Ebay-Scam?

laalaa

Hi everyone

Over the weekend by boyfriend sold a mobile phone on ebay.

Postage was to be by Next Day RM.

However, we had an email from the winner asking "where he could meet us on tuesday to collect the phone".

Now we didnt specify collection as an option. Plus he has asked for an address to send a cheque too. Even though he wants to pick the phone up tomorrow. Obviously we wouldnt let him have the goods before cashing the cheque.

Do you thinks this sounds dodgy? He had feedback of 50, although has only been registered for 2 months. This is by far his biggest purchase.

We are just wary of accepting a cheque, giving him the goods, then the cheque being returned and the money being taken out of our account.

Is there any sure fire way of cashing the cheque without it being able to be reversed? What about a cheque cashing centre?

And if he does waste our time, and try to mess about, is there anyway we can cancel the transaction, so to speak?

Any help greatly appreciated.

everythingblogcast

SCAM stay away, dont take the risk, they get the phone then cancel the cheque costing £10 so they get a dear phone for £10.

the_tired_one

SCAM!

Ask him to post the cheque - cash it - wait and spend it. Then send him the phone.

soolin

Or just ask for cash on collection. cash on collection is still allowed on ebay, it is just cash through the post that is not.

oldagetraveller

If he has sufficient funds in his bank account to cover the cheque then he has funds to take cash from his account.
In these circumstances, i.e. collection, then it has to be cash.

Pollycat

I'm a bit confused why, if your boyfriend specified delivery method as 'RM Next Day delivery' this buyer thinks he can collect the phone.

Usually, the amount that you bill an ebay winning bidder is the amount of the winning bid PLUS the amount specified as postage & packing charge.

How much was the invoice that you sent to this winning bidder?
i.e. the amount of the winning bid PLUS the amount of your specified P&P?

I too would be suspicious of this buyer and would certainly NEVER part with goods until a cheque had cleared.

Maybe he is just trying to avoid paying the P&P.
If this is the case, and it is convenient for you to meet and hand the phone over, I would certainly insist on CASH.

Polly

Butlers1982

Cancel the bid and re list it

If you have put that the delivery option is Royal Mail- and he wants to collect it-tough on him

Id stear clear to be honnest, you put royal mail for a reason. Dont let your mind be changed

laalaa

Collection was never an option. He was invoiced for the winning bid amount plus the postage cost.

He has messaged us back to say that he will post a cheque today, so we will wait n see.

Is there anyway to ensure that the cheque cannot be returned? What about a cheque cashing centre?

Thanks for your help so far

barvid

> Is there anyway to ensure that the cheque cannot be returned?

As I understand it - no. Cheques can bounce long after the money shows as cleared. I would be inclined to think that cash on collection would be safer, as long as you do it somewhere public with someone else there.

geo555

Whats wrong with him wanting to collect? There are so many dodgy phone sellers on ebay, surely paying cash on collection is the surest way to get the phone.

alanalea

geo555 wrote: »

Whats wrong with him wanting to collect? There are so many dodgy phone sellers on ebay, surely paying cash on collection is the surest way to get the phone.

BUT he doesn't want to pay COC- He wants to pay by cheque which could be cancelled or returned months after the transaction.

If he's got the money for a cheque then he's got the money for cash- I'd personally cut my losses, relist the phone and claim NPB to get your fees back (out of interest, what were your payment options on ebay?)