Return of goods - how to ensure a refund

Molly_Magic_2

I have recently purchased something (cost £600) from a private individual via an internet selling site and have not received what I agreed to buy.

I paid in cash and a courier collected the item (but did not check what was in the box).

I wrote to the seller and they have responded stating that they will refund my money if I return the goods in the box to them. They state that they will cover the cost of the postage (as they have no means to collect the item). It is a long way for me to return the goods physically and they have said that they don't wish me to do this either as they feel threatened by me!

Whilst the item is worth very little (I believe) I don't want to pay postage and then find that my money is not refunded.

Is there a mechanism for monies to be held pending return of the item?

custardy

perhaps a little bit less cloak & dagger?
Was it ebay?
you say cash but used a courier. How did this work?

Molly_Magic_2

Okay, not eBay but Preloved.
A family member collected the item on my behalf (they live much closer to the seller than I do). I made it clear to the seller that the family member was purely collecting the item (and posting it t me) and the seller offered the item on a 7-day trial.
The item handed to my family member is not the item I agreed to buy (as identified by the serial number and photos provided by the seller).

Molly_Magic_2

Has anyone used Transpact or something similar in these circumstances?

Greta_Sharbo

If the goods are not as described you are entitled to a refund.

Onus is on you to prove is not as described so have you got a way to do this?

If you don't get your refund you can take court action against the seller.

I've never heard of Transact until you mentioned them but a brief look at their website would be enough to put me off using them. Why do you want to?

custardy

send it back to family member and get them to exchange for refund?

hollydays

This is why I always put in my Ebay listings - to be collected by account holder only.

theonlywayisup

hollydays wrote: »

This is why I always put in my Ebay listings - to be collected by account holder only.

I must stress that per eBay and Paypal rules this has absolutely no bearing on what happens per their protection.

I say that because eBay/Paypal protection is usually easier and generally much quicker to make resolutions and obtain refunds for those that know/follow the rules.

My caveat here is that your advice is generally geared towards a legal standpoint and mine starts with eBay/Paypal if that's relevant.

theonlywayisup

OP I don't deal on Preloved, so you have to look at their protection policies and check you have adhered to them.

Paying cash leaves you in a vulnerable position regardless of the platform you have used for the purchase. It is further weakened by using a third party to collect.

That said, it would appear from your OP that the seller is willing to offer a refund. Do as per post 6 and transact the sale in reverse order.

Molly_Magic_2

Thanks all.
Yes, I have plenty of evidence to show that the item is not as described. The seller sent me lots of photos of the item I agreed to buy - none of which tally with the item I received.
Sadly the seller is refusing for anyone to hand deliver the goods back to her as she feels "threatened". I don't know if this is another "wheeze" to get her goods back and not refund my money or if it is genuine.
She has agreed to pay for the return postage so I need a way of ensuring I receive my refund and she needs to be sure that she will receive her goods back. A bit like a reverse Paypal transaction.
I have spoken with Preloved. They have banned the seller from their site but they don't have any other powers.

LadyDee

Send them back to the person who collected on your behalf, and ask the seller to select a meeting point to do the handover?