To ignore this letter?

[Anskabel]

Sorry, bit of a long one, but bear with me...

...Had a nightmare with an ebayer who bought a coat from me which retailed for £300 (she got it for £30) then demanded a refund (even though my listing clearly stated no returns) because supposedly it was not as described. I'd described it as an autumn/winter coat and she said this was inaccurate because the coat was "flimsy". I tried reason with her that the coat was made of wool, weighed 1.3kg (I actually underestimated the postage by £3.50, but footed the bill for it because that was my error) and was from the brand's autumn/winter collection, so was accurately described in my opinion. She said we could do this "the hard way" ie: she would open a case against me to get her money back and leave me negative feedback, or I could refund her there and then. I told her I did not appreciate blackmail, but life was too short to have this drag on, so she could send the coat back.

A week later, I received an email saying: "I sent this back by recorded first class post and I haven't received a refund yet?" I told her that was because I hadn't received the coat (I'd been home every day the post came and had been looking out for it) I asked her to forward me the tracking number so I could try and found out where it had gone. She didn't respond, but instead opened a "not as described" case against me, calling me a liar and saying she didn't believe I hadn't received it back - turns out she didn't post it by recorded delivery like she'd initially said after all, just by standard mail with a receipt because when ebay asked her to supply the tracking number she put: SentFirstClass in the field. I tried to reason with her that because she had her receipt she could claim through the Royal Mail to get her money back, but that it simply wasn't fair for me to lose out on my coat and my money through the ebay claim. Her response was to send a series of increasingly abrasive and accusational emails and to escalate the case to a claim. Ebay refunded her money, but thankfully out of their funds not mine because she didn't follow procedure and send the item with tracking and hopefully because they realised I was telling the truth about not receiving it.

I then received a charming negative feedback, once again calling me a liar. I would hardly have survived selling on ebay for 10 years if I was a liar, would I?! I noticed she had left other buyers negative feedback and they had responded saying she was aggressive and rude, so I left a follow up echoing this. She then messaged me saying she was going to report me to the police for lying about the coat! I told her if she tried to contact me again I would report her to police for harassment! I didn't hear from her again... (Phew, I thought)

Then yesterday I receive a letter from the Royal Mail saying that she has contacted them to get a refund (the date it said she first made contact was a week after she had received the refund through ebay) and could I confirm that I did not receive the item? Essentially if I cooperate, I am enabling her to get her money back TWICE and after the grief she has given me I don't see why I should do anything to make her life easier. I'm still reeling from the whole experience but can't help thinking that if I don't respond I will get yet more agro from her! So...AIBU to just put the letter in the bin? Could their be repercussions with the Royal Mail if I don't reply to it? And AIBU that I just can't stop feeling so mad that someone has accused me of being a liar when I'm not?!

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

reply telling them you did not receive it (so they can track it and you can get it back) but that she got a refund from e-bay already.

[Arion]

I would reply to Royal Mail with a copy of the eBay outcome that she has already received a refund for the item. I would also forward a scanned copy of the Royal Mail info to eBay to show she is trying to claim again. But then I can be arsey if annoyed!

[thecatsminion]

I think I'd be tempted to print out copies of all her abusive e-mails and send them along with a note saying you didn't receive the coat and think she is lying about having sent it (does she have a receipt). No-one can do anything to you for not having received an item.

If she leaves negative feedback with everyone then you have to wonder why she keeps using ebay.

[jendot]

Just ignore it. Nothing will happen.

Personally I would say to royal mail that I had received the parcel so that there was NO chance she would get a 2nd refund. ( she has received a refund from ebay so even if you had eventually got the item back you would not have needed to contact her).

If she contacts you again IGNORE her. No reply, no acknowledgement etc she will go sway very quickly if you don't respond.

[BadgersBottom]

Exactly whtt eccles said and then block her and try to move on. There are some proper idiots on ebay, but they are thankfully far fewer than the decent people. You might be able to get that feedback removed by the way - could be worth getting in touch with Customer Services. Won't hurt to try!

[whattodoo]

I'd be tempted to either ignore the letter or alternatively to tell eBay about it.
I'm not a regular enough what're to know for sure, but I'd hope eBay are building up a profile of her so that could ban her.

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

She has already been refunded through ebay, so asking for a refund from RM seems like fraud to me...

If it was me I would reply to the RM and inform them that you did not receive the item BUT that this woman had already been refunded through ebay.

She sounds like a nightmare.

[ClutchingPearls]

Nope, accidentally loose the letter, like they have the coat.

I doubt she sent it, bet she has the coat sitting in her house and the refund.

Or reply to royal mail explaining it has been dealt with and she has already been fully refunded elsewhere. To avoid them giving her the benefit of the doubt.

[BerryMojito]

She sounds like a truly lovely person . Is she trying to get the value of the coat from British Mail as well as from Ebay?

Can you reply to British Mail saying that you did not receive the coat but that she has already been reimbursed for the goods by Ebay? I am sure she cannot legally claim for the same item from two separate companies.

[DontmindifIdo]

I think Ebay need to see she's trying to get her money back twice.

[Tweasels]

Send the Royal Mail letter to e-bay and ask them to let Royal Mail know they have already refunded her. Also let e-bay have a full run down of what has happened and ask if they will remove the negative feedback.

She sounds dreadful! Good Luck

[PickledFanjoCat]

Tell them she has been reimbursed as then they won't pay again. Cheeky mare!

[ajandjjmum]

DS was messed around by an Ebay purchaser once, and was worried it could affect his rating. He spoke to Ebay and explained the situation, and they were really helpful. Might be worth trying that?

[Meandmycats]

If you don't reply to Royal Mail and she chases it up with them then they will give her the money.

I would reply and say the matter has been dealt with by EBay and she has already got a refund.

They might still refund any postage costs (if these weren't refunded by EBay) but I doubt they would give her the value of the coat. Plus there is a department in Royal Mail that deals with eBay items, so I imagine they will be able to check that she has already been refunded, as long as you tell them this has happened.

[freddiefrog]

I wouldn't ignore it. They might refund her anyway.

I'd reply with a note explaining she's already had a refund and enclose copies of the eBay correspondence.

[racingheart]

This receipt proving she posted it should have the postcode of the place she posted it to. Just wondering what that postcode is. I wonder if she accidentally posted it back to herself!

[Softlysoftly]

I would write to both eBay and RM with all documentation.

I would also track back her records, contact every seller she has used/left negative feedback for and ask them if she has pulled the same trick. It wouldnt surprise me if she regularly buys/asks for a refund/"loses" item. She gets the item PLUS makes cash from the double refund.

Then report her to eBay/RM and 101 number for fraud.

But then I'm not great at letting things ride a spiteful bitch at times

[cumfy]

Is her Post Office receipt for the right weight ?

[nickelrocketgoBooooooom]

you have to tell the RM that you haven't received the item but that she has been refunded through ebay.

then ebay can claim the money from RM, as they're currently the ones who are losing out.

[cozietoesie]

Are you a Business Seller, anskabel?

\link{http://sellerupdate.ebay.co.uk/autumn2012/report-buyer\ebay business seller news autumn 2012}

[WilsonFrickett]

I don't think RM will give her a refund if she only sent it 'normal' post - don't they always tell you if you're sending parcels that they're not insured?

[Emsmaman]

She won't get cash refund; at best she will get some books of stamps.

I'd ignore the letter, I wouldn't waste any more time on her by trying to get one back at her by forwarding letter to ebay or replying.

[StiffyByng]

She never posted the coat. Dodgy mare. Definitely shop her to eBay.