If any of you have tried to use a credit card with PayPal, you know that you are presented with a screen telling you how great the direct bank transfer is and that you are protected.

If you use this option, you subject yourself to the PayPal claims process and give up all the normal credit card protections.

Recently, I had a seller deliver an item to me damaged and significantly not as described. His response was basically "tough".

A PayPal dispute was filed with absolutely no communication from the seller. It was elevated to a claim and the nightmare began with everything from requests for photos, third party appraisals, faxed documents, etc for a $50 item with absolutely no results.

Had I paid by credit card, the solution was simple and I have since discovered that the PayPal claims process is somewhat of a joke.

I will never use the direct bank transfer option again.