Does this sound dodgy?

[5amisnotmorning]

I am a new ebay seller. I sent an item 2nd class recorded as described in the sale details but didn't immediately put the tracking details on, just marked it as dispatched.

The buyer contacted me saying it hadn't turned up so I checked the delivery details and it had been delivered and signed for by someone with the same first name.

She is claiming that someone signed for it fraudulently as it was sent from the wrong post office. I have said that I will attempt to reclaim the money via the post office.

I don't know on what basis they would refund though? It has the right address and has been signed for by someone of the same first name although the the signature is indistinguishable.

How would you proceed?

Oh and now PayPal are withholding all of my money from my sold items for 90 days!

[summerwinterton]

You have proof of delivery so don't need to refund. Make sure you do now add the tracking to the item.

[lljkk]

Have you formally refunded the payment? I really hope not
Did the buyer open an 'Item not received case' thru Ebay resolution centre?
How would the buyer KNOW the item went to wrong post office if she never got item?

[5amisnotmorning]

I haven't refunded the payment and won't unless I get a refund from Royal Mail. All she has done so far is click I haven't received my item so looks like all my payments from PayPal have been quarantined as I am a first time seller.

She has been very polite though so obviously if it is an error I will try and help. I have sent her the tracking details so she can see that it was despatched from a post office not near her home.

[5amisnotmorning]

Between this and someone else claiming an item was dirty and someone else harassing me for delivery (doesn't anyone else work during the week?) I am giving up selling on eBay unless it is pick up only and the rest is going on an not stall.

[youknowwhattodo]

No you dont have to refund. It happened to mYself a while back. My neighbour had signed for my parcel, postman did not leave a card to let me know, but when seller gave tracking details if was a signature id never heard off. Ebay said i could not be refunded as seller had proof. Anyway, about 2 months later a neighbour down the road knocked on with my parcel

[lljkk]

Stay polite with buyer, no matter what.
And put her on your blocked bidder list in meantime. Dodgy postal service in her area.
You keep talking about "despatched from" a post office not near her home... you mean "delivered to" a post office not near her home?
Does that mean posties then delivered it to (identical number+street) near the wrong post office? I think I'd be asking in my post office about that, then, when sending recorded delivery.

How much was this item worth, may I ask?

I understand OP has already got a black mark (strike) for the not delivered status, so frankly all there is to gain now is keeping visually ok f/back & maybe not to have to refund.

[19lottie82]

Royal Mail won't refund you. They have proof it's been delivered.

Upload the tracking to eBay and PayPal, then Ask the buyer to open a not received case.

Escalate the case when you can, and you will win. You won't have to refund and the buyer won't be able to leave you negative feedback.

[nauticant]

Or like the last time this happened to me the buyer will leave horrible feedback and you can call ebay and have the feedback removed once you've won the "item not received" case.