View Full Version : Bought an item but not received it (Bank Transfer)
Feel free to close this but I looked at the title of every thread in this new sub-forum and couldn't find anywhere to put it... although I certainly can't be the first to have this problem.
4 weeks ago, I won an ebay auction - paid by bank transfer as the buyer said this was his preferred method. Communication was good and always 'same day' up until the last message I got (which said 'thanks, will dispatch when I receive the money')
This means 3 weeks ago (today) he will have received payment...
I have since sent numerous messages to the account of the seller and have had no response at all.
The telephone number I have obtained from ebay is an '07005' (read 'bought' number) and just skips to voicemail everytime.
What can I do - I have his bank account name, details, a phone number (that admittedly doesn't work) and his full address...
I have googled his name and found 2 other buyers that bought the same day as me and i have emailed them to ask if they have received there items but neither has replied to me (i mailed them on Saturday).
Had to google as his items have disappeared from 'completed listings', yet from memory, he sold about 10items on that one day - he had 0 feedback (and still has 0 feedback)
£44 is at stake here :(
Should I leave it any longer? It's hard to give benefit of the doubt although for all i know he's waiting for a paper statement! Still no excuse for no contact. Assuming the worst, what next?
kingjames
13-02-2007, 21:58
Never, ever pay anybody by bank transfer. Take it to the police.
out of paypal and bank transfer i'd always thought the second option was safest to be honest-obviously not...! if i'm taking it to the cops, how do i approach it? just go the local cop shop with all the details i have? incidently, the member had joined up august last year so it didn't even have scam written all over it :-( i still feel stupid tho :-) haha
sideshowbob
14-02-2007, 08:45
I would definitely get in touch with the police. Gather as much information as you can and then pass it to them. Have you been able to verify the name and address against other sources, such as the electoral roll / BT directory enquiries? If you leave it any longer, you won't be able to register the item as not-received on ebay.
monkey_d_luffy
14-02-2007, 15:02
Paypal is safe (for buyers, at the very least). Use paypal whenever you can. Con artists usually demand that you pay via bank transfer, or other form of dodgy money transfer.
Cheers for clarification, I really should have known better! :)
I did do a search on BT directory enquiries and it didn't match that address, but there were other people on the same road (including just 2 houses away!) with exactly the same surname - although the surname is a common one (ie. like smith)
I have reported the item to ebay and its good to see I could get some of the money back at least :)
I have quite a few details so may as well give it over to the police now anyways --- at least it'll give them something to prop up the desk.
Cheers for your responses :)
mistershow
15-02-2007, 22:01
I also think you may want to just be a little bit more patient. I've had similar issues before with someone who had won an item i was selling. Nearly a month later he had still not paid and not responded to any of my emails requesting payment. it seemed odd because he had all positive feedback from both sellers and buyers syaing "fast payment, ect ect). the day i got fed up with it and left him negative feedback i received an email from him saying he had been out of the country because his mother had passed away and he had to take care of alot of things with his family. I felt like quite the ass after that =\
KennyVader
16-02-2007, 07:29
I also think you may want to just be a little bit more patient. I've had similar issues before with someone who had won an item i was selling. Nearly a month later he had still not paid and not responded to any of my emails requesting payment. it seemed odd because he had all positive feedback from both sellers and buyers syaing "fast payment, ect ect). the day i got fed up with it and left him negative feedback i received an email from him saying he had been out of the country because his mother had passed away and he had to take care of alot of things with his family. I felt like quite the ass after that =\
95% chance he was lying. People are sad like that these days I'm afraid.
IAmATeaf
16-02-2007, 11:28
Am in a similar situation as yourself, no on ebay but through an internet free ads site, paid by bank transfer on 19 Dec 2006 and have received nothing. I have a thread open in the suppliers section on this.
In terms of paying by bank transfer the banks can't help and in my case the police just said it was a civil matter and that there was nothing that they could do to assist.
95% chance he was lying. People are sad like that these days I'm afraid.
Yeah, only responded when he got the neg
splobber
16-02-2007, 15:26
the day i got fed up with it and left him negative feedback i received an email from him saying he had been out of the country because his mother had passed away and he had to take care of alot of things with his family. I felt like quite the ass after that =\
Everyone who arses about on eBay uses that old chestnut.
