Scary seller!

[Strumpetron]

A few months ago I bought something off ebay, when it arrived it was much smaller than advertised.
I left them neutral feedback, in hindsight I probably should have contacted them but didn't feel it worth either our time.

I recieved a message from the seller saying
'Hello, we are trying to understand why you left us poor feedback without 1st contacting us with your problem. This item was not about size but location & quality. Our item description was NOT in any way deceiving but accurate. This specimen was from Veracruz in Mexico and it very rare. As most people know Veracruz speciments are this size.
Are ebays sales are for our charity. Apart from the ebay fees evey penny goes to our aid work. Your feedback has damaged our sales and thus our work. At least you could have contacted us first if you had a problem, thats just good manners. Your feedback is also defamatory and we may seek redress.
We have blocked you from our site'

To which I applied, how I'm sorry but I was busy and didn't really see a resolution as it was much smaller than advertised, and I just didn't want the hassle of going back and forward.I also said it wasnt defamatory.

I then got a message, they'd googled me, found out where I worked and said I couldn't possibly know about defamation as I'm an administrator at xxx company, listed my age etc. and also 'You will see in our description that we put the approximate size of the item so to say in effect that we are practicing deception can be construed as defaming us.
I did train in law, initially with the aim of attaining the Bar but later took a different career path. I am now a retired volunteer for the charity but a did my training at Christleton in Chester. I know full well the meaning of defamation.
Our photo is not misleading as you must know, it is accurate. ' I was very pissed off that they'd done this, but to be honest I was in a bad place with other things and I mistakenly thought it would be left at that. They also sent this to my personal account from their personal account.

MONTHS later I received an email to my personal account, not my email account, saying they'd been in touch with a solicitor. Saying that I'll be getting into trouble and that 'the wheels of justice move slowly, but will prevail'

Now is it just me or is this seller unhinged? I'm a bit scared for some reason despite me having no reason to be! Thing is they've sold loads, and have had negative feedback so it musn't only be me receiving threats!

[notanyanymore]

i'm really intrigued as to what you bought??!
i'd email back to say please do not contact me again, unless it is via your solicitor. and then make a complaint with ebay.

[Strumpetron]

It was a crystal notanymore I collect them, it was only £3!

[glenthebattleostrich]

I think I'd be ringing 101 for advice. Also report to eBay

[aarrgghhwhatdoIdonow]

I would report them to eBay

[Strumpetron]

The thing is they reported me. I don't think ebay took it very seriously because they sent me this:

^It has recently come to our attention that your account has breached our xxxViolation/Policyxxx policy.

About eBay's xxxPolicyNamexxx policy

xxxDescribePolicyBreachxxx

For more information about this policy please copy this link into a new browser window:

xxxPolicyURLxxx

We realise you may not be aware of this rule. We respectfully request that you refrain from this activity in the future. Repeated breaches of this or another policy may result in the suspension of your eBay membership.

Thank you for your cooperation in this important matter.

Regards,

eBay Trust & Safety^

That is the exact email. They sent me a standard template, without actually filling any of the bits in describing what I'd supposedly violated! I couldn;t believe it, I have not violated any terms so it came as a shock.

I just feel a bit sicky, they have my address and stuff. I should report, I wish I had done from the start before this weird person googled me!

They also sent me a photo of myself

[ReluctantBeing]

That is scary! Cleanse the crystal.
There is a phone line somewhere for eBay. Call them. Is it worth calling the police?

[SilkySocksSinkShips]

A photo of yourself?! That's harrassmemt, contact the police, forget eBay!

[Strumpetron]

I can't bear to look at the crystal it's left me with a real bad feeling :(

I will ring ebay I think, I don't want this happening to someone else. Thing is I'm usually really assertive but they caught me at a bad time!

I don't want to waste police time, but I've kept all the emails just in case!

[ReluctantBeing]

In that case, put the crystal outside now.

[Strumpetron]

and thanks everyone feel a bit better now I've got it out, was embarrassed of telling anyone!

[ReluctantBeing]

You've got nothing to be embarrassed about. They are the nut jobs.

[Strumpetron]

I'm going to bury the bloody crystal, don't want it in my house.

[notanyanymore]

are they a uk seller?

[Strumpetron]

Yeah, and I've just looked and they're apparently a registered charity. Not what I'd expect from a charity! I'll message you their name

[Strumpetron]

just read the feedback and someone has said the same as me on the exact same item arrived safely and well packaged, but sadly a lot smaller than look on photo

I wonder if they've had all this trouble too!

[Sindarella]

They sent a photo of you! An looked you up. Thats very odd. Is there a phone number for the charity? I'd be making some huge noisy complaints!

[Strumpetron]

I've just looked and there's a mobile number on there, which is a bit odd I think for a registered charity!

Also some of the feedback has mentioned that they're malicious. :(

[creepypenisreaper]

Wow, just make sure any social network accounts you have are put to fully private. All it takes is to Google your name and your FB and Twitter (if you have) will come up. You don't want them collecting information and using it to harrass you further. Also a big yes to 101 if you can x

[Strumpetron]

Thankyou.

I've just looked at the charity it's registered to and it's all legitimate. It's really sad, such a worthy cause but the ebay is ran by a complete idiot!

I probably shouldn't have posted this. They might find me and use it against me more :(

[nickstmoritz]

Report to ebay immediately and tbh I would be thinking about getting some advice from the police too. Tell ebay that you feel harassed and are thinking of taking it to the police. That will make them do something quickly I think. It is completely inappropriate behaviour from the seller.

[nickstmoritz]

If it is a legit charity they need to know what is going on so contact the person in charge (hopefully it's not the same one that is hassling you!!)

[Strumpetron]

That's what I'm scared of nicks because I've just looked at where the charity is based, and it's where the seller said they trained.

Thankyou for your help

[bsc]

Report to Charity Commission?

[lljkk]

Please pm me the seller, OP, someone I want to avoid for sure!!

Gosh that's sad, what an unhinged seller.
What's worse, Neutral feedback does no harm whatsoever to a seller's account.

[SandyDilbert]

I agree report to the police - defamation of character via feedback is utter nonsense btw. They are utter bullies and you need to report them and their charity.