Items paid for, seller not sending, where do I stand?
Discussion
Sorry bit of a long one. I think I know the answer to this (I’m and idiot and I’m screwed) but was hoping to see if anyone could recommend anything I could do.
Back in February I was looking to buy some kitesurfing kites using one of the groups set up on Facebook for selling second hand goods. Chatted to the seller, all seemed legit (users account wasn’t locked down, and still isn’t, I can see he is still active on Facebook, his messages were sent with location enabled so wasn’t trying to hide and reason for selling was due to a back injury). We agreed on a price (£600) for two kites which I then sent the money by bank transfer (mistake, I know). The seller sent me an email confirming receipt of the money and I waited the items to be sent.
A month passed, I contacted the seller again and he states he lost my contact details so could I send again for him to send that week, which I did.
Didn’t hear back from seller for 8 weeks. I request for him to send me back the money and to keep the kites. I then get a reply stating that the seller did not realise I had not received the kites as he got his son to send them who promptly left them on the train and kept quiet about it all as he didn’t want to get told off. He apologises and says he will get me the funds back as soon as possible but he has already spent the funds and is off sick (not sure how true that is with the amount of cycling photos he’s been posting on his page).
So I gave him the benefit of the doubt and offer to him to pay me back in instalments if it helps; I wait two months to allow for at least one pay day but receive no messages from him. I have now sent him two further messages but have had no reply. He is actively updating his Facebook page but is clearly avoiding the messages now.
I have attached the message transcripts here https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3SH7y1a9OpGQy1hT... I have removed the names and locations to avoid naming and shaming.
So the question is, where do I stand with getting any of the money back? Like I said I don’t think I have any leg to stand on, just