Surely this isnt legal is it???

[ohokthen]

On facebook, someone has set themselves up. Offering Payment Plans.

They offer a range of good, from clothes, furniture, games, tv's ect.

You pay her weekly, and when your done. She delivers the goods to your house.

She say's "Im not a business, or a shop. I just want to help people".

She has nearly 200 people on her list already, and lots of enquiries about goods. She deals with all questions via message not on her wall.

No, its loan sharking setting up finance agreements that have no bearing in law, she's setting herself up as a private bank in effect and isnt regulated by the FSA.

I would, print the page, and send it to Trading Standards. Possibly the police also.

Frankly, she's also quite probably fencing stolen goods too. (ok that might be a bit of a kneejerk response)

Sounds like a fence to me

It does sound a bit dodgy but I suppose it depends if she is making any profit, offers money back to unhappy customers, or what happens if someone cancels an order, and what she is charging for delivery. Also if she is allowed to earn any money or is she on any benefits.

Maybe she is a lottery winner who does just want to help? Or a mad woman spending her kids inheritance?

Radio 4 did a report on someone doing similar with mortgages/houses earlier this month!

So you pay her and only when you have paid her the total amount do you get your stuff?

Its a scam, pure and simple. I would be very surprised if anyone actually sees their goods.

Yep she says this

C&P
""i am genuine if u pay via paypal n u think im going to do a runner u can claim your money back via paypal i have loads of orders in and soon you will see that i will have good feedback of people and that i havnt done a runner if i was that sort of person i wouldnt offer weekly payments id want the money all at once and offer stuff cheap .""

and this
c&p

it is just a payment plan it is legal ,people dont get there items till full balance is paid . as i have been robbed of before , i am helping people out by offering them to pay weekly i am a genuine person helping others out !

id report her to police, trading standards and fb.
can you link on here

I wonder if this goes against Facebook terms and conditions?

Either way you have no guarantees that your money is safe.

Be very careful

she is advertising herself on all the 2nd hand for sale pages.

She says "no your the 1st one like this , but i dont have a problem with it i try to answer all questions to the best i can
if your asking me a question then im talking to you not to my wall thats the reason i inbox people "

In response to me asking lots of questions, all by pm of course

Good grief, no no no no!

Is that the way she writes? Sounds dodgy to me.

how do i link to the page, I am outing myself doing this but heyho.

And Please I HAVE NO intentions of getting anything. I was very currious when I saw the page.

And had ask a lot of questions.

It depends If she's offering credit, which it doesn't sound like she is at all.
She's offering to help people save.
Is she inflating the prices by 300%, if not she is better than Brighthouse IMO

Yes she is. I said you are offering a savings plan then. She says she is making an extra £5 - £10. Which covers the cost of petrol to deliver.

I dunno - you can sell stuff on eBay/gum tree etc can't you, and if you want to take money in instalments isn't that your decision?
I mean I'm not sure about trading or tax and so on, but just offering a payment plan doesn't seem that bad to me, unless it's with loads of interest or something.
I am quite clueless though.

I may be being really thick but if they don't get the goods until they have paid her the weekly amounts what is the point?? How is she helping anyone - surely they could could just save up themselves and go and buy whatever it is in a normal shop? Or am I missing something

PP can only refund money IF the money is in the PP account anyway - otherwise they (PP) dodge and duck the issue.

I would report that, and I'm normally a live-and-let-live sort - but that has all the hall marks of a scam.

If people needed that sort of saving-scheme they could use a credit union.

Yea but surely, then if people can do this. Then nothing is regulated and it leaves the door open. For dubious characters, who will jump at earning a quick buck.

People don't save though do they? Or Visa would never exist.

If they are paying on weekly or monthly installments, by the time they have paid the amount for their goods, it will be too late for them to do anything about it with paypal when the goods dont arrive. Besides which, it just would not work.

She is a scammer and should be reported to the police.

Actually, isnt there some sort of law about savings plans now since the whole Farepack (sp?) Xmas savings thing?

I am sure I remember reading that some sort of legislation was being brought in to protect savers, and if it did then it may well be illegal.

There is no way on earth that is on the level. If it ain't a scam I'll eat every hat in the house with french fries and a side salad.

Contact trading standard they will have an illegal money lending unit who will investigate and prosecute if she is breaking the law.
Which it sounds as if she is.
You pay and then you may or may not get your item no come back no sales of goods act.

Well she says, she orders the goods 2 weeks before your last payment. Dont know if she is on cloud cuckoo land or

But why??! If she is ordering goods on their behalf that they have sent her the money for why don't they just order it themselves?? I don't understand the point of it!