Buyer complained to Police

hamperman

Hey all,

I recently sold something online via Gumtree. This was 6 months ago. I sent the item out. However 6 months on, the buyer has said he has no longer received the item. I no longer have the tracking receipt for this, and the post office said they don't keep records.

I was arrested by police for fraud by false representation, they gave me a couple of weeks to find the tracking which I no longer have. I may have to reinterview with them now.

I don't know what to do, I think the buyer is playing a game here.

lisyloo

Did you by any chance pay for the postage on a debt/credit card?

hamperman

I would have done it special delivery at the post office - I would of paid by cash as I usually do for parcels. This has probably come to bite me in the bum.

McKneff

hamperman wrote: »

Hey all,

I recently sold something online via Gumtree. This was 6 months ago. I sent the item out. However 6 months on, the buyer has said he has no longer received the item. I no longer have the tracking receipt for this, and the post office said they don't keep records.

I was arrested by police for fraud by false representation, they gave me a couple of weeks to find the tracking which I no longer have. I may have to reinterview with them now.

I don't know what to do, I think the buyer is playing a game here.

Seems a bit fishy.
Do you mean the buyer has not received the item. Why have they waited 6 months, did they contact you before now.
The police would not be interested, it is a civil matter
Fraud, false representation, where is the evidence for this.


You are either not giving us all the details or you are playing the game.....

roonaldo

Has it really taken the buyer 6 months to chase you for this? What happened after a week or so after them not receiving it, surely they would have chased it? What is the value of the item? if its high value it's b*** s**t it they wouldnt have chased it.

There's no legal requirement to send anything by tracked delivery. I'm no legal expert but surely this has no legs or a police matter.

hamperman

I know it's a bit unreal being arrested for something so small.

The buyer "claimed" he tried calling, yet he left no emails or anything. I am not sure why they have waited so long and why go to the police?

Basically the buyer paid the money into my account and now claims hes not received it.

The post office have said they only keep records by barcode and not by address or post code which is annoying.

hamperman

@roonaldo It was a laptop (£250).

RFW

hamperman wrote: »

Hey all,

I recently sold something online via Gumtree. This was 6 months ago. I sent the item out. However 6 months on, the buyer has said he has no longer received the item. I no longer have the tracking receipt for this, and the post office said they don't keep records.

I was arrested by police for fraud by false representation, they gave me a couple of weeks to find the tracking which I no longer have. I may have to reinterview with them now.

I don't know what to do, I think the buyer is playing a game here.

If you were arrested and interviewed, you would have been offered a solicitor who would have advised what to do. What was the advice?

Did you ever check the tracking to see it was delivered? If you did you may have a record on the RM website of the tracking number on the computer you checked it on.

JJ_Egan

However 6 months on, the buyer has said he has no longer received the item

Strange to say the buyer has no longer received .

Does that mean that the buyer did receive the item in the first place .

How is false representation the offence .What did you falsely represent the fact that you posted the item .

Personally without any proof of posting / delivery i would refund the £250 .

philatio

Eh?

Buyer buys laptop. Pays £250 and (he says) receives nothing.. but then waits 6 months without doing anything.
Then he goes to his police station and tells them this tale. They don't say "yeah whatever" but go and ARREST the seller and take him in for questioning ("you're going down for a long stretch matey!!!")

This is fab.
What happens next? Or haven't you written it yet?

Okydoky25

Can the laptops use not be traced nowadays? IP addresses or something? If the police are so bothered tell them to do that and see where it is being used?!