Someone filed a payment dispute against me which I initially challenged but now I want to withdraw..

[sampipe]

and just send a refund to the buyer. Is this possible to do or is it too late?

I sold a game on Ebay last month. When the buyer purchased the item they asked for me to send the code through messages so I did. Afterwards I received a cancellation so I messaged them to see if everything was ok and they said their account was hacked and that they didn’t purchased the item. I found out that you can still input the code and not redeem it but when I checked it said the code had been used.

I asked if they had received a refund from Ebay but never received any response after that. I eventually did  receive funds though.

This morning I woke up to find that the buyer had filed a payment dispute against me saying it didn't recognise the transaction. I challenged it and described what had happened with images out the chat messages. However, I have changed my mind and just want to send the refund but it says You cannot issue a refund at this time because a dispute is open for this order. Is there anything I can do?

I was initially unaware that you were not allowed to sell digital items unless you are verified. I simply assumed since other people could sell it that is was fine. I will not be doing this again in the future.

[papso22]

If there is no way to refund through the dispute then it seems that option disappeared when you challenged it.  Given that the only acceptable evidence is online tracking you were never going to win this one.

I think you need to chalk it up to experience.   There will also be an admin fee to pay ebay.

[sampipe]

If I contact the buyer saying I’ll refund them  are they able to withdraw the claim? Or is the only thing I can do right now is wait?

[jckl1957]

I think you will just have to pay the refund and the admin. fee which is charged if you challenge the case.

Possibly, the buyer could close the case  and you could refund them independently.

However, practically this would involve a lot of mutual trust.

Would you be prepared to refund the buyer on the understanding that, once they had the refund they would close the case?  If they don't close the case, you would have refunded them twice.  (Personally, I am not convinced by the 'account hacked' scenario and would find it difficult to trust the buyer.  It's more likely that somebody in their household used their account and card.)

Or, would the buyer be prepared to close the case on the understanding that once they close it, you would send a refund to their bank?  Unlikely.  If they close the case and you don't refund them they won't be able to re-open the case.

You understand that you should not have sold the item - hopefully other members might read this post and see how selling digitally delivered items leaves sellers open to loss.

[red_magpie]

I sold a game on Ebay last month.

You say that you sent the code through messages, but how was the game delivered?

If it was posted as a tangible item with tracking proof of delivery, it may still be covered by eBay buyer and seller protection. I don't think that simply sending the code by message rendered this a digital sale.

If it's covered by eBay seller protection and you were able to provide online tracking proof of delivery eBay should indemnify you from "transaction not regnised" chargebacks.

If the game itself was also delivered digitally - which it would have helped to say - it's end of story. Digital delivery is not allowed and there is no buyer or seller protection.

[papso22]

Pretty sure the game is activated by the code and was not physically delivered.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336013168532?itmmeta=01K06MRM19SFBYPD8EVQ0GQSPS&hash=item4e3bf20f94:g:IfQ...