Paying via Bank Transfer after delivery on Gumtree?

IrnMike

Hi, there's a seller on Gumtree (only been posting under a month) and they're selling a brand new item which they said they will deliver for free via courier. I asked about arranging payment and they said that they ONLY accept bank transfer, and I can pay after delivery.

The fact that they only accept bank transfer, only speak on email (with horrible spelling btw) and asked my for my full name, address, mobile number and then a bank transfer sounds too dodgy (even though Iv'e read many posts on here saying bank transfer is one of the safest forms of payment). They've said they require payment within a day of delivery, but I'm worried about what they can do with my full details, and wondering if I am allowed to report them to stop them doing this to other buyers?

Thanks.

ballisticbrian

It seems like they are the ones leaving themselves very exposed!

IrnMike

I know you could just wait to receive the game and not pay, but I'm not that kind of person

I told them I could give them Cash or Paypal but not all those details and then a transfer.. Wondering if I should report them to stop other people who aren't so smart getting scammed by them, or just leaving them alone as they could be genuinely stupid

Keep_pedalling

How are they supposed to deliver it to you without your full address? Couriers often ask for a contact number as well.

You are at no risk paying them by BT after the item is delivered, but they are because they have to trust you to pay.

It not a crime to ask for payment by BT so not point in reporting it to anyone.

IrnMike

I know they are supposed to take those details, but Iv'e read on here with all those details, and then with the account and sort number that appears on the bank transfer, that people can do a lot with that information.

I asked them that i'll come down and collect, and they've emailed me saying they can't do that. Iv'e asked for their business name/adress and said I'll pay them cash or even paypal and they haven't responded since. And they've just recently made an account selling items for a cheap price. Just thought it looked fishy.

Money_maker

They don't need your bank details for a bank transfer. You need theirs. It's the same information that's on a cheque. No risk to you.

bazzyb

IrnMike wrote: »

with all those details, and then with the account and sort number that appears on the bank transfer, that people can do a lot with that information.

Your bank details will not appear on the transfer, so they will not have them to do anything with.

I can't see that paying by bank transfer in itself is a risk, but it does seem an odd way to operate. I would suspect that the biggest risk here is that the goods are perhaps stolen or fake - what are you looking to purchase and how to they compare to the usual retail value of said item?

IrnMike

That's reassuring.. the off putting this is their spelling. They are speaking in third person like they are a business, but with some bad spelling almost every sentence. The last message was 'Only akcepting bank transfer'

And they are PS4 games that were local to me so wouldn't have minded picking them up either. They're being sold at £25 each (one is not on their listing, but they claim they have that in stock) when they're probably worth £35-£40 each? Also when I seemed to question them in the previous message, they haven't responded since, and before that were responding with a minute.

campdave

If you're not comfortable with the seller or what information they are asking you to provide, then don't buy the games. You've been provided with reassurance here, but still don't want to accept these.

FWIW, I've dealt with professional sellers on ebay and other online stores who have terrible spelling and grammar. It's offputting, but it seems to be more acceptable these days.

glentoran99

IrnMike wrote: »

Hi, there's a seller on Gumtree (only been posting under a month) and they're selling a brand new item which they said they will deliver for free via courier. I asked about arranging payment and they said that they ONLY accept bank transfer, and I can pay after delivery.

The fact that they only accept bank transfer, only speak on email (with horrible spelling btw) and asked my for my full name, address, mobile number and then a bank transfer sounds too dodgy (even though Iv'e read many posts on here saying bank transfer is one of the safest forms of payment). They've said they require payment within a day of delivery, but I'm worried about what they can do with my full details, and wondering if I am allowed to report them to stop them doing this to other buyers?

Thanks.

Doing what?

glentoran99

IrnMike wrote: »

I know they are supposed to take those details, but Iv'e read on here with all those details, and then with the account and sort number that appears on the bank transfer, that people can do a lot with that information.

I asked them that i'll come down and collect, and they've emailed me saying they can't do that. Iv'e asked for their business name/adress and said I'll pay them cash or even paypal and they haven't responded since. And they've just recently made an account selling items for a cheap price. Just thought it looked fishy.

What could they do?