I recently refunded a buyer, but now know item was delivered. How do I get my money back?

[claire5513]

I recently sold an item.  The buyer did not inform me that it hadn't arrived, and instead opened a claim for reimbursement. 

I refunded her money immediately because I had mislaid the Certificate of Posting and couldn't check. 

Less than an hour later, I found the C of P and checked Royal Mail Track and Trace.  It showed the item HAD been delivered, 2 days prior to the buyer opening her claim.  I was unable to contact the buyer, and so made a report to eBay. 

Now I can't find out what, if anything, is going on?  If the item had been delivered, then it's no longer the seller's responsibility to refund and the buyer needs to take it up with Royal Mail if, indeed, she does not have my item (which I have no way of knowing).  Try as I might, I can't contact eBay to ask if my report will result in action, and the website makes it impossible for me to contact the buyer (the system will not allow me to send her a message, l assume because of her claim against me?).

What's my next move, or should I kiss my money goodbye?

[moldosgifts]

First thing you do is meesage the customer with a screen shot of your proof od delivery. You can also add tracking details at any time.

And a paypal invoice.

Wait a couple of days you most likley will not get a reply.

Secondly you write via normal mail a letter in it you put a disclaimer/declaration of none delivery and a return envelope with stamp. ( have copy of decleration if you need one.)

Last contact with thyem will be a letter before action.

[claire5513]

Unfortunately I cannot message the buyer because eBay won't allow me to make contact with her. I assume this is an automatic block that is put in place once a claim is opened in order to avoid unpleasant disputes between buyer and seller?

I cannot send a PayPal invoice without the buyer's email address, which I don't have.

I could send an invoice and explanatory letter by post, but I can't imagine this would result in any positive action from the buyer.

That's a good idea, to ask the buyer to sign a disclaimer 're non-delivery to return to me, which I guess she is more likely to do than automatically repay the money and tackle Royal Mail herself as she ought to do.

It's not worth taking more formal action over, I just was hoping there would be a polite way that I could reach out to the buyer via eBay, or for eBay to take action over the report I filed. However, it would appear that neither option is possible.

Thank you for your suggestions.