can check the status of the money order. They should have received a stub or something for them that usually gives a number to call to see if it's still out and about or got cashed. If it did get cashed, THEY can usually make steps to see who cashed it/where. Doesn't help much, but if they check and it's outstanding, it helps on your end.

PinkRosedust · 07-29-2012, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailorstarpony

Actually, ask the seller if they can check the status of the money order. They should have received a stub or something for them that usually gives a number to call to see if it's still out and about or got cashed. If it did get cashed, THEY can usually make steps to see who cashed it/where. Doesn't help much, but if they check and it's outstanding, it helps on your end.

Yeah, I'd imagine they could check the serial number on the stub and see if it had been cashed, but there's no way for someone else to cash a money order other than the intended recipient, since you're supposed to write their name and address on it and obviously they won't just hand out money without seeing some ID (one would hope!)

Looking at a postal money order stub in front of me, the back says "This receipt is your guarantee for a refund of your money order if it is lost or stolen, provided you fill in the Pay To and From information", and I'm pretty sure the same rules would apply to any other MO.

My advice is to wait it out a bit longer and see if it shows up, then if not, ask the buyer to get a refund and send payment again. Hopefully they still have their stub, otherwise they're really out of luck - it's not your responsibility to send out free ponies if payment was lost in the mail. If the letter really is lost, well, at least they didn't send cash - they're only out an envelope and a stamp.

Best of luck!

Stormness_1 · 07-31-2012, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinkRosedust

Looking at a postal money order stub in front of me, the back says "This receipt is your guarantee for a refund of your money order if it is lost or stolen, provided you fill in the Pay To and From information", and I'm pretty sure the same rules would apply to any other MO.

Well that's good to know... I use paypal, but as with all things, they intermittently screw up things, and in that event, we're all reduced to such things as money orders!