Beware: sirafurball

[kolae.livejournal.com]

WHO: sirafurball

WHERE: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/sirafurball/

WHAT: Digital YCH commission http://www.furaffinity.net/view/15152133/ [the YCH] (NSFW nudity)
The finished product: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/15207864/ (NSFW nudity)

WHEN: Sirafurball bid on my YCH and won: http://i.imgur.com/G1QUpPI.png (December 5th 2014)
Sirafurball giving me information for the commission and asking me to invoice them: http://i.imgur.com/OXA8R8p.png
Their recognition of paying the invoice: http://i.imgur.com/WYPmrzZ.png
Paypal showing the two reversals placed upon the original $75 payment for the commission: http://i.imgur.com/7oNZMCQ.png

PROOF:
Paypal showing the original payment and the two reversals put onto the payment: http://i.imgur.com/7oNZMCQ.png
The payment is currently held away from my account.
Our conversation, starting when I had first seen the reversals in my Paypal account. (*Note: I have omitted some portions of the conversations for sake of clarity, and can have them available if they are needed): http://i.imgur.com/Vx77MT5.png

EXPLAIN: Created a YCH

Sirafurball won the YCH. Paid on December 5th 2014.

Completed the YCH and gave files to Sirafurball December 11th 2014.

Reversal on the payment was put on January 9th 2015.

Upon receiving the message of the reversal, I contacted Sirafurball via notes on FA.

Funds were back into my account on January 10th 2015.

Received another reversal on the payment on January 13th 2015.

Contacted Sirafurball again, they reply with "I know, another artist tell me the same. I'm creating another paypal account for fixed all (to see if it finally works..)” http://i.imgur.com/Vx77MT5.png

Currently waiting, with the funds held out of my account.

There are other artists in this situation, who have been commissioned by Sirafurball. One has contacted me and Sirafurball has acknowledged the others in their responses to me in the conversations listed above.

Comments

[adzuki.livejournal.com]

I am one of the other artists effected by this user and have a beware on the way.


I don't like the idea of her making a new PayPal account to pay those she has effected especially if her parents really were the ones to intervene the first time. It is super shady to me.

Crossing my fingers all artists involved get their money and no more chargebacks from this user.

[latiro.livejournal.com]

I don't like the idea of her making a new PayPal account to pay those she has effected especially if her parents really were the ones to intervene the first time.

I'm assuming that Sira is a minor, because if so, I wouldn't want to work with her, especially if there's a chance of PayPal chargebacks.

[kolae.livejournal.com]

If we knew she were a minor, I know I would not have accepted her commission. Her age is not listed on her page, and she had nsfw work favorited, so I made the assumption that she was of age. I know now I am going to be needing to make sure my clients are of legal age. But still, that does not forgive the actions made.

[muzz.livejournal.com]

Am also another artist she has effected with this charge back claim. I received x2 for two payments, two commissions. At first she said it was her parents, then said her boyfriend went into her paypal and issued the claims (????).

In the middle of our chats she decided she didn't want to speak English anymore and I had to use google translate to communicate from then on.

After that she told me that Paypal told her to /delete/ her account, make a new one, and then for me to send her an invoice for the payments so she could pay me back, despite the claims still on going.

In the end I gave into the claim as I knew it wouldn't go in my favor, and have since blocked and blacklisted her.

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

If you need help translating the Spanish you can PM me with it, and I can take a crack at it. It's my second language.

[muzz.livejournal.com]

Thanks but I don't need to anymore. This was all going on over the last two days, its over now.

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh I missed the line where you ended up refunding her. Goodness, I'm so sorry.

I also sincerely doubt Paypal would ever tell them to delete the account.

[muzz.livejournal.com]

Yeah I mean, when it comes to paypal and how they feel about 'digital goods' its always going to go in the favor of the person who makes the claim. I've been in this situation before where someone won an auction of mine, she paid it and then a few months later issued me a charge back claim. I sent paypal every drop of evidence I had of the work I did, the payments made, our conversations that had no arguments or anything to suggest she wasn't happy, and they still took my money and won the claim.

So I just know in cases like this its better to just give the money back, black list them and never work with them again than to risk getting a bad mark on my paypal that I've had for over ten years now. Just not worth it.

