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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think the police should be involved?

27 replies

Gammeldragz · 20/05/2020 21:17

Okay, weird one...
Bought a laptop for my kids off FB marketplace, seller was a lad up the Rd, I know his mum so assumed it was fine. He said he was selling for a friend, they dropped it off the other day. These lads are 16...
Anyway, got a random Facebook message from someone I don't know, but she's local and I recognise her, asking if I bought a laptop yesterday. So I freak out thinking it's stolen... Message the lad I bought from and he assures me it's his friend's. The lady rings me after I give her my number because she won't say what it's about, turns out her son sold it without her knowing and she basically wants it back. She had no idea how he'd sold it and how much for. I wasn't willing to agree to anything tonight as I wanted to work out the legality of it all and I was quite thrown...

So, turns out you need to be 18 to sell stuff on Facebook. What I'm more concerned about is, have I technically bought stolen property and I should I involve the police? If I do that I guess I won't get my money back and also lose the laptop, so probably I'm just better off selling it back to her.
My kids are going to be gutted!

It's just weird, I'm kind of freaking out. Advice please!

OP posts:
Original poster
Gammeldragz · 20/05/2020 21:22

Just got an awful feeling I'm in the wrong here, not sure why but the whole phone call felt like she was making it down to me to fix this. If it was my child I would not have involved the person he sold it to!

OP posts:
Smurf123 · 20/05/2020 21:29

She can have it back after her son pays you back the money you paid?
Don't know about the legality of it but it was sold and you paid money for it. Do you still have the messages on Facebook? Screenshot them in case they delete them. I would offer to give it back but only with her giving you back your money. Otherwise her son stole from you.

user1493494961 · 20/05/2020 21:29

Return it to her and get your money back.

Oakmaiden · 20/05/2020 21:31

If you bring in the police then you officially have been receiving stolen goods, and will lose both the laptop and the money. Your best bet is to say "sure, I gave your son £x, please give it back and I will happily return the laptop.

Freddiefox · 20/05/2020 21:33

Her son sold the laptop, tell her to get him to pay you back and you will give her the laptop.
Being over 18 is not your concern, for all
You know he could be 18, and the whole thing could be a scam.
Disengage and tell her to call
The police if she doesn’t wanTito band over the money
You’ve done nothing wrong

Original poster
Gammeldragz · 20/05/2020 21:33

Yes I screenshot the messages and the original listing, I also sent her a link to the listing on Facebook.
I should stop freaking out and sell it back. I'm not as bothered as I would be as I found some problems with it anyway. The DCs will be disappointed, but I may just buy a new one and avoid all this trouble!

OP posts:
Original poster
Gammeldragz · 20/05/2020 21:39

Thanks for the advice all, I knew the calm heads of MN would help. It was just a very strange phone call, it felt like she wanted me to sort it all out.
If my DC had done this I would never have contacted the person and made them feel in the wrong, I'd have sorted it out with my DC...

OP posts:
AllsortsofAwkward · 20/05/2020 21:46

I'm confused a lady contacted you to say her laptop was stolen and you want to sell her it back?Surely you should give her property back and take it up with the lads mother who stole you item. Tbh I would never buy electrical goods off young lads for this very reason.

Freddiefox · 20/05/2020 21:47

Did she offer you any money back? Seems weird to just expect you to hand it over.
My dss sold without permission an item of ours.. we would never have expected or back without returning the money.
However he didn’t have the money as he’d spent it.. which has probably happened in this situation too

AllsortsofAwkward · 20/05/2020 21:47

Is the lady in question the lads mother or son poor sod who's had their stuff nicked?

cabbageking · 20/05/2020 21:54

Tell her you are happy to give it back when you are repaid.

You bought it in good faith and it is the parents responsibility they obey the rules not yours. Theft is something completely different.

For all you know this is a regular event to get the lap top back without repayment.

Igotta · 20/05/2020 22:07

Just say you'll give it back once you get your money back.

