Sold iphone 4 on ebay, buyer claims received empty box

burnleymik

I have no idea if this is possible, but do you know the IMEI number of the phone?

If so could you try ringing the last network you were with and report the phone stolen and maybe they could block it?

an0n1

ballisticbrian wrote: »

But it's not been lost or damaged has it? You're being scammed by the buyer.

Suppose there still is a chance it got lost during transit though yes given the circumstances, it is more likely I am being scammed.

Parcelforce makes money out of people by selling insurance as well and depending on terms on it, I think I might be covered but yet to find out...the claims dept is only open Mon-Fri.

an0n1

burnleymik wrote: »

I have no idea if this is possible, but do you know the IMEI number of the phone?

If so could you try ringing the last network you were with and report the phone stolen and maybe they could block it?

Cheers, I contacted my last carrier on your advice and also Apple and they told me that the original carrier on which the phone was activated could block it.

Now, that has been confirmed by the original carrier but I need the old phone number and account password in order to block it and the friend who originally sold me the iphone is abroad on holiday...

Cheers for the advice though, much appreciated.

an0n1

And by the way, Parcelforce's tracking system says it is still in progress and yet to be signed for!!!

Rev

an0n1 wrote: »

Re my question, obviously I could claim the money from Parcelforce and refund the buyer if claim is successful, but I won't get the lost phone back to sell to someone else etc so would not have lost out in monetary terms but still missing a phone I could have sold to someone else, if that makes sense....

If parcel force pay out you're not out of pocket.


You had a phone. You sold it for £200. That meant you had £200 but no phone. You have been scammed. You give the buyer back their £200. If parcel force pay out you're back to having £200 and no phone. Which is where you were after you sold the phone on eBay. You're not going to get the phone back. The scammer has your phone and soon will have their money back. There's nothing you can do about that.


The only way you lose out is if parcelforce don't pay out. Then you have no phone and no money and the buyer has your phone for free.

glentoran99

an0n1 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I was looking into the claims process etc and it looked like they would compensate for missing items also...hopefully I can get some luck there :-s Anyone had any experience of similar claims?

Re blocking phone, I don't think it applies here as the phone was unlocked to use with all networks and has no SIM card in it - but let me know if I have misunderstood your advices?

Do you know if I need to report it to the police to back up my claim?

Re my question, obviously I could claim the money from Parcelforce and refund the buyer if claim is successful, but I won't get the lost phone back to sell to someone else etc so would not have lost out in monetary terms but still missing a phone I could have sold to someone else, if that makes sense...

A funny thing is, it does not show as having been delivered to the intended recipient on the tracking system, shows as far as going to the delivery agent and stops there...anyone come across this before?

I am acutely aware of the possibility that I may have been scammed, but so hard to prove anything...

the phone can be blocked via its imei number, As for your buyer i wouldnt believe a word they say and dispute as much as you can, your reciept giving the weight is evidence you sent the phone, dont refund the buyer, take it to parcelforce

petersharper

Its unbelievable what people are up to these days. This is becoming more and more common.

But I agree with one other user - report it to Ebay and Parcelforce. There may have been a chance (unlikely though) that it has been opened in transit by a delivery person and securely packaged again minus the phone inside.

Ebay probably wont stand over you as it seems they are more focused on the buyers as opposed to the sellers :-/

I wouldn't refund this buyer just yet. Take the appropriate steps and fingers crossed you get the outcome you deserve

in_the_Cotswolds

Have you activated "find my iPhone" app? If you have you should be able to track it as soon as it's switched on.

You have the address where it was sent to so if it comes up where the buyer lives he must have it. Only don't tell him just track it if you can.

an0n1

Rev wrote: »

If parcel force pay out you're not out of pocket.


You had a phone. You sold it for £200. That meant you had £200 but no phone. You have been scammed. You give the buyer back their £200. If parcel force pay out you're back to having £200 and no phone. Which is where you were after you sold the phone on eBay. You're not going to get the phone back. The scammer has your phone and soon will have their money back. There's nothing you can do about that.


The only way you lose out is if parcelforce don't pay out. Then you have no phone and no money and the buyer has your phone for free.

Yeh you are right don't know why I thought that, probably cos I was getting all flustered with what happened. Well as luck would have it Parcelforce wouldn't pay out cos the recipient responded to Parcelforce's questionnaire saying the package wasn't damaged so there you go...thanks for the help though!

an0n1

in_the_Cotswolds wrote: »

Have you activated "find my iPhone" app? If you have you should be able to track it as soon as it's switched on.

You have the address where it was sent to so if it comes up where the buyer lives he must have it. Only don't tell him just track it if you can.

Hiya, not unfortunately it wasn't switched on..but good tip :-)