Bank Transfer

Anselm

Hi, i'm buying something off a forum and the seller has requested I either use Bank transfer or Paypal gift methos of payment. If I did either, am I protected if the item is INR or SNAD?

Thank you

soolin

Anselm wrote: »

Hi, i'm buying something off a forum and the seller has requested I either use Bank transfer or Paypal gift methos of payment. If I did either, am I protected if the item is INR or SNAD?

Thank you

No, you have no protection at all. Both of those payments are really only suitable to make payments to someone you know and trust.

malkyh

I wouldnt recommend it unless you know and trust them.

Anselm

Ok I've said I won't buy it, thanks Soolin and Malky. Just out of interest, am I protected if I send the payment via paypal but fill out the proper form? i.e. for goods?

malkyh

If you pay via paypal goods then yes you have protection.

lulu650

Presumably the seller has asked the money to be sent Paypal as a gift in order to pay Paypal fees.

soolin

lulu650 wrote: »

Presumably the seller has asked the money to be sent Paypal as a gift in order to pay Paypal fees.

I think most of us were assuming a slightly darker scenario . My first thought if asked to gift a payment (and I do get asked on occasions) is tha seller is likely to be looking to scam.

annie-c

I think it depends on the type of goods really. I have bought relatively low-value items from other members of a craft forum and have paid by paypal gift once or twice with no problems, just because that was what they wanted and I couldn't be bothered to debate the issue. Many people don't really understand how paypal works and sell via forums because they perceive it to be 'friendlier' than ebay. If I really want what they are selling, I tend to take the risk, especially if they are regular posters who seem to be decent people.

If you don't have funds in your paypal balance then you will still have to pay fees on the transfer and paypal actually gives you the option as to whether you pay them yourself or let the 'receiver' pay... Personally, I feel more comfortable with paypal goods transactions, not least because I am uncomfortable with 'cheating' paypal, in circumstances where fees should be paid for services rendered.

You could always ask to pay by a paypal goods transaction but add on the 20p + 4% of purchase price, or whatever the charges are these days. Therefore they are not out of pocket and you are protected.

Crowqueen

Check the forum rules and see whether this person is going against them. Most forums stipulate minimum number of posts, karma or have a rating system to monitor trades/sales traffic. One forum I used to browse had a whole forum dedicated to the mods arbitrating sales as well as a detailed rating system to police what was going on. If you trust the seller and if the forum has a dedicated section to mediation then I would be happier with this sort of behaviour, but Paypal have their own rules and one of these is that people selling anywhere to the general public should not ask for gift payments. I'd never send a gift payment to a stranger, and only use BT if there was an adequate way of proving I made the payment and the forum mods would be able to examine that evidence if it went to arbitration.

Buyers should not really give up their buyer protection or pay more for the privilege of being protected just because the seller has to pay at the other end. If someone is wanting to sell things online and take an electronic payment, they should abide by the user agreement. The service is not free for Paypal to operate, and people here routinely pay other service providers such as ISPs or phone/TV companies for what they use; they only think it's OK to cheat Paypal or eBay or the other selling sites.

I don't think it is the buyer's responsibility to pander to the seller - the seller should be making sure the buyer trusts them and that they honour the sale and can be kept to that promise.

Anselm

Cheers all this item is £95 so I'll send by PayPal goods

Zoology_Dragon

If it's the fees they're worried about you can offer to pay them yourself, there are websites that can calculate the fees for you so you add on the right amount. I buy on forums regularly and would never send money as a gift but I'm happy to cover the fees.