For your protection, you should not ship your product until you have received payment from your buyer. In the event that the buyer refuses to pay for the product, here are the steps that you should follow:

1. Mark the payment as not received. This may be done through your selling console. Your sold items will be arranged under "Sold". Select "Request" to request a non-paying dispute. Please note that you must wait until 7 days after the close of the auction, and the Dispute may be filed up to 60 days after close. There are two exceptions to this rule:

   1. The buyer is no longer a registered user.

   2. The buyer and seller mutually agreed to withdraw the transaction. In a mutual agreement to withdraw the transaction, you will receive a Final Merchant Fee credit and no strikes will be issued against the buyer.

2. The listing will now appear in your Dispute Center under the "Payment Not Received" tab. PhiMart will send the buyer an e-mail regarding their non-payment status, and you may communicate with the buyer through the Dispute Center. PhiMart may review these communications for mediation purposes.

3. If the buyer does not respond to the Dispute, you may file a Final Merchant Fee Refund with PhiMart after 7 days. We will send the buyer a final notification to pay. If the buyer does not respond, we will give you a FMF credit and issue a Non-Payment Strike against the buyer.

4. If the buyer responds to your dispute, you should attempt to arrive at a mutually satisfactory resolution. You may close the Dispute at any time after the buyer's response, and file for a FMF credit. This will result in a strike issued against the buyer. Keep in mind that buyers and sellers may still rate each other based on uncompleted transactions.

ID verification establishes a user's identity. Using a third party verification service, the contact information is cross-checked with their financial information. In the U.S., verification is established using Equifax. Users must pay a $5.00 application fee in order to become verified.

If a buyer is dissatisfied with the product or claims not to have received it, they may file a chargeback with their credit card company. Chargebacks may also be filed if the credit card has been stolen. In the event of a chargeback, the credit card will take back a fund that has already been approved.

Once a chargeback has been filed, you must dispute with the credit card company to attempt to reclaim your funds. The credit card company may side with you if they decide that you have upheld your terms of transaction, however, in the event of a stolen or fraudulent credit card, you will not be able to recover your funds. To avoid chargebacks:

1. Clearly outline your return and warranty policies in your item descriptions. Describe your item accurately and do not attempt to deceive or mislead the buyer.
2. Consider shipping only to the billing address, or a verified address. Shipping to the billing address will avoid claims of fraudulent credit card use.
3. Keep all documents of the transaction. If you can offer clearly written terms of transaction, communications between you and the buyer, and proof of shipment, it will help you dispute the chargeback with the credit card company.
4. Obtain proof of shipment. Shipping insurance is as much for the seller's protection as it is for the buyer's. You should ask for a signature upon delivery, especially for items over $300.

We make every effort to make PhiMart a safe and secure marketplace for everyone; however, fraud and scams do occur. You should take advantage of ratings, ID verification, and review all payment methods. As a seller, you should particularly beware of transactions that involve:

1. Buyers who claim to live in the United States but ask you to ship the product to a foreign nation, most often as a "gift".

2. Buyers who send money order or checks in excess of the actual price, and ask to be reimbursed via money order or wire transfer.

If you have been defrauded as a seller, here are the steps to take:

1. Notify the local law enforcement in the area the buyer is located in. In certain situations, you may also wish to notify the law enforcement in your area.

2. File a complaint with government agencies. The Internet Crime Complaint Center is a partnership between the FBI and National White Collar Crime Center to deal with internet crimes. If the transaction involved the postal service, you may also wish to file a complaint with the USPS.

3. Contact the appropriate financial institutions. If your account information has been compromised, notify your bank immediately. If this is a non-payment matter, you may also wish to involve a collection agency in the process.

4. Notify PhiMart at fraud@PhiMart.com to report the incident. Please include all details and documentations of the transactions.

PayPal

With PayPal, payments can be made and receive instantaneously, however, there is a fee for each transaction. Unlike other payment methods, PayPal offers a Seller Protection Program. To qualify for the Seller Protection Program, you must:

1. Be a verified seller.
2. Ship your items to eligible addresses.
3. Sell physical good. Services are not covered under PayPal's Seller Protection.
4. Retain proof that the products were delivered. Products over $250 must be insured.
5. Ship product within 7 days of receiving payment.

If any of these requirements are not met, you will not be eligible for the Seller Protection Program. The Protection Program also does not cover non-US buyers. In the event that the buyer files a "Significantly Not As Described" claim, sellers are also not eligible for the protection program.

PayPal also offers a Buyer Protection Program. If your buyer is not satisfied with the product, they may file a dispute or request a reversal of funds. When the buyer files a dispute with PayPal, you will have to address their claims and concerns through PayPal's Resolution Center. If the dispute is resolved, PayPal protects the seller against any future claims or chargebacks concerning the transaction. If a resolution cannot be reached, the PayPal claims team will investigate the matter. If PayPal finds in favor of the buyer, PayPal will return the funds to them.

The buyer may also file a chargeback with their credit card company, asking for a reversal of already approved transactions. The credit card company will contact PayPal, who will in turn contact you. The funds are then held temporarily until a resolution or decision is reached. You should visit your PayPal Resolution Center to attempt to resolve the situation. If PayPal decides that you are not at fault, they can help you to fight the chargeback claims with the buyer's credit card company. If the credit card company agrees, the funds will be returned to you.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are a convenient method of payment. They are fast, secure, and available to most buyers.

However, if the credit card is found to be fraudulent, the credit card company will reverse the charges and you will be out of the value of the product. The charges may also be reversed if you have shipped the product without a tracking number, and the product becomes lost during shipping.

If the buyer has filed a chargeback, you have 30-90 days to resolve the matter with the credit card company.

Money Orders

Money orders are generally secure payments. You will have to wait for its delivery, but they are easily cashed and deposited, and there are no extra fees for its use.

The authenticity of the money orders should be established before shipping the product. Money orders issued by the United States Postal Service are harder to counterfeit than money orders issued by banks and retail chains. However, counterfeit USPS money orders may not be detected immediately at your bank. Cash your USPS money orders at the postal office to ensure its authenticity. Money orders also contain expiration dates, be sure to cash your money order before it is voided.

For your security, consider accepting only USPS money orders, and shipping the product only when the money order has been successfully cashed at a post office. If this is the method you choose to use, outline these terms clearly in your item description to avoid misunderstandings with the buyer.

Wire Transfers

Wire transfers are the most secure payments available to the sellers. Payment is immediate and easy, and the money is directly deposited into your bank account. However, the risk is high for the buyer, and we do not recommend that they use this method for payment.

Please keep in mind that asking for non-bank wire transfers, e.g. transfers made through Western Union, is prohibited. All wire transfers must be bank-to-bank.

Personal and Cashier's Checks

Because you must wait for its delivery and clearance, a check can take longer than any other payment method. However, the funds are secure once they have been cashed or deposited. There are no extra fees to you, and they provide proof of payment.

Sellers should beware of fraudulent checks. Before shipping your product, make sure that the check has been cleared and paid, especially if dealing with high priced items. Sellers should consider the length of time required for this payment. Some buyers may not be willing to wait for the funds to clear.