I couldn't pay due to a family bereavement

squeakysue

I have the unluckiest buyers

MyOnlyPost

I'm sure we've all had these kind of excuses but unfortunately you have to give the benefit of the doubt, just in case. This wouldn't however stop me issuing a NPB claim, if the buyer is telling the truth I am sure they simply wouldn't care about a NPB strike.

soolin

Like MyOnlyPost I am always sympathetic at the same time as opening my NPB . I had one recently- they got a strike from me and contacted me to say how sorry they were but they had had a family death and could i please remove the strike as they seemed to be unable to buy many things on ebay anymore.

I did actually respond saying how sorry I was to hear about their problems. I totally ignored the rest of the email and it's been a week and they haven't got back to me again.

squeakysue

I opened the npb yesterday after over a week of no contact and a gentle reminder the day before. I got the family bereavement message today but am not holding my breath for my payment!

amcluesent

What a sick insult to the genuinely bereaved

Happy_bunny

I'll sound merciless but would any business take the excuses for non-payment?

Imagine not paying the gas bill cause the dog, budgie, uncle or pet goldfish has suddenly fallen off their perch, reckon they'd care?! :eek:

I'm always amazed that the NPB, whatever unfortunate event has befallen them seem perfectly able to browse eBay for goodies they then can't be ar5ed to pay for! :mad:

squeakysue

I am giving them the benefit of the doubt but I am getting tired of the old excuses, death/sick child etc. They are apparently going to send me postal orders now....

RFW

I recently had a regular customer who hadn't paid and been in contact for a couple of weeks, she did get in touch to tell me her husband had died.

I always take it as genuine and know in this case it was. I've been through close bereavement as a seller on Ebay and just about managed to get through it with my account in order. I think the sellers or buyers that immediately assume you are lying are as bad as those who make it up to use as an excuse. When I messaged my customers they were all understanding except for a couple who seemed to be put out.

loracan1

I had one who'd 'won' a small rechargeable vacuum cleaner I was selling, I offered her the option of collection since she was in the same town and after umming and ahhing a bit, (hinting that I could deliver it), she told me that her dog, which the neighbour was looking after, had run out of the house and been knocked down so now she couldn't afford it. (yet, just before she'd sent this message she'd managed to afford and pay for a similar vacuum)

melliott1963

I once had someone pull out of a sale saying they couldn't pay as they just found out they had cancer.

Obviously, it is a terrible thing if it was true, although I couldn't quite understand why finding out they had cancer then prevented them for paying for goods? But if it was just an excuse, then how sick can you get to make up a story like this and, to be quite honest, I was glad the sale didn't go through as I could see there could have been further issues down the line.

MyOnlyPost

Happy_bunny wrote: »

I'll sound merciless but would any business take the excuses for non-payment?

Imagine not paying the gas bill cause the dog, budgie, uncle or pet goldfish has suddenly fallen off their perch, reckon they'd care?! :eek:

I'm always amazed that the NPB, whatever unfortunate event has befallen them seem perfectly able to browse eBay for goodies they then can't be ar5ed to pay for! :mad:

Actually yes many utilities would offer an extension of service before cutting the supply if there was a bereavement of a close relative. Especially in the case of older couples where the deceased may have held sole responsibility for the household bills. They would however reasonably request a death certificate as proof.

Contrary to public opinion not all big business is uncaring.