Angry seller threatening to come to my address - scared

anon_girl

Hi,

I'm a regular poster but have posted under a new account as I'm so paraonoid about this at the moment.

I bought a mobile from eBay, someone with lots of positive feedback, so I was confident all should be ok.

On receipt, I found there was an intermittent SIM problem, which meant that the handset would not read the SIM. I contacted seller, who initially seemed friendly. I persevered - tried different SIMs, tried same SIM in other handsets - but this showed it was clearly the handset at fault.

As soon as I requested a return for a refund, the seller began ignoring me. I've lost track of timescales, but it was over a month I think by now, from when I purchased. So I had little choice but to raise a Paypal claim.

Paypal found in my favour, I returned it, and Paypal refunded me.

However the seller then sent me an email (via eBay), to ask why I had sent back a different mobile than the one I had been sent. I haven't done this at all, and couldn't think what he was after apart from trying to override the Paypal decision. So as much as I felt like replying to say that I hadn't done any such thing, I didn't.

However today, I have received another email. Much more worrying, saying that he has my address from eBay and will be coming to get his money back.

Now, I am trying to be rational, and I do realise that probably in most cases like this, it is an empty threat. And I keep telling myself that.

But it doesn't help. My husband works away in the week so I am here alone. Just got home tonight and couldn't stop myself from creeping around the house, carefully opening each door and checking everywhere that no one was here. I have then gone around and locked any windows that were unlocked, and also put the extra bolts on all the doors (never ever done that before).

I have contacted both eBay and Paypal to ask for advice - surely they are familiar with this type of situation, and I hoped they could advise what to do. But they were useless - eBay suggested I explain my concerns about being home along to the seller. Erm, no I don't think so :eek:

So I am sat here on edge, hoping that this is an empty threat. But how long will this go on for? Is there anything that I could/should do at this point? I've never ever had to deal with anything like this so I don't know what to do; I'm assuming the police are a no-go as nothing has actually happened.

I've even been googling the person's name to check there are no reported incidents againt them (I couldn't find any thankfully).

Please help

hermum

The chances are this is an empty threat, there are quite a few reports on here where people are threatened.
If you're that worried & it sounds as though this !!!!!! has you terrified. Print off the message & report it to the Police.
Remember that the chances are he will not be round to collect, he's a pathetic spineless bully.

Crowqueen

Go to the police about it, and if they are messaging you through eBay report their messages - or report any emails to their internet service provider or email provider (the second part of their email address).

They are probably bluffing but if the authorities act then they will realise this is serious and possibly back off.

Not many people would drive out of their way to abuse someone like this - but it's not worth taking any chances.

anon_girl

Hi hermum, thanks for your reply. I do know, thinking sensibly about it, that you're no doubt right, and it is probably hopefully an empty threat.

But I just can't help but worry. I've no idea what I would even do if someone turned up on my doorstep.

I've never had any cause to deal with any police, but from reading general threads over the years on MSE, I have the impression that they would not be interested in this, and I don't want to waste their time. But at the same time I don't want to wait for something to happen, before doing anything as it will then be too late.

shaun_from_Africa

If you're that worried & it sounds as though this !!!!!! has you
terrified. Print off the message & report it to the Police.

And make sure that you advise the seller that you have reported it to the police.

anon_girl

Crowqueen wrote: »

Go to the police about it, and if they are messaging you through eBay report their messages - or report any emails to their internet service provider or email provider (the second part of their email address).

They are probably bluffing but if the authorities act then they will realise this is serious and possibly back off.

Not many people would drive out of their way to abuse someone like this - but it's not worth taking any chances.

I've already tried eBay and they haven't done anything unfortunately.

Thank you for the suggestion regarding the email provider, that is a really good idea and I hadn't thought of that.

EDIT: just looked, and the eBay message that I've received only shows as coming from @members.ebay.co.uk.

You're the second person to suggest the police, maybe I should listen to the advice and give them a call. I just don't want to either be laughed at, or waste their time.

Based on where the seller live, they are probably 1.5 hours or so away from me, so not that too far away.

Poppy9

Contact the police as the seller has your address because I assume they sent the phone to you.

Print out the email as proof etc. and if seller continues to harass you respond with the contact details of the police and the crime number you have been issued.

Crowqueen

If the police at least know you will be protected.

I was very depressed a few years ago and got into a few difficulties - without going into too much detail, my parents went away on holiday and my mother asked the police to keep an eye on me, make sure I didn't do anything silly. One evening I walked up to the local pub and got stopped by an officer who knew me and asked if I was OK and where I was going.

I was a bit weirded out by it, but in retrospect I think my parents were worried enough even about a 27-year old to make that kind of arrangement, and the police took it seriously enough to follow through.

azzabazza

I can only advise as others. Please let the police know and back it up with a copy of the email from seller.

anon_girl

Thank you for all the replies. I think that as you are all thinking it's not mad for me to talk to the police at this point, I will call them tomorrow and see what they say.

I think the main reason I am worrying it is not an empty threat, is that I don't see the point of saying it. I mean, if the Paypal dispute was still ongoing, then it would make sense, as I'd assume it was to intimidate me into withdrawing the claim and not asking for my money back.

But the dispute is already closed so he has nothing to gain in that respect from sending empty threats. If that makes sense?

anniecave

Ensure you give the police the physical address that you returned the goods to, and the name of the ebay member for example John Smith or Joe Bloggs, not just the email address.

You could probably do some detective work based on the IP address on any emails they've sent you but if you have their physical address then at least you know they're not not local to you.