Urgent Advice Needed: DRS Debt Collection for Unjustified Payment Dispute

LeeCroc90

Hello everyone,

 

I'm reaching out for advice regarding a troubling situation with a debt collection agency, DRS, that has been hounding me for payment. Here are the details of what happened:

 

1) I sold 4 VIP ticket packages for €1300 on 28/07/2023, and the tickets were transferred to the buyer.

2) A payment dispute was raised on 19/10/2023.

3) According to the platform's T&C, disputes can only be raised within 30 days of the sale.

4) My account was banned due to a check to move it from personal to business, which I didn't want. They required invoices and receipts for the items I was selling, which led to the suspension. Because of this ban, the platform messaged my customers, casting doubt on my authenticity.

5) The customer got notified of my account suspension and put a claim in with their credit card company.

6) I received an email from eBay saying I can dispute the claim, but as I couldn't access my account, I wasn't able to. eBay support stated I couldn't log in to dispute it.

7) I have been trading on eBay for 10 years with 100% feedback.

 

Now, DRS is asking me to pay £3200.

 

This seems highly unfair, especially given that the dispute was raised well past the allowable period according to the T&C. Additionally, the account ban, which I couldn't contest due to lack of access, seems to have exacerbated the situation.

 

Has anyone dealt with a similar issue? What steps should I take to resolve this? Any advice on how to handle DRS and possibly contest the validity of this debt?

 

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

Best regards,

 

Lee

DE_612183

Have you sent DRS a "prove it" letter?

I presume you have porof of delivery of the items you sold?

LeeCroc90

DE_612183 said:

Have you sent DRS a "prove it" letter?

I presume you have porof of delivery of the items you sold?

Thank you for replying so quickly. I have not sent them a prove it letter yet, but I have got the template etc to send them. A lot of the correspondence they have sent and ebay has been to an email that I do not use/stopped using after ebay account ban. I've received some SMS messages today and yesterday asking me to log in etc. I haven't atm. 

Would it be best to physically send them a letter or email the 'prove it' response? 

Best wishes

DE_612183

personally I'd do both - and get the letter to refer to the date and time of the email.

Grumpelstiltskin

Almost identical apart from amount.

eBay Debt Recovery DRS Text Message £9000! — MoneySavingExpert Forum

LeeCroc90

Grumpelstiltskin said:

Almost identical apart from amount.

eBay Debt Recovery DRS Text Message £9000! — MoneySavingExpert Forum

I did this thread and saw the similarities. I am slightly worried regarding what the debt collectors can actually do, and should they decide to proceed with a court date, the ramifications of this etc however I do think I have a pretty good case. I saw that they were going to move the thread to somewhere else, and that would go through the best course of action but I cannot find this. 

LeeCroc90

I have just noticed on their email they sent, they say not to reply to that email but then do not give an alternative to reply to. I will send the letter, as advised. I am less inclined to log into their website with 'my account' details etc and follow those steps. 

Grumpelstiltskin

Any one who wants to go for a court order must by law send you a letter by snail mail, problem can be if the address they have for you is an old address they will use that and you will not know a letter has been sent

LeeCroc90

Grumpelstiltskin said:

Any one who wants to go for a court order must by law send you a letter by snail mail, problem can be if the address they have for you is an old address they will use that and you will not know a letter has been sent

Currently, no letters have been sent through the mail, but I am sure I will be getting one. My address is the same now as it was on my ebay account, they'll no doubt be able to check electoral roll too and see if I still live there. 

Grumpelstiltskin

Just ignore any texts, e mails and phone calls as they are all empty threats. If you do receive a letter come back for advice as to what to do next.

LeeCroc90

Grumpelstiltskin said:

Just ignore any texts, e mails and phone calls as they are all empty threats. If you do receive a letter come back for advice as to what to do next.

Much appreciated.