Update...after sending a copy of the email from my Italian friend to Paypal, as per their advice, and then being told they do not accept emails as confirmation of receipt, I finally was able to speak to a Supervisor, who verified the email on Ebay.....and got PayPal to refund me back the $$$$, of course as a 1 time courtsey to me.......gues they could no longer deny the logic that I was right all along