Ebay Commerce UK Limited and identify fraud

Sterlingtimes

My wife has never had an account with eBay or bought anything from them.

She received a demand letter from Moorcroft Debt Recovery Limited yesterday. We telephoned Moorcroft yesterday and established that Moorcroft was acting correctly but that the underlying eBay claim was the subject of identity fraud.

We then spent 90 minutes talking to Action Fraud, which provided a Crime Reference, which we then provided to Moorcroft.

For non-customers, there appears to be no way to contact eBay, and the company does not provide telephone numbers.

What would be the legal position here with Moorcroft? Have they bought the fraudulent debt from eBay, or are they acting as a debt collector on behalf of eBay?

I am also wondering how a customer gets into debt with eBay. I rather thought that cash was secured at the time of purchase.

Mark_d

It sounds like Moorcroft are attempting to recover an amount of money from your wife which your wife does not owe. They would be unable to prove the at the eBay account belongs to your wife.

eBay normally recovers some fees by direct debit some time after the sale/purchase.  But there may be other ways a debt could accrue.

I wonder what shows on your wife's credit reports in relation to this debt.  Is there a CCJ?

Sterlingtimes

Mark_d said:

They would be unable to prove the at the eBay account belongs to your wife.

eBay normally recovers some fees by direct debit some time after the sale/purchase.  But there may be other ways a debt could accrue.

Thank you, Mark. This is helpful. Action Fraud directed my wife to check clearscore.com. Unfortunately, it takes a week to set up identity checks. We wait. We were also referred to cifas.org.co.uk, which also takes a week to set up. Action Fraud advised my wife to set a lockout for £30 for two years. For now, my wife's credit score is 999 at Experian.

We will not contact eBay but rely upon having advised Moorcroft of the identity fraud.

elsien

eBay does have a “ask us to call you” option If you did want to try to speak to them. 

Sterlingtimes

elsien said:

eBay does have a “ask us to call you” option If you did want to try to speak to them. 

I will have a look into that. Thank you, elisen.

soolin

I am not sure I would bother spending time trying to call ebay. All you will get is an overseas call centre with a script who won't have the faintest idea what this all means and are likely to tell you a whole load of nonsense , and probably dangerously wrong advice just to get you off the phone. 

I think there are people better suited for these debt questions on the debt board here on MSE and will see if I can find anyone to come across and help.

Sterlingtimes

soolin said:

I am not sure I would bother spending time trying to call ebay. All you will get is an overseas call centre with a script who won't have the faintest idea what this all means and are likely to tell you a whole load of nonsense ... 

Thank you. This sounds like good advice. We must reply on having provided the Crime Reference Number to Moorcroft. Incidentally, Moorcroft's approach is hostile: guilty until proven innocent.

RFW

Sterlingtimes said:

soolin said:

I am not sure I would bother spending time trying to call ebay. All you will get is an overseas call centre with a script who won't have the faintest idea what this all means and are likely to tell you a whole load of nonsense ... 

Thank you. This sounds like good advice. We must reply on having provided the Crime Reference Number to Moorcroft. Incidentally, Moorcroft's approach is hostile: guilty until proven innocent.

Debt collectors only want your money, they don't really care if you owe it or not or why. They want to know if you have savings or a disposable income and an ability to pay. You can log a dispute. You can also stop them calling you, by asking. What you can't do is stop them writing to you, but, I think, there's a limit on that of once per month.
If this is an Ebay debt, they won't have taken you to court and it's unlikely that the debt collector ever will. So you'll just get pestered for a bit.

On your question of whether they have bought the debt or are acting on Ebay's behalf, there's no way of knowing unless they tell you. I don't see it makes any difference either way.

Also, I agree with Soolin that there isn't much point in contacting Ebay. I'm assuming you know how much the debt is, you should try and find out what it was for.

Whilst this is fraud you'll need to have a look at how it may have happened. Is it possible that someone you know could have done this? A family member, friend, someone with access to your wife's details and/or your address? It may well be a hack but you'll need to check all possibilities.

What amount are we talking about? Do you know if the money owing is for something purchased or selling fees?

dgbeale

No consolation, but my wife also received a letter from Moorcroft this morning about an Ebay debt and she also has never had an ebay account.

Action Fraud have said they have had many calls like this.

It would seem people are setting up ebay accounts with false details, selling something - and never shipping. Ebay are then trying to get the money back via Moorcroft.

Sterlingtimes

dgbeale said:

Action Fraud have said they have had many calls like this.

It would seem people are setting up ebay accounts with false details, selling something - and never shipping. Ebay are then trying to get the money back via Moorcroft.

How interesting that our wives are in the same position. You seem to have uncovered a little more information than me. I wonder how many fraudulent debts eBay is passing to Moorcroft. Action Fraud was outstanding in its approach. Presumably, Action Fraud maintains statistics and will become aware of these eBay identity thefts.

RFW

Sterlingtimes said:

RFW said:

What amount are we talking about? Do you know if the money owing is for something purchased or selling fees?

Thank you. The amount is a little over £300. Moorcroft tells us the purchases relate to specialist bedding, among other items. We also have an email address similar to this: karen4umar29@gmail.com (amended by me but presented in a similar form). Moorcroft says that eBay would sue us rather than them. 

So these are purchases? If so then there should be an address that received delivery.
I've never known Ebay to take anyone to court in many years of following it. Even if they did they would have to disclose all of the details and your wife could deny everything and outline her case. That's so unlikely, especially for £300, it's not worth their time and resources, that's why they use debt collectors.