Complicated mess....

[seasidemama]

Hello,

I'd be grateful for any advice from sellers or buyers with this as I really don't know what to do!

A while ago I bought the 3rd season of the West Wing from E-bay. The seller didn't take paypal (which bugged me but I should have checked first so entirely my own fault!) so I sent a cheque the same day I won the auction.

The next day my bank stopped all transactions on my account because they suspected fraud (very eager beaver that day in the fraud department - 'twas not fraud, was a shopping trip to Glasgow!). As soon as the bank called me I e-mailed the seller explaining the situation and saying that I had instructed the bank to honour the cheque if at all possible - but that if not I would send a new one straight away.

The seller came back and few days later and said the cheque had "bounced" (very aggressively I might add - despite having acknowledged previously that I'd said there might be a problem and why). I apologised profusely and sent another cheque the same day, but without checking with my bank that the cheque had actually been returned unpaid.

As it happens - the seller has now been paid twice for an item I still (months) haven't received.

What worried me most though was how threatening and aggressive the seller was - and how hopeless ebay were. At one stage the seller said "my sons are working on a building site not far from you - I'll send them round this weekend to get this sorted". Although this never materialised, and to be fair I never really thought it woud, it still unnerved me somewhat.

I opened a dispute and went through a whole lot of rigamarole with ebay - including sending e-mails with headers, copies of bank statements etc. etc. They've said that it's obvious I've paid twice but that because it was by cheque there is little they can do. They've said, with regard to the seller's attitude, that I've left neg. feedback and there is little more they can do. They suggested involving the police to take it further.

So - at the end of that saga...should I bother going to the police, or should I just leave it now? I feel a bit torn because I worry about what could happen if this seller and his behaviour were unleashed upon rather more vulnerable victims - but equally, the police probably have better things to be doing than dealing with obnoxious e-bay non-sellers.

What's the best way forward here?

Thanks!

I doubt the police would do anything.
It doesn't surprise me that ebay themselves can be of no further assistance.

I take it you have already forwarded the threatening message onto ebay? have they suspended him?
It might be worth taking a copy of this message to the police - but I really doubt they would do anything - worth a try though you never know - or would you be worried that if the policed cautioned the guy it could antagonize him?

So sorry you've gone through this.

I'd move on. and remember - only use paypal from now on

He threatened you! I would tell the police, (but will they be of any help? )

What feedback did he leave you?

From now on, only use paypal!!

I had one say that I was a liar and various other things so I threatened libel and wouldn't withdraw the neg feedback I left.

I would tell the police (whether they do anything is another mater) and tell the seller, complete with crime number, that it has been handed over to the police to investigate the fraud.

If I were you, I'd bring in the police. It isn't just a question of you having paid twice for undelivered goods, it's also a question of his threatening emails. But first I suggest trying Citizens Advice Bureau. They should be able to tell you what your next move should be.

Thanks!

I'm so cross with myself for sending the cheques! I should have known to stick to paypal.

As far as I know E-bay haven't suspended him as they didn't feel that this was indicative of his usual behaviour (based upon his feedback). I did point out about the number of people who don't leave neg. feedback because of the fear of retaliation, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears.

I don't want to waste police time (heaven knows they have enough to do), but likewise, wouldn't want this to happen to anyone else. That said - does it really constitute a threat if you didn't ever believe it would happen though?