I bet his Mum has died at least half a dozen times now.
Am in a similar situation as yourself, no on ebay but through an internet free ads site, paid by bank transfer on 19 Dec 2006 and have received nothing. I have a thread open in the suppliers section on this.
In terms of paying by bank transfer the banks will not bother to help and in my case the police just can't be arsed to investigate and that there was nothing that they could do to assist.
edited your quote slightly to reflect the truth :|
Since when has theft / fraud been a civil matter :nono: I will have to go back to knocking on old ladies doors and offerring to clean their gutters for £1000 and not bother doing it. They can then sue me and not bother calling the police as it is obviously a civil matter. :brickwall
alphatyrant
16-02-2007, 20:36
Paypal is safe (for buyers, at the very least). Use paypal whenever you can. Con artists usually demand that you pay via bank transfer, or other form of dodgy money transfer.
I object to that, I prefer BT, chequ etc as I dn't have and am unwilling to upgrade to a full Paypal account...I'm astonished by how much money Ebay make from you not only from using their site but by using their "preferred" payment method.
For small time honest sellers like me it's the only way I can do business.
kingjames
16-02-2007, 22:33
I object to that, I prefer BT, chequ etc as I dn't have and am unwilling to upgrade to a full Paypal account...I'm astonished by how much money Ebay make from you not only from using their site but by using their "preferred" payment method.
For small time honest sellers like me it's the only way I can do business.
It's normally a false economy. Sellers that do not accept Paypal usually sell their items for far less than a seller that does accept it. That's a fact.
IAmATeaf
18-02-2007, 21:53
edited your quote slightly to reflect the truth :|
Since when has theft / fraud been a civil matter :nono: I will have to go back to knocking on old ladies doors and offerring to clean their gutters for £1000 and not bother doing it. They can then sue me and not bother calling the police as it is obviously a civil matter. :brickwall
The person I spoke to at my local police office wanted me to contact my ISP and then the sellers as that is according to them where I saw the product being advertised, when civil matter was quoted I sort of switched off and gave up.
dvds2000
19-02-2007, 00:26
why contact your isp? what good would that do you?
molerat is correct - they couldn't be arsed to investigate
typing00
19-02-2007, 04:51
It's normally a false economy. Sellers that do not accept Paypal usually sell their items for far less than a seller that does accept it. That's a fact.
Wouldn't go so far as to say "far less". If your item is in demand and you have a great feedback you'll fetch a high enough price to cover the fees you'll lose through Paypal...
well, contacted my bank, they said that ebay have a policy for dealing with this (which is what i'm going through at the moment - i'm on day 8 and they've not responded... as if they ever will!)
so then I contacted my local police and they said I need to contact the police where he (supposedly!) is based and give them the details... if they get enough complaints, they can action it!
Going to give them a ring on Monday - i've now contacted 3 other people who won auctions on the same day and none of them have had the decency to reply... really annoying! - he still (only) has zero feedback too!
kingjames
23-02-2007, 23:16
Worth pointing out the possibility that the three other people were shill bidders. Maybe something you've considered already, but I thought I'd raise it anyway...
If the phone number is incorrect, report him for false contact details.
It's one of the few things that ebay really do take seriously, if they can't validate the number, they will suspend him.
Cheers Malsa,
I went off on one tonight as I found out the money I should get back off ebay was less as they dont include postage costs in there 'refund tally!'
So annoyed! so...
Have closed the dispute with ebay (and requested a refund)
Will report theft to their area police station tomorrow
Have written a letter to their bank asking for their assistance (will include any references I get off the police tomorrow)
Have written to their ISP complaining
Have reported them to ebay for having a dodgy phone number
--- not that i'm annoyed or anything... :D
what really pee's me off is that the missus didn't want me to buy the item in the first place (it was deemed a waste of money)... it's turned into an even bigger waste now!
Ouch, and you've got all the "told you so's" for the next 15 years or so....
haha oh yeah! they never forget ;)
on the plus side, i've had an email today off someone else who was ripped off who has got my info from the feedback i left him
he's done some research to and is up for joining forces to try and woop his ass so that's a positive sign :)
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