Ebay advised me to send item - I got scammed

Buster_Danog

I sold an item with "Buy it now". The buyer then sent a message and asked me to send the item to her relative as it is a gift for him. I wasn't sure so contacted an ebay customer service agent. I explained the address the buyer gave in the message was different from the registered address. The ebay agent checks the details asks me for the address and then assures me I will be protected.

This morning I get an email from ebay telling me that they think the account used for the purchase has been used without the owner's permission. I then speak to the Paypal fraud department and find they have withheld the payment from my Paypal account.

I have not yet contacted ebay so don't know where I stand. I did speak to their agent who said I was protected.

The thing that really bugs me is I know there was an attempted delivery of the item this morning. It is now in a Royal Mail sorting office. Presumably the scammer will collect it or request a redelivery. The police won't get involved. I got a crime reference number from "Action Fraud" but the Royal Mail won't intercept the parcel either - even though it has been reported as a crime.

Anyway, I should have been more careful even though I checked with ebay before sending it and was assured I was protected. It seems these scammers choose fraud for a reason. The police and Royal Mail don't seem to consider it too important an issue - maybe they are right.

ballisticbrian

It's the most basic thing in eBay to get right. You must always send to the correct address as stated. Are you sure you didn't misinterpret what eBay told you?

Buster_Danog

ballisticbrian wrote: »

It's the most basic thing in eBay to get right. You must always send to the correct address as stated. Are you sure you didn't misinterpret what eBay told you?

I take your point. As for ebay customer service,I did not misinterpret anything.

Here is part of the transcript "Thank you for sharing. Let me share that we generally recommend our sellers to ship the item to the address mentioned on the View Order details page. But as buyer has contacted you via eBay messages you can surely send the item to that location. Be assured you will be protected."

That is from the online chat with an ebay customer service rep. The transcript was emailed to me when the chat ended.

Pierre_De_Grenoble

Buster_Danog wrote: »

Here is part of the transcript "Thank you for sharing. Let me share that we generally recommend our sellers to ship the item to the address mentioned on the View Order details page. "But as buyer has contacted you via eBay messages you can surely send the item to that location. Be assured you will be protected."

The above just goes to prove the total incompetence of eBays' CS as it is wrong twice.

Paypal's "send to" address always over rides eBay's address on file. words just fail me re the contacted bit.

I don't know if it will help your case but try talking / ringing eBay during the morning when there is a good chance you will get through to Dublin. If you do not hear an Irish accent just make an excuse , hang up and try again later.

soolin

I'm always shocked when I hear some of the things that ebay tell people just to get them off the phone! Only a couple of years ago they assured me, in writing, that I was safe to do something that would actually have got me suspended.

Your paypal payment explains your responsibilities as does the transaction page when you check the payment in your paypal account. We even cover it in the sticky postage thread on this board.

However, as you have assurances from ebay in writing I would use that to argue your case- it might not do any good though as ebay and paypal are no longer under the same umbrella company so ebay cannot over rule the paypal rules- if you are forceful and polite enough though there's a chance they will give you a goodwill payment to cover your loss.

A couple of other thoughts, firstly, can you intercept the package at all online? I know a re delivery can be arranged by the sender but are you able to have it returned to sender?

Secondly talk to paypal as well explain what has happened as there's a chance that not only will they return the funds to the buyer but they will charge you £14 as well for the privilege.

twhitehousescat

YES you can have it redirected , if you are quick , and the redirect address will be yours , I did this a while back when I accidentally put wrong address on a parcel , and redirected it to customers home address

soolin

twhitehousescat wrote: »

YES you can have it redirected , if you are quick , and the redirect address will be yours , I did this a while back when I accidentally put wrong address on a parcel , and redirected it to customers home address

Let's hope then that OP can re direct this back to seller !

snapdoodle

Naughty eBay telling you that. Always send to the PayPal address!

I would certainly raise the issue with eBay, but as a seller you should be aware of what you can / should / should not do.

Buster_Danog

Thanks guys. By coincidence I had the idea to re-arrange delivery just before I seen the suggestions here. I have gone ahead and done that but cannot do it to my own address. I don't want to say on here what I have done but I am hoping to make it difficult for the scammer by choosing a tricky location.

If it is redirected it won't be until Monday. In the meantime the scammer can collect the item from the sorting office tomorrow and there is nothing I can do about it.

If necessary I could take ebay to a small claims court but I don't know if I would win given that Paypal have taken the funds off me rather than ebay.

martindow

Buster_Danog wrote: »

Thanks guys. By coincidence I had the idea to re-arrange delivery just before I seen the suggestions here. I have gone ahead and done that but cannot do it to my own address. I don't want to say on here what I have done but I am hoping to make it difficult for the scammer by choosing a tricky location.

Presumably you could get it sent to a friend or a neighbour which would be nearly as good.



Please come back to tell us how it works out and also if your tricky location ploy is successful.

twhitehousescat

did they collect from sorting office?