To think this at the very least morally wrong if not legally?

[BadabingBadaboom]

Long story short there was a discussion between myself and another Mum at the park recently. She was basically asking about a few of us getting together for dinner (she's not a friend really but we share friends). I mentioned money was a bit tight until payday.

She then told me that when money's a bit tight she sells fictitious items on eBay on a one day sale but with an extended delivery date. Once it's sold she used the funds and then a week or two (payday basically) she refunds the money.

She's basically using it as an interest free payday loan at someone else's expense. I may have pretty much said that and she wasn't particularly happy that I thought this to be entirely immoral at then least.

AIBU to have been parading my judgy pants that day?

Yes, it does rely on the customer being happy and no one complaining. Her account wouldn't stand up to any scrutiny at all.

Well the whole thing came about because I had said I was strapped for cash this month and couldn't really justify a meal out. So basically she suggested this as a way of funding it in the short term. This makes me think that she is very flippant about using this method to fund non essentials.

No, nothing to admire here and I would be reporting her.

I don't think it's that bad.

I buy a lot from EBay and I've had a few items not turn up recently - and I've known I've got an overly good deal and that if it arrived id be very happy.

The times it's not arrived and the seller refunded me I've assumed they haven't sent it but obviously not left bad feedback or anything as obviously I couldn't prove it

Frankly anyone desperate enough to 'borrow' 20 quid from me for a week or so isn't really defrauding me.

Well, PayPal may pay the refund, but they would take the amount out of her account/charge her for it.

but what could you report them for - under what criteria? You have no proof at all do you? eBay won't do anything. And if she doesn't send cancellation requests she will have FVF to pay on all her transactions won't she.

I don't think it's just 20 quid though Laurie. Might be. Personally I struggle with money. I'm a single mum with no financial help. If I pay £20-£30 quid for something I'm usually going without elsewhere in order to fund it. I would be mightily pissed off if someone did this to me.

Just bumped into the woman at nursery. She did look a bit sheepish.

Wow, I'm horrified! I could almost understand if she was really embarrassed and telling you about it sheepishly but to be so open and frank about it, and doing it regularly... I don't even know what to say!

Eventually, she will have a situation where she doesn't get the money on payday or "borrows" more than she can pay back and then she will go into full-on fraud. What a horrible thing to do.

Ebay will soon clock onto her and then it will be good night, Vienna as far as her little ruse goes.

The scams people come up with fail to amaze me.

I think I just got stung like this from ebay seller, they refunded my money after a week saying there was a problem with item I am absolutely gutted as it was a book my daughter needed for her course and i couldn't afford new she has been waiting for it to arrive so she could do her work I was not happy so have raised a complaint I hope it stops them doing to anyone else and left negative feed back

Keep in mind, Paypal refunds the purchaser, but then goes to the seller for their refund. And it better be forthcoming, not paying a big corporation that basically operates via computer programs means missing a deadline will rapidly escalate, just as with credit cards or mortgages. Except, without the legal protections a consumer has with those.

Do you not have to pay listing fees on eBay?

That's a disgusting thing to do, some people really are lacking in all moral fibre.

Every time she refunds she acquires a "defect" and if she's a private seller then she's only able to rack up 5% defect rate before eBay stop her from selling.

It's people like her that give eBay sellers a bad reputation.

She is obtaining money by deception (which is fraud) irrespective of the fact that she intends to refund them in due course.

I would be tempted to report her myself.

no she won't necessarily always get a defect when she refunds. If a buyer opens a case then she can do. No she won't incur listing fees, if under 20 items per month, but final value fees yes.

And of course, if paypal force a refund they will chase a seller for the money. But it seems like she is refunding before any case is opened.

And some sellers refund because they wanted more money, item is damaged or a million any other reasons.

How can you report her though - under what criteria?

Jesus, as creative ways of borrowing money go, I think this is one of the most harmless I've ever come across. You lot are odd. No-one's out of pocket, and the worst that happens is that someone who thought they'd found something on ebay discover they haven't got it after all and have to look again: first world problems. She puts long delivery dates on them so it's not even like people are expecting them imminently.

She should be reported to the police for fraud.

This thread has reminded me of one ages ago, where someone mentioned that when you place an order with Ocado, they only take a penny from your card and then charge the full amount after the delivery.
So if you are a bit short for a few days, you can get your full food shop and then phone them back a few days later and pay for the shop.

For some of the replies, you would have thought she suggested armed robbery at a bank! I thought it was quite a clever trick, personally...

Wow - kind of agree with grubbybrat - in the sense that she must be really desperate but also it's quite calculating, (and for that reason I prob would keep my distance as from a personal perspective, you have to trust people who are around you & family etc - ooo she could take pics of your telly and "sell" it ha ha) I am an avid eBayer and this would never have even entered my head. TBF if she's still paying her insertion fees eBay prob wouldn't care. Phoning the police is ridiculous! Ha ha how on earth would you prove she didn't have the sold item, didn't post it etc etc police would laugh! Can not believe she admitted it to you!

I wonder if she's a mumsnetter?

She doesn't sound desperate if she's suggesting using this method to fund a meal out. It's not like that's an essential thing is it?

I reckon she's just a chancer with low morals.

That's terrible, what if someone spent their last £20 on their child's birthday present only for it not to turn up and to not get the money back until this cheeky mare's payday.

I would report her to the police, it is fraud and she is basically borrowing strangers money without their knowledge. If her car breaks down does she use a random persons until hers is fixed? It is the same thing.

Report her. They don't need her Ebay ID. Her name will do.