How much did you pay? The lenovos are a decent little cheap laptop.

Waveysnail · 20/05/2020 22:19

If my son sold laptop I had brought at age 16 then sure as hell I'd be ringing the person to get it back Hmm

avroroad · 20/05/2020 22:22

So the kid sold you a laptop that belonged to a random woman? Give it back to the woman and speak to the kids mum regarding how he will pay you back

Original poster
Gammeldragz · 20/05/2020 22:30

No it was the mum who's son it belonged to, who sold it through his friend. I've actually got no idea how she traced me, perhaps via the friend's mum.
She has of course said she will pay the money back. She just didn't know where he had sold it or how much for, which I had to explain on the phone.
I did initially feel like saying well I had paid for it therefore it now belongs to me and she should be sorting this all out with her son and not expecting me to fix it by selling it back to her. But legally I can't really do that can I, if he sold it without her permission and she bought it then it's stolen, so it's best if I give it back and get my money back. I'm watching others on ebay for similar prices, it's not like it was a huge bargain or anything.
If I were her I'd be more concerned about what he wants that much cash for, to be honest...

OP posts:
Oakmaiden · 20/05/2020 22:31

@AllsortsofAwkward @avroroad

OP says in her first post that the woman's son sold the laptop.

So presumably the owner isn't going to want to involve the police (the son has effectively stolen, after all). So if she wants the laptop back she will have to find the money to repay the OP and then take it up with her son.

Oakmaiden · 20/05/2020 22:32

cross posted - yes, Easiest all round to get your money back. Such a hassle though.

avroroad · 20/05/2020 22:33

OP also says she knows the mum but got a call from a random woman who said their son sold the laptop to OP. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster
Gammeldragz · 20/05/2020 22:34

And yes, I would not normally buy from teenagers but it's a small village and the one who listed it is a neighbour of mine, so I assumed it couldn't go wrong. I should have listened to the little niggle that went off when he said it was for his friend, but I'd already arranged to buy it then.
Lessons learned all round I suppose!

Any suggestions for decent budget laptops for the DCs? PP mentioned Lenovo?

OP posts:
Original poster
Gammeldragz · 20/05/2020 22:37

To clarify, marketplace listing was placed by my neighbour's son but he was selling it for his friend. His friend's Mum is the one who called me. Apologies, I was a little worked up and not being clear!

OP posts:
Original poster
Gammeldragz · 20/05/2020 22:40

Not sure what she would have done if it was a completely random person who bought it... We don't know each other but recognise each other from the playground years ago. Can't have been an easy phone call for her either to be fair, she sounded quite thrown by the whole thing.

OP posts:
SD1978 · 20/05/2020 22:41

I don't understand on one hand you're concerned about the police, and on the other want to keep it, even though it's faulty, to teach a lesson? He sold it, he shouldn't have, the mother had offered the money you paid- it goes back to her and she deals with her son.

Oakmaiden · 20/05/2020 22:45

@SD1978 I think the OP was having a panic when she posted, but has now calmed down and changed her mind about the best course of action.

Original poster
Gammeldragz · 20/05/2020 22:45

On a positive note, the situation gave me a good opportunity to discuss the rights and wrongs of his actions with my own DCs as I had to explain why the laptop is going back.
My 13 year old DS thought it was hilariously shocking behaviour, my 12 year old thinks he should be able to sell his own stuff when he's 16 - fair enough, but not if I paid for it (he conceded this point) and I explained that even if he'd paid for it, it would be sensible to have a discussion about it with me, even if it isn't asking permission!
10 year old DD said she doesn't want it if it's stolen and we absolutely have to give it back.

DS12 is definitely the one to keep an eye on...

OP posts:
Original poster
Gammeldragz · 20/05/2020 22:46

@Oakmaiden yes exactly, thank you! Am much calmer now. Lockdown has been so very calm and dull here, my brain wasn't prepared for drama...

OP posts: