Unhappy customer doxing me

danny1337

Hi

I recently sold an E-Bike to someone as a private sale, they came looked over the bike thoroughly took it out for a test ride and was happy with the bike, the bike was about 2 weeks old from new as it was a review unit sent to me as I review them, so the bike was in top condition it was a new unit when sent to me not a used review unit. I explained all of this to the customer....

About a week after the sale the customer contacted me and said he was not happy with the range of the bike and he wanted me to contact the company and get another battery as it must be faulty, I apologised to him that he wasn't happy with the bike but I explained the bike is weeks old and it had no issues when I sold it to him as I tested it and so did he. He insisted I contact the company for a new battery but I explained it was a review unit not a purchase so they aren't obligated to send me free parts.

I encouraged him to contact the company himself to find out more about the range/battery etc. He insisted I do it myself and then was saying he was bringing the bike back for refund, something felt off like he just didn't like the bike so I refused a refund and felt like I needed sometime to think so I removed myself from the chat so he couldn't message me anymore.

He then went to my social media channel and shared my full address and said "this guy is a fraud"

I opened a new chat with him and asked him to stop or I would report him, he seemed to find it funny and threatened to share my mobile number and more information If I did not send him money for a new battery.

At this point I felt like maybe there was a fault with the battery that somehow suddenly occurred but the persons behaviour was so unlike anyone I have dealt with before I decided it just safer to stop communication with them.

My only question is do I have any obligation to engage with this person still, I feel like If I refund them just to get them to leave me alone they have behaved so erratically they might just decide they are still not happy with maybe a partial refund and then keep threatening me in someway...

elsien

So just for the sake of clarity, you get sent things to review on your social media channel and then you sell them on? 

Because although you say it’s a private sale, just checking there isn’t any business element in here at all? 

SimonFF

elsien said:

So just for the sake of clarity, you get sent things to review on your social media channel and then you sell them on? 

Because although you say it’s a private sale, just checking there isn’t any business element in here at all? 

Whichever it is, saying on social media "This guy is a fraud" is at the very least defamation and threatening to post personal details is harassment.

danny1337

elsien said:

So just for the sake of clarity, you get sent things to review on your social media channel and then you sell them on? 

Because although you say it’s a private sale, just checking there isn’t any business element in here at all? 

I get wording is important maybe that is not the correct term, I just ment we met up in person it wasn't done through any website or invoice given anything like that. Im registered under my name I don't have an official business name or anything like that. I understand people still have rights even if it is still classed as a private sale, I want to check my obligations and make sure im doing things properly my end despite this guy acting abit crazy.

And to the other comment, yeah im just concerned he has already shared my full address online and is threatening to share my phone number and more too. Even though hes acting this way am I obligated to still talk to him after this threats and try and resolve it, It just doesn't feel like a good idea talking to someone acting this way.

elsien

SimonFF said:

elsien said:

So just for the sake of clarity, you get sent things to review on your social media channel and then you sell them on? 

Because although you say it’s a private sale, just checking there isn’t any business element in here at all? 

Whichever it is, saying on social media "This guy is a fraud" is at the very least defamation and threatening to post personal details is harassment.

All of  which is true. But the OP's obligations/rights will be different as a private or business seller so he does need to clear about what this was. 
Report him to the online platforms he is threatening you on?

danny1337

elsien said:

SimonFF said:

elsien said:

So just for the sake of clarity, you get sent things to review on your social media channel and then you sell them on? 

Because although you say it’s a private sale, just checking there isn’t any business element in here at all? 

Whichever it is, saying on social media "This guy is a fraud" is at the very least defamation and threatening to post personal details is harassment.

All of  which is true. But the OP's obligations/rights will be different as a private or business seller so he does need to clear about what this was. 
Report him to the online platforms he is threatening you on?

Sure please let me know if the post above is enough info?
Yes I reported him on the platforms.

Thanks

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Hello OP

I think the point elsien is making is, if you get sent some free random stuff in exchange for say a review on Amazon, if you then sold that stuff it's a private sale.

If however you have a business and are sent items to "review" for the brand's exposure via an outlet from which you generate an income (e.g you have a Youube channel all about cars and a company send you some seat covers) there is probably an argument that the sale of such items is part of the business making you a trader bound by consumer rights.

This is all separate from someone posting you info online, not an area I know anything about but I'm sure there is a piece of legislation which, at least in part, covers behaviour online which would be the place to start looking to see if there are any offences being committed. 

Some reading here for you OP:

https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/communications-offences

danny1337

Ok thanks guys, I just feel like I don't know where to go from here. if the situation had been different I think I would have just refunded the person partially after sometime to think or just take the bike back. But now the contact with the person just seems so hostile with threats I don't want them back here for me to check the bike for damage and If I send them a partial refund my gut says that won't be the end of it. I've never had someone act this way before.

When I asked him to stop he seemed to just find it funny replying with laughing emojis and more threats to share my info, then the next minute trying to strike a deal with me even saying thanks? It almost feels like a game just to see what they can get away with...

elsien

Stop engaging with him if he's not able to discuss things sensibly. Block him on your social media and  your phone.
If he wants to take it further he can write to you.