Cannot pay seller - paypal account blocked.. alternative paypal account...what do you think? Dodgy?

[SlightlyMadStroppyCakeMaker]

Brought pair of shoes today. Listing says contact me to advise of payment method (despite giving paypal as only option). We pay by paypal anyway.

Get a warning saying account not currently valid (or something like that). E-mail seller for further advise.

We get email back saying that someone has hacked into his account so it has been temporarily suspended. He has offered an alternative. Does this concern you?

His ebay history is as follows:

Registered in 2006, brought 2 items. No activity since.

Sold 5 items in the last 2 days, with another 5 active listings.

Does he seem a bit active all of a sudden?

Can I query this with ebay or paypal?
Would you pay to alternative paypal address?
Would you offer a cheque?
What protection do I have if I pay via diff paypal/cheque?
Can I pull out of sale?

[SlightlyMadStroppyCakeMaker]

*offered an alternative paypal account that is

[SlightlyMadStroppyCakeMaker]

Now looks as if the ebay invoice has been transferred to the new paypal account does that sound safer?

It is a hotmail account. Does that make a difference?

Anyone?

[sixlostmonkeys]

answered on other thread also - but reading this I'd report the listing

[flibbertyjibbet]

Don't pay to a different address. Sellers often state that they will only send items to the registered ebay/paypal details address, so buyers should be only expected to pay to the registered account.
You won't have paypal protection if its not the account registered to his ebay account.
Withdraw from transaction and don't worry about getting negative feedback as I'm sure all his other buyers will be negging him over this. Perhaps its the latest type of ebay/paypal rip off?

[SlightlyMadStroppyCakeMaker]

If I withdraw from the sale will I get feedback at all??????

If I ask ebay to investigate how long before I can expect an answer?

[charliecat]

Id say it sounds hacked. Dont.

[SlightlyMadStroppyCakeMaker]

ebay hacked as well as paypal

(I am with you on this one BTW....I just have to convince DP)

CharlieCat - are you up for the isketch reunion 8:30 tonight?

[charliecat]

Oh im rubbish, im always the worst one there....but I will be there...apologys in advance!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[charliecat]

Dont do this, its not worth losing the money over.

[BibiThree]

My paypal account as been suspended this week due to someone else trying to access it apparently so I can't pay anyone that way. It does happen, but go with your gut instinct.

[ManxMum]

mines done the same, can't pay skype top-up

Arrrggghhhhh!

Gut instinct on this one - don't go for it!

ask ebay to investigate, I had to do so recently, when a seller tried to charge me VAT on a second invoice!

Heard nothing after referral and no 'neg' feedback

[SlightlyMadShorthair]

How about suggesting seller relists with BIN price of what we had agreed linked to the new paypal. Then we will have buyer protection.

DP has emailed the couple of people that has brought from this seller in the last couple of days to see if they have had the same problem. One of them has spent £350 on a PS3...I hope they havn't been the victims of fraud.

He is insistant he wants to buy the trainers nd put it down to a learning experience if it all goes wrong...

[charliecat]

I was recently ripped off to the tune of 90 qid on ebay. It does happen, tread carefully.

[SlightlyMadShorthair]

YEs I know it happens...I just need to convince DP..

Guy has emailed to say 'I am genuine' and DP says "well he could be"...and I say "yeah and he might not be" we are going round in circles.

I think I would report to ebay personally and let them investigate. If it is real great - if not hopefully we will have saved the people that are bidding right now for his other items...

[charliecat]

Tell dp to wait a week, to see whether the shit hits the fan. Hes still going to pay, hes still going to get his trainers, but it took in my case 5 days for the fraud to come to light...maybe it has to be the actual ebayer who informs them? And if the real ebayer hasnt used the account for a year he might not be looking... wait a week...see what happens.

[SlightlyMadShorthair]

We don't want to get neg as a result of slow payment though ..... his other suggestion is that we drive 65 miles to collect and pay cash [grrrrr men]

[sixlostmonkeys]

can you phone him?

[sixlostmonkeys]

a neg is a little red dot on the screen - money is money

[SlightlyMadShorthair]

And say what?

If we ask for his phone number the (potentially) fraudster will give us his number won't he and then tell us his is genuine...

[sixlostmonkeys]

no - pull his details from ebay - that will give the proper seller's phone number

[SlightlyMadShorthair]

How do I get that?

[sixlostmonkeys]

pages.ebay.co.uk/help/tp/know-seller-contact.html

[CarGirl]

you could call his bluff by saying you have friends living in his area and could they go collect and pay cash? If he says no that is def v dodgy

[SlightlyMadShorthair]

TY 6 monkeys...

...we were thinking that if we had confirmation we could collect then we might 'change our mind' and have it posted anyway...just to see his reponse.

I think we will obtain his email and phone number and see how that goes...

[SlightlyMadShorthair]

Have requested details....phone number does not exist...there is no contact email...ebay do not have address on file

Have emailed and asked to mutually withdraw from sale....the above findings convinced DP....