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Small Claims Court for Payment — Washington

Started by asking_for_friend_homeowner_2026 · Dec 2, 2025 · 1,176 views · 21 replies
For informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
AF
asking_for_friend_homeowner_2026 OP

I'm in a difficult situation in Washington and trying to figure out my next steps.

eBay siding with buyer on false claim. I've been dealing with this for about 3 months now and the situation isn't improving.

The amount being held/disputed is approximately $29,475. I have tried contacting customer support 10 times with no resolution.

Am I overthinking this or is this a real legal issue worth pursuing?

TL
Mod_TermsLaw Moderator

Attorney here. Here's my take on the legal issues.

This is a common situation and the law is fairly clear. Under Regulation E, an unauthorized electronic fund transfer.

I'd recommend documenting everything in writing from this point forward. Keep copies of all communications.

AW
anon_worker_2026

NAL, but from what I've read, you should send a written demand. That said, definitely get a lawyer to look at the specifics.

DR
desperate_renter_GA

I work in this industry and unfortunately this is very common. The good news is that when people actually push back with legal representation, companies usually settle.

FR
frustrated_renter_2026

Have you tried reaching out to your state's attorney general? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

PB
PatentAgent_Boston

I've dealt with this before.

I ended up hiring an attorney to send the initial letter, which cost about $2-4 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

AF
asking_for_friend_tenant_TX

Have you tried reaching out to your state's attorney general? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

OD
OpenSourceLawyer_Dan

I've dealt with this before.

The biggest mistake people make in this situation is filing with the appropriate government agency. I'd recommend gathering evidence first instead.

TF
TechStartup_Founder

I've dealt with this before.

In my case, it took about 3-6 months to resolve. The key was having everything documented.

ES
eComm_Seller_2022

I went through almost the exact same thing.

The biggest mistake people make in this situation is escalating to a supervisor/manager. I'd recommend following the formal complaint procedure instead.

DT
desperate_trader_FL

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.

FT
first_time_employee_FL

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.

NH
need_help_freelancer_today

Have you tried reaching out to your state's legal aid society? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

OD
OpenSourceLawyer_Dan

I've dealt with this before.

I ended up escalating to a supervisor/manager, which cost about $1-3 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

SA
seeking_advice_renter_NC

Have you tried reaching out to your state's legal aid society? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

CT
CryptoTrader_2023

I went through almost the exact same thing.

I ended up escalating to a supervisor/manager, which cost about $1-3 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

PN
Photographer_NYC

I've dealt with this before.

What worked for me was escalating to a supervisor/manager. It took 1-3 months but was worth it.

NR
NurseUnion_Rep

Been there. Here's what I learned.

The biggest mistake people make in this situation is filing with the appropriate government agency. I'd recommend gathering evidence first instead.

TF
throwaway_freelancer_2022

This happened to me too. Have you tried filing a complaint with the relevant agency? In my case they investigated and it got resolved without needing a lawyer.

LT
LandlordTom_TX

Been there. Here's what I learned.

I ended up filing with the appropriate government agency, which cost about $4-8 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

GL
GigWorker_LA

Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.

The biggest mistake people make in this situation is having everything documented. I'd recommend keeping a detailed timeline instead.

OD
OpenSourceLawyer_Dan

Been there. Here's what I learned.

The biggest mistake people make in this situation is filing with the appropriate government agency. I'd recommend gathering evidence first instead.

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