Ebay threatening me with Debt collectors

RFW

dinglebert wrote: »

But the seller has no evidence until they check it that the item is faulty. At that point they should refund the returning postage.

It makes no difference, that's not how the law works regarding distance selling. If contacted within 7 days the seller should be paying for return postage (if asked) before it is returned. If not within 7 days, but within a reasonable time (depends on the item) the seller should still be paying return postage. Irrespective of the law it's good business sense, only idiots and conmen do it any different.

MrsE_2

RFW wrote: »

It makes no difference, that's not how the law works regarding distance selling. If contacted within 7 days the seller should be paying for return postage (if asked) before it is returned. If not within 7 days, but within a reasonable time (depends on the item) the seller should still be paying return postage. Irrespective of the law it's good business sense, only idiots and conmen do it any different.

Thank you, its too late now anyway.
Ive replaced it & the broken one is in garden awaiting trip to tip.

themull1

Brooker_Dave wrote: »

Or 15% of your buyers pretended not to have received them?

Or dodgy postmen stole them.....

Road_Hog

RFW wrote: »

You should report to Trading Standards, seller should legally be paying return postage on a faulty item, Ebay can't currently force the seller to pay it.

Um, two things. If they were a private seller, then I do believe that the buyer pays return postage.


Secondly, Trading Standards are a toothless dog. And I'm talking from a business point of view. I had a buyer try it on, she contacted TS who wrote me a letter, threatening allsorts. I ignored it, it went no further. It's a bit like using CAB, they've been useless for years. The only organisation that I've found that is any good anymore is ACAS (employment issues).

Road_Hog

superflygal wrote: »

Now ebay have sent me a debt collection letter for the £37 out standing.

Wondered if anyone can advise? Have I got grounds to fight, or should I just pay?

Thanks a million!
SFG x

Yep, you've got two choices.


Ignore the debt collectors, you have no debt and no credit agreement. They'll flog it to the debt collectors, who will phone you/send you letters, but do nothing. However, you lose your ebay account.


Pay up, and suck it up.

MrsE_2

Road_Hog wrote: »

Um, two things. If they were a private seller, then I do believe that the buyer pays return postage.


Secondly, Trading Standards are a toothless dog. And I'm talking from a business point of view. I had a buyer try it on, she contacted TS who wrote me a letter, threatening allsorts. I ignored it, it went no further. It's a bit like using CAB, they've been useless for years. The only organisation that I've found that is any good anymore is ACAS (employment issues).

So if I was unscrupulous, I could sell it on & take the chance they wouldn't shell out £20 to return, as I didn't.

RFW

Road_Hog wrote: »

Um, two things. If they were a private seller, then I do believe that the buyer pays return postage.


Secondly, Trading Standards are a toothless dog. And I'm talking from a business point of view. I had a buyer try it on, she contacted TS who wrote me a letter, threatening allsorts. I ignored it, it went no further. It's a bit like using CAB, they've been useless for years. The only organisation that I've found that is any good anymore is ACAS (employment issues).

Well first I took that they were a business seller from the phrase "they sell microwaves". I figured that wasn't just a poor individual who had a microwave habit they were trying to get out of. Who pays return postage when dealing with a private seller is a grey area, it isn't compulsary the buyer pays and Ebay have been known to fund returns out of their own pocket. I believe this is going to change some time this year with some kind of held return postage fund.

Second, Trading Standards are not a 'toothless dog' they have powers to prosecute that can carry prison sentences without the need for the police. They will certainly investigate traders who have several complaints. They are completely different to CAB who are solely an advisory body.
Glad to have the opportunity to put you straight, again;)

1DayAAT

Just my 2 cents but it is likely that the buyer waited until the day before the concert to contact you to make 100% sure that he/she wasn't going to complain to you when they still had a chance to receive the tickets, even up until the last day.
This happened to me once when I won some McFly backstage passes on eBay which cost over £600. They didn't arrive and I waited until the day before (presuming they may come by courier or something at the last second) before I let the seller know about the situation. (In my case I received a full refund from the seller who for some reason had got in big a mix up with it all and they had NOT been posted! It was a charity auction following the 7/7 bombings so I was a bit more compassionate, but still kinda gutted at not getting the once in a life time tickets I'd paid for as a huge fan then )

Anyway - to cut a long story short, I'd just pay the charges and move on, were it me. Good luck.