[frisket17.livejournal.com]

Side question:
Incidents involving paypal seem rampant. I've not heard of artists favorably dealing with paypal. What's the benefit in using it?
I never have used it myself. I require cash, check, or money order before I personally work on art for people -- Seems Paypal is just too risky for the artist - and the only benefit is to the buyer.

Am I missing something that makes paypal -good-?

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Part of the problem for a lot of people in these circumstances is that they can't (or feel like they can't) do anything that would potentially turn away customers, and unless you're a particularly popular artist, this is going to happen if you refuse to take paypal. Paypal is what most people have, and it's convenient, so it has momentum that alternatives don't.

So basically, it's not really special, and you're right that it's artist-unfriendly due to outdated digital art rules, but it's also what most people use, so everyone feels they have to have it. Kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy. I keep hoping they'll update their rules to keep up with the times.

[muzz.livejournal.com]

For me personally I've used paypal for years, and in those 10+ years, this is only the second time I've delt with a chargeback. In fact its only been in the last two years I've ever delt with them. I can't speak for others, but I've never had any issues with paypal. Being in the UK checks/money orders are just a pain when the majority of my customers are in the US, its just easier for me in the long run.

[mistresswolf.livejournal.com]

*nods* Those of us that are "international" (I am in Canada) find it more convenient to use Paypal I think when the majority of our customers are in the USA. Personally, I would prefer to do Interac transfers, but as far as I know, it is only something I can do with others that have a Canadian bank account.

Also, I like to do my commissions fast, and I find that waiting on snail mail to arrive with cash/cheque/moneyorder before I can start a commission just makes me anxious.

(frozen)

[kolae.livejournal.com]

Wow.. "PayPal told them to delete the account"...

Trying to not be cynical, but I am fairly certain that would never happen.

(frozen)

[muzz.livejournal.com]

Thats exactly what I thought. Given that they would still need to verify the account, and then go through the verification process of adding a bank account. She made it sound like I would be paid straight away the day she made the account. I said no to that as it was just ridiculous.

[kamilamutt.livejournal.com]

Personally, I had some issues with Sirafurball as well, (she won a YCH & said that payment wouldn't send) but she sent some proof screenshots & I don't think my bad experience was 100% her fault, but her paypal's, instead.

But, I gotta say, I'd advice to be wary when dealing with this person, for large pieces, at least. I also think business with her is a bit shady; After she won my YCH, I waited for an entire week for her to note me with a reference, she only contacted me after I sent her a message asking if she was still interested. Then, that's when she told me the money wouldn't go through (I waited around another week, but nothing), she said that it could possibly be because she was low on funds, so she told me she decided to put her current "Donations are much appreciated! The money is for family problems" on her profile & asked me to post a journal to tell my followers to "help her out" (which was, of course, a lie, it was actually so she could pay for my $120 piece, not any family problems).

Although I realize it might not have been entirely her fault, I felt uncomfortable doing business with her because of that + the long wait time, so at the end I reauctioned my YCH sketch to another person.
Can provide screenshots if necessary.

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

Cracks me up that she has a "TrustedComissioner" logo on her page.

[intj-reflection.livejournal.com]

I was thinking this as well. That and realizing that the Trusted Commissioner page has been shut down.

[ryunwoofie.livejournal.com]

I have a hard time believing anyone with that 'seal' be it commissioners or artists. I've seen a lot of horror stories lately. :U

[doctater.livejournal.com]

Another artist affected by the chargebacks here. I would just refund her but every time I try in the resolution center, I keep getting this error: http://puu.sh/ex1qT.png

I emailed PayPal about it but all I've gotten back is "We'll investigate the legitimacy of the funds". At this point I really don't care, I just want to be done with this mess and move on, regardless of whether I get my money or not.

[ramthedragon.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, I have been contacted by this person before but thankfully for me I had commissions closed at the time and as so didn't have to deal with any of this.
She is in fact a minor, so it is possible it's her parents, since as far as I know she doesn't do commission work and is still in school?

If anyone has problems talking to them I could contact them on skype and I speak spanish. But wow, I will definitely be on my toes with her.

[ravensmoon666.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, it's a good thing I saw your shout on her page and I recognized your fursona from the icon. She had noted my art account two weeks ago for an icon and thank goodness I didn't have acess to my pc or I probably would have accepted it.