Curious how this works now.

I've ordered some parts online and paid via PayPal funded by a credit card. The parts arrived, but being as polite as I can about them, they're not as described and not fit for purpose. I have emailed the company and hopefully they'll come good, but their initial response was less than inspiring.

Where does my protection lie; with the card or PayPal? What about return costs?

PayPal.

Depends on the value. If the individual item is worth between £100 - £30,000 and you used your credit card, even if you went through Paypal, your credit card provider is jointly liable for any breech of contract (i.e. item not as described) under section 75 of the consumer credit act. You can contact you're credit card provider and ask them to resolve the issue on your behalf.

I would only suggest going down this route if you genuinely cannot sort the problem with the seller OR Paypal as your Credit Card provider will ask you to provide the invoice showing the payment from Paypal to the seller for the item in question. They will also likely require an independent report to show that the item is not fit for purpose / not as described. It will cost you more time at least.

I've actually done this with software I bought. Although I have to be honest - I did PayPal and Credit Card company at the same time. The procedures were quite straightforward with just a form that needed filling and some copies.

sidenote...

Actually... at the same time I also issued a complaint with Microsoft about the software not being legal (it was a devnet edition as it turned out, bastard!) and THEY ware a straight pain! They hassled me for almost a year to send me the illegal soft while I had already returned it.

Oh... in the end: BOTH credit card company and PayPal did a refund. When the seller asked me about it I told him where to take his illegal selling, sent him a copy of the letter to Microsoft that had his details, the complaint to the credit card company with his details and the complaint to PayPal, threatening with a further complaint with BSA (Belgian Software Association who represents the software makers and tracks illegal software).

In fact, I think you could make a good business doing this to the illegal sellers. I earned £125 - 2 hours of work.

Cheers for the input guys! Jay that's really good information, I was totally oblivious to the recourse available as I rarely use PayPal outside of eBay.

To fill you guys in further, it was a pair if wishbones bought to cover me while I look at poly bushing my existing. However what's arrived is one unbranded and another where the bush isn't/can't be attached due to bad tolerances. And to boot,their customer service is shocking.

Well it continues. The company in question eventually sent a replacement pair of wishbones, unfortunately they're as bad. So now I have 2 pairs of useless wishbones.

So one escalation via PayPal later and I'm still no closer. PayPal say I need to post the items back at my cost. Which could be a good chunk of what I paid.

I believe hat PayPal are asking me to forgo my statutory rights by paying return costs.

What do you guys reckon?