Getting money back due to scam?

mrjack

Hi,

(please move the thread if it's not in the right section)

Feeling quite silly at the moment but here goes. A few weeks ago I bought some electronic goods from the famous wholesaler in China - alibaba.com (or rather one of its advertisers). This is something I dealt with before with good outcomes.

However, this time I am having issues. I have paid $1150 via Western Union (yes, I know!) from my Lloyds TSB credit card and the supplier has given me some EMS tracking numbers for my packages, which were not working. Then last week I was told that there was a "mistake" in tracking numbers and was given a new one, this time for China Post. This is not working either.

The supplier is a reluctant to communicate with me and I still have no goods.

Assuming that I don't get any of my merchandise soon, what are my options of getting my money back? I doubt Western Union will be of any use since they don't support "business" transactions and alibaba.com would only compensate 70% of my losses.

Would Lloyds TSB be willing to help considering that this is an international transaction? There wouldn't be any "charge-back" due to Western Union being the payment transport, I would have thought.

Thanks
Alex

dazza.mk

I doubt Lloyds would be any help at all. As the transaction would be considered a money transfer to China, the 3rd party would not fall within the contractual relationship required for Section 75 cover.

mrjack

Hm yes, it would be a money transfer. That's a shame - is there anything that can be done??

lisyloo

I think you are being too impatient to be honest.
I ordered something from Hong Kong in Novemeber and it still hasn't arrived.

Bear in mind there is a big Xmas backlog because many flights were cancelled in the really busy Xmas period due to snow.
I don't think the backlog has cleared yet.

Of course it's worrying not having tracking numbers.

jonesMUFCforever

Face up to facts - you have lost your money and have been scammed.

mrjack

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Face up to facts - you have lost your money and have been scammed.

Probably. However, I have phoned up Lloyds, and surprisingly, they have been rather helpful. The transaction is in dispute and I should hear more soon. Not holding my breath though.........