To ask what to do since I've been a fool...

[cantbelieveivebeensostupid]

I've name changed because frankly I'm sitting here wondering why I've been so fucking stupid!

Our combi boiler broke two weeks ago... we couldn't afford a new one (oil combi so around £3500) so looked on Ebay, found a couple that where being sold by a business seller. Rang him and he spent an hour chatting to me about my boiler helping me to try and fix it, really went above and beyond and sounded like an old school genuine guy. I got outbid on the boiler but rang him and he said he was having another coming in the next couple of days.

We were desperate since we have no hot water or heating and I agreed to buy the boiler from him. I sent the money (£900) to his bank and we agreed he would send the boiler this week. I've been calling him since Monday and his phone is going straight to voicemail and despite leaving tons of messages he's not returning my calls.

Now If I were reading this I would be screaming at the poster telling them how stupid they were to send the money. I've been had haven't I. I don't have money to buy another one and don't know what the hell I'm going to do.

Any advise very welcome but please avoid telling me how much of an idiot I am. If you knew me you would never believe I could have been so bloody stupid. I am sat here sobbing because I genuinely don't know what I'm going to do.

Honestly, the silliest thing you did was try to by a dodgy boiler off a guy you've never met - have you any idea how dangerous that is?? I'd rather have a cold bath than carbon monoxide poisoning/exploding house. I hope you get your money back, but please look for a better way to get a new boiler - I'm sure there are deals you can do with your energy provider to pay a new boiler back over time.

I'm hoping that the fact he was so helpful might mean that he was genuine. He was trying to help you fix your old one wasn't he? I'm trying to be optimistic.

Has he got any current listings?

Can't read all replies..trading standards at local council office.

I think I've found the seller on EBay. His seller name begins with O.... .

I know it doesn't look good but there is a chance its ok. At least it doesn't look like a high jacked account. Have you kept details of all your texts and emails?

Have you checked out his address and name with 192.com?

stampy it's not a gas boiler and whilst there still can be some emissions from an oil boiler ours is located in an outside outhouse with an external flue so none of the same risks you would have with a gas boiler.

He was a registered business seller on Ebay selling refurbished oil boilers, not some random bloke I met on the street. I had investigated all other options but none of the major suppliers deal in oil boilers, only gas, and since we are rural we have no gas supply.

I do believe I've admitted to being extremely foolish and already feel I've let my children down, but do go on if you feel you can kick me a little more when I'm down.

To everyone else, thank you. I do have all of his numbers, address, screen shots of expired listings etc so will speak with action fraud tomorrow. Whilst I like to see the good in people I have left 12 messages and sent 10 texts, all politely asking for information. I can only deduce that something dodgy is going on and I'm probably not going to see my money again which is a huge problem for our family.

thats Yes his user ID does begin with O...

His feedback looked perfect until 13th October when negative feedback was left stating non delivery of boiler and still waiting for refund 6 weeks later!

No current listings and last item ended on 3/10...

Have you got his address? If not, try putting his name through companies house on the off chance that he's a company director and registered his home address. I think unlikely but worth a try. Home address is useful for small claim etc.

Can you look on Facebook too? Any info can be helpful and you might find a partner you can message. Make sure he knows you're tenacious and won't go away!

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/scams/spotting-and-reporting-scams/how-to-report-a-scam/

If you have all the info it shouldn't be hard to cross check everything. How have you tried to contact him? If he is a real person at a real address then you can try the small claims court. Is he close enough to visit?

'12 messages and 10 texts' suggests you have only phoned him?

Did he send you conformation of receiving the money?

Don't beat yourself up about this.
Not sure if this helps but I think when contacting solicitors you get the first half hour or hour free. Someone else may be able to confirm this. I have a friend who had a money issue last year and basically went from one solicitor to another for free advice as the issue progressed. They are aware of this and according to her it wasn't embarrassing in any way. Just call a local solicitor, check the amount of time that is free and say you want to come in for free advice in order to decide whether to pursue

I've spent the last 4 days trying to contact him, sadly too far away to visit. I'm going to spend the morning tomorrow contacting everyone that's been suggested.

