Advice with Sending a Cheque

wapow

I need to buy something from a stranger and he's selling at a decent price.

He has requested that I can pay him cash in hand. But he lives on the other end of the country.

So he said he would only take a cheque. As soon as he receives it he will send the product.

Ive spoke to him on the phone and he seems genuine. Also it was his suggestion that we meet up in a busy spot and trade if thats a possibility. He's also suggested that he can show me some of the work he has done online for companies to prove that it is him.

(He did sound rather old)

So my questions are...

How much protection do I get from sending a cheque?
If he receives it and cashes it, am i screwed if i dont get a product off him?

soolin

You have no protection whatsoever. After day 6 the cheque is completely cleared in his account and you can do nothing about it.

sturdygirl21

Yep - no protection. Does the seller have a paypal account? Or can you use a credit card and transfer money straight to his account? that way you'd have some sort of protection. sorry, not much help otherwise!

McKneff

Dont touch it with a bargepole.

If he wants to meet up to give you this whatever it is, make the exchange then for cash, rather than sending a cheque and waiting for it
to clear.

It screams SCAM to me.

Paypal is the only way, then you have at least some protection.

Why arent you saying what the product is,

wapow

Ok how would a paypal payment work?
What kind of security do i have?

Ive heard of paypal gifts. If the money is gifted to him or he requests that it be gifted to him, then what?

McKneff

Without going into it all first, contact him and tell him you want to pay by paypal, then see what he says, if he says no
then i think you have your answer and run, run, run.

sturdygirl21

paypal payments - you'd both need to have an account, then he would send you an invoice (which goes to your email that you supply when you register) - you pay from your paypal account and it goes straight to him. If it turns out to be a scam, ie, if you don't receive the item as promised, you can call paypal and they look into it - they'll then refund you the money. My paypal account got hacked into not so long ago and money taken - I called them up and they refunded the money - no fuss whatsover.
not sure about gifts - someone else might be able to answer that one!

citykid5

it all depends on how much we are talking about? i've often sent payment by cheque to people that i havn't even met before.their has to be some trust still in this world?if you'v spoke to the guy and think he comes across as genuine then why not show a little trust

scotsbob

McKneff wrote: »

If he wants to meet up to give you this whatever it is, make the exchange then for cash, rather than sending a cheque and waiting for it
to clear.

Better pay by cheque and have a record of the payment than pay by cash and have no record at all.

wapow

The amount is £150

Thats alot of money in my world before some of you go off on one lol!

podperson

Would definately suggest going through paypal rather then sending a cheque. Takes about 5 minutes to set up off your email address and is free to do so no excuse for people not wanting to use it. If this guy then does scam you then if you make a complaint via paypal there is a good chance of getting your money back. If you send cheque or cash and this happens then you have basically no chance of getting it back if anything goes wrong. For a decent amount of money like that would say don't risk it.