Seller wants to use friends & family. Is this dodgy?

[NightsOfCabiria]

I bought something from Ebay last month - £150 - paid via paypal - and the seller said “oops! wrong account. I did update it but for some reason its not updated. Can you cancel it and pay me via paypal friends & family instead?”

I said fine but now I’m wondering if its a scam. I wont be protected will I.

No, you won't have any protection. Walk away.

It is an odd thing to request. I would only pay to the eBay linked Paypal account so you have both ebay and paypal protection. Sounds like at best they're fee avoiding at worst it's a scam where you'll end up no money, no goods and no recourse.

mmm ... thought as much. Oh well, back to searching!

i'd pay friends and family if you walked away with the goods in your hand, if not I'd want the proper selling account.
If you paid friends and family and you don't get the goods I would report her for misuse of the friends and family option. Might not get you your money back but hopefully would scupper her from continuing to scam people

You're right- no protection at all- and the seller has to be a fee when the transaction is business. I would t agree to it. Depending how desperately you want the item, could offer to cover the fee?

I cant walk away with it unfortunately as its a carpet! In twenty years of using Ebay, Ive not come across this.

Had this same problem today! Desperately wanted tickets to a show and the seller would only take friends and family and it killed me because I really really wanted it to be genuine but I've read too many dodgy things about scammers so walked away. Not worth it, especially if it's something you can buy from someone genuine unfortunately for me I've had to give up.

Last month!? So how come she's asking you to cancel payment now?

Is the carpet being delivered or are you collecting it?

The seller went on holiday, hence the delay.

She was using a courier to deliver it.

Anyway, Ive cancelled now so no harm done.

I am awaiting the inevitable shitty response to my message declining her offer though.

If you forward her message to ebay, they can hopefully stop her from doing this to someone else.

I agree contact eBay

Has the original £150 already left your PayPal account?