You do not, automatically, get the first half hour of advice free. I'm a lawyer -albeit only worked in large firms - but that is not standard practice. Smaller firms will probably see you and discuss the problem generally to determine if it's the kind of work that they want to take on but certainly will not review papers and would probably give a wide berth to any prospective client who had clearly been going round numerous solicitors trying to get advice for free. Why would you want a client like that ?

Best bet is to try and track this chap down. If you have a home address, you could pop out to see where he lives and - if you take someone else - decide if you want to knock on the door to discuss

Do you have home insurance? If so, you might have legal expenses insurance through it and it would probably co et this kind of dispute. Would be worth calling to check

If you've only tried for the last four days then couldn't he be away? ... Maybe?

Oh no! Don't feel bad, you researched and did it in good faith, especially as he spent so long talking you through your old boiler.

Good luck with getting a new one

No I never received conformation that he had received my money, I did ask him but never got a reply which first raised my suspicions and all subsequent attempts to contact him have been unsuccessful.

So sorry OP, what a horrid thing to happen. Can you try and find him on Facebook? I ask because it is now possible to serve some court documents via social media in the absence of an address.

As it would fall within the small claims track because of the sum involved, it's not really worth instructing a solicitor (though in any event it would cost more, far more, than the £10-£20 quoted above for a letter).

As someone else suggested, try money claims online. You'll still have a court fee and unfortunately these have recently increased, but if you find out the fee (it is based on the amount of money owed) you can at least weigh up whether it's worth going down that route.

I really hope you get it sorted.

I sent the money last Friday, he said he send the boiler on Monday and send me tracking information as soon as it had left him. I never got any communication from him after I sent the money.

I can't just "pop over" he is 300 miles away.

Ok - I didn't know where he lived when I gave you the advice to "pop over". Apologies for not being a mind reader.

Hopefully you'll find the other advice useful re: legal expenses cover although obviously i don't know if you have home insurance so apologies again if that advice is another waste of your time.

Good luck.

Just wanted to say a big thank you for all the suggestions, I'm still sobbing on and off and have a throbbing headache, and doubt I'll sleep much tonight but will crack on with contacting everyone tomorrow morning.

goblin apologies if my reply came over as flippant, it wasn't my intention.

Oh OP,I really hope he is genuine and that you get your boiler,I wouldn't slate you for trusting him,I'd have more than likely done the same.

Do you know anyone that lives near him?a friend or family member?I hope so.

Sorry if I missed it but have you spoke to the bank to see if the money has been received?

DH has said(he's a police Officer)the Police will try to help,because if the guy has taken your money with no intention of giving you the boiler then it's intentional fraud and theft.

If I had that sum of money to spare I'd gladly help you out with a new boiler OP,I really hope your able to get it all sorted soon and get your boiler sorted,I shall have my fingers crossed for you and please don't say you've let your children down,you haven't this could happen to anyone,it's just such a shame that we live in a world where not everyone can be trusted

ohthehoilday that's so kind, thank you. No I haven't spoken to the bank but it's on my list for tomorrow morning.

We only had £1200 (£900 for the boiler, £300 to be fitted) left in our saving because both DH and I have both had redundancies during the last two years so it's been tough couple of years and has eaten away all our savings. We have a much lower income that we would like so unable to build them up again. These ups and downs are life though so it's just bad luck that the boiler broke when we didn't have funds to replace it with a new one.

I'm going to try and sleep this headache away and hopefully the situation will look a little less scary in the morning.

Once again thanks everyone.

Goblin hope I didn't offend you with my suggestion to op. Solicitors in big firms might not entertain meeting a potential client without charging for the privilege. However, I think many solicitors will meet to discuss whether a matter is worth pursuing without an initial charge. When making an appointment it is most likely slotted in as half an hour. Obviously a solicitor down the line would not want a client that had done the rounds but unless you told them they would be unaware as none of your previous visits would have led to action by solicitors. May seem unfair but so does the law in very many instances
OP, stop sobbing, look in a mirror and love yourself like you are one of your own little babies. Someone has done something nasty to you, don't blame yourself, get angry and organised and do the best you can do by whatever means

Oh you poor thing, how awful. Lots of people would have done similar (we have oil too..). What area is he in? I wonder if anyone would know an oil boiler servicer in that area who may have heard of him or know where he works from? How about contacting the person who left bad feed back? I wonder if they have any more info on him?