Have been so stupid (hangs head in shame)

soolin

furndire wrote:

This is really sickening, well and truly sending out the wrong message to ebay scammers, - do what you like, you can't touch me.

I think this is where the ebay message gets 'mixed'. You say ebay send out the wrong message by allowing these scammers, yet you don't seem to have picked up on the fact that ebay strongly suggest you do not deal 'off ebay' as if you do you lose ebay protection. Ebay cannot physically restrain a buyer from sending a cheque 'off ebay' they can however offer ebay protection when a trade occurs through them.

The OP here has been completely upfront about the fact they dealt off ebay and should be commended for the fact they asked for advice knowing this was not an ebay issue.

This actually has nothing at all to do with ebay, this is a criminal matter which is why it has become so complicated. If this had been an ebay sale the advice given in the thread would have been different. I also admit that I'm not saying the OP would have been guaranteed 100% of her money back, we all know the ebay protection limits, but somehting would have been better than nothing.

The fact that nasty little scammers already in trouble with the authorities think they can continue to get away with fleecing innocent members of the public is the issue here. How these people live with themselves is beyond me, and like the OP if this was me I would be crying with both upset and anger by now.

I do hope the OP gets somewhere with this, I would be aiming to take this as far as I could within legal limits.

Soo

James_B_2

Sorry to hear that Amanda

I'm still waiting for a refund off my seller too... He says he *should* have my money to refund by the 18th... haha the cheek of some people!

FloFlo

Do you have any local politicians who might be interested in pushing this with the police - a local councillor perhaps. Another angle might be local papers where the scammer lives.

hollydays

At this point i would put it in writing to the Police to explain to you exactly why it is not regarded as a criminal offence.Only then are you going to get any understanding.

Amanda65

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I really think I am just going to end up putting this down to a bad experience although why the little b*****d should get away with it is beyond me.

As a previously ardent supporter of our police force, and someone who hasn't (luckily) ever had to call on their services before I am devastated that they are not there to protect innocent people who have been duped. I know I was stupid. I know I shouldn't have done it, but unfortunately as I said at the begining I was rather gullible and assumed that the majority, like me, where honest and trustworthy. In fact I still believe that the majority are honest and trustworthy, it's just a shame that I came into contact with one of the minority that isn't.

James_B_2

I can't remember if you have, and I can't be bothered to read the whole post again (:P), but did you ever get in touch with the winner of the original auction, if there was one?

Might be worth finding out if they are in the same boat as you and if they're any closer to getting their money back?

Stubbarama

Amanda65 wrote:

It will cost £30 to process the claim apparently and I still have to get the money from him even if judgement is awarded in my favour - think I'm just throwing good money after bad!!!!

Amanda, Please check this again, I think there is a number og the Money Claim website and the staff there are so helpful, really.

If you put a claim in, it is very unlikely that it will be contested and you will win by default, you then have the option, to enforce the payment by bailiff, at a cost to the defendant.

I personaly did this, this year and the defendant paid after the bailiff attended 1st time.

Amanda65

James_B wrote:

I can't remember if you have, and I can't be bothered to read the whole post again (:P), but did you ever get in touch with the winner of the original auction, if there was one?

Might be worth finding out if they are in the same boat as you and if they're any closer to getting their money back?

I have contacted two of his buyers - one is in a similar boat but has not replied to my last email from about 3 weeks ago and the other, although he gave +ve feedback, did reply to say he withdrew his offer due to suspicions and the purchase didn't go ahead. The +ve feedback apparently was becasuse they agreed between them no to proceed! Two other bidders on there are now no longer registered with ebay - as isn't the scammer (sorry that sentence was not good English but it's late!)

Amanda65

Stubbarama wrote:

Amanda, Please check this again, I think there is a number og the Money Claim website and the staff there are so helpful, really.

If you put a claim in, it is very unlikely that it will be contested and you will win by default, you then have the option, to enforce the payment by bailiff, at a cost to the defendant.

I personaly did this, this year and the defendant paid after the bailiff attended 1st time.

Thanks - was going by what a legal claims line had said but will check website out again tomorrow.

markharding69

go to the local police station rather than some on that is miles away as you can then speak face to face with some one etc. like i said i went to mine and they were helpfull. they HAVE commited a crime.