I purchased advertised UNC Walker Half Dollars and a BU Peace Dollar on Dec. 2nd 2008.

After 2 weeks I hadn't received the items and contacted Michael A Lavanga (eBay ID mikescoins1). No response to several emails and I was using the eBay contact tool.

I had to file a non-receipt claim with PayPal and finally got a response. They said they shipped the items and provided tracking. I received the coins 1 week later, not in time for Christmas because I needed to ship them.

The coins were not UNC or BU and I again contacted mikescoins1. He replied and offered to refund my money only if I dropped the claim with PayPal. I requested the return shipping address because his eBay contact information and the item shipping information were in 2 different states. He stopped responding.

A few days later he provided the tracking information to PayPal, pressumably to close the non-receipt case and recover his money. I had to call PayPal, they were very nice and closed the non-receipt case and opened an item not as described case. The case is still pending.

In my opinion, I think that Mr. Lavanga tried to pull a fast one; by not shipping the items he forced me to open a non-receipt claim. Then, he shipped coins that were not up to grade. He could prove that items were shipped and received. I am sure it was his intention to have the case closed in his favor. PayPal states that once the buyer closes a claim it cannot be reopened.

I don't think he was counting on me making a simple phone call to PayPal to have the claim changed from non-receipt to not as described.

Once this is all over, I am also filing a complaint with the local BBB. If I do not receive my refund, I will be filing a report with my local police department and with the police department in Mr. Lavanga's town.