Quick Ebay returns question.

wassap · 2 Oct 2010 at 21:10

Hey folks,

Just looking for a quick bit of advice here. I sold a Laptop on ebay a few weeks back, after a few days the buyer contacted me about it being faulty, which was odd as it was fully working before I sent it.

But I accepted it back anyway. Now that I have had it back, the thing has been taken apart,and warrantee seals broken etc, the casing hasnt been put back together properly,luckily I had taken pics of everything in the auction, ie the seals and what not.

Now am I right in thinking,I dont have to refund the guy on this one, the guy on has a low feedback score, and mines fairly good,if that makes a difference.

Ive taken the pics of the lappy as its been sent back.

Any advice greatfully recieved.

SiriusB · 2 Oct 2010 at 21:12

I would contact eBay to be honest. If they have tampered with it then I don't see eBay siding with them.

Bes · 2 Oct 2010 at 21:14

How did he pay?

wassap · 2 Oct 2010 at 21:15

He paid via Paypal.

AtreuS · 2 Oct 2010 at 21:44

Sounds like hes swapped out your mainboard or something to fix his and is trying to get his dosh back so he gets a free repair.

If i were you i would empty your paypal account NOW and remove your payment card/bank account attached to it.

Its easier to fight them over money then claim you owe, than trying to get it BACK once they steal it ( paypal i mean ).

iviv · 2 Oct 2010 at 23:17

Paypal will find in the buyer's favour, take the money out of your account, and you'll be down one laptop

wassap · 3 Oct 2010 at 09:30

AtreuS said:
Sounds like hes swapped out your mainboard or something to fix his and is trying to get his dosh back so he gets a free repair.

If i were you i would empty your paypal account NOW and remove your payment card/bank account attached to it.

Its easier to fight them over money then claim you owe, than trying to get it BACK once they steal it ( paypal i mean ).

Well ive emptied the account, lets see if they try to screw me

Raumarik · 3 Oct 2010 at 10:10

Hope you removed your card too wohoo.

wassap · 3 Oct 2010 at 10:19

Ive removed th card, just waiting for the transfer to finish and then the bank details will be off aswell.

I can understand buyers getting protection, but how about us sellers

Martini1991 · 3 Oct 2010 at 11:58

AtreuS said:
Sounds like hes swapped out your mainboard or something to fix his and is trying to get his dosh back so he gets a free repair.

If i were you i would empty your paypal account NOW and remove your payment card/bank account attached to it.

Its easier to fight them over money then claim you owe, than trying to get it BACK once they steal it ( paypal i mean ).

They send debt collectors after you.

SB118 · 3 Oct 2010 at 12:33

Martini1991 said:
They send debt collectors after you.

SB118 said:
Once you've pulled the money out to your bank account, it's safe.

If he tries to rip you off and does a paypal scam, paypal will refund him and put your paypal account into a negative balance.

They will email you, phone you, generally nag you, they don't want to take the hit when somebody pulls a scam using their system.

Eventually they'll get bored of asking for the money and pass the account onto their "debt collectors". You should be really scared, these guys send begging letter with scary RED INK!

Don't worry about them, they are a private company with no more power to take money from you than the man in the street. They are very good at writing threatening letter (in the same way the scam private parking ticket guys operate), but that about it.

Will it get "legal"? Probably not, for it to get "legal" Paypal would need to take you to court using the small claims track. Do you really think Paypal want their business model anywhere near a court ...

They can not magically damage your credit rating, they can't the money from your bank "because they are paypal", they need to follow the law.

MajorMaccas · 3 Oct 2010 at 12:38

I've been stung for around £300 from paypal before. I don't keep a direct debit on my account anymore, I would rather wait 20 days for money from something I sell than risk losing it like that again.

You could always cancel the DD with your bank, just go online and you should have a list of all your DD/standing orders. If you cancel it on the bank's end, then paypal can have whatever details they like, jump up and down, etc but they won't get your hard earned

Martini1991 · 3 Oct 2010 at 12:41

SB118 said:
They can not magically damage your credit rating, they can't the money from your bank "because they are paypal", they need to follow the law.

They sent debt collectors after you.
I ended up owing them 178 pound due to a similar situation.. :rolleyes:

Phone calls on the house phone constantly, constant phoning my mobile.. I folded and paid the 178 quid to make it simple.

Fenris · 3 Oct 2010 at 12:50

The_Sophisticate said:
If you cancel it on the bank's end, then paypal can have whatever details they like, jump up and down, etc but they won't get your hard earned

Wrong, sorry, a direct debit is an agreement between you and the company, meaning if you cancel it with the bank, who are essentially just a middle man in the agreement, they are well within their rights to set it back up and debit your account and the bank won't stop them.

MajorMaccas · 3 Oct 2010 at 12:55

Fenris said:
Wrong, sorry, a direct debit is an agreement between you and the company, meaning if you cancel it with the bank, who are essentially just a middle man in the agreement, they are well within their rights to set it back up and debit your account and the bank won't stop them.

*monocle*

All the more glad I don't have a DD set up with paypal now!

khrall · 3 Oct 2010 at 12:55

Most laptops have a serial number shown in the BIOS, whilst it is easy enough to change the serial number in the BIOS if you have the correct tool, check to see if it matches the serial number of the Laptop.

If not, the buyer has definately swapped the system board.

Fenris · 3 Oct 2010 at 12:58

The_Sophisticate said:
*monocle*

All the more glad I don't have a DD set up with paypal now!

It really is a horrible system, the worst part is the bank has no way of stopping them doing it, all you can do is keep cancelling it.

To be fair though it's not quite as bad as companies that instead of setting up a direct debit on your account simply acquire your card details and debit it like a card transaction, only way to stop that is to cancel your card.

MajorMaccas · 3 Oct 2010 at 13:02

Credit Cards are so much safer; giving someone your debit card details is you standing infront of them and presenting them your wallet, holding it open, emptying it at their feet

SB118 · 3 Oct 2010 at 13:14

Martini1991 said:
They sent debt collectors after you.
I ended up owing them 178 pound due to a similar situation..
Phone calls on the house phone constantly, constant phoning my mobile.. I folded and paid the 178 quid to make it simple.

As i said, a private company with no legal power to get money from you above asking for it.

Tute · 4 Oct 2010 at 15:42

Fenris said:
Wrong, sorry, a direct debit is an agreement between you and the company, meaning if you cancel it with the bank, who are essentially just a middle man in the agreement, they are well within their rights to set it back up and debit your account and the bank won't stop them.

Any source for this? I would have thought it'd cause rampant fraud, and i've cancelled dozens of DDs and SOs without anything being re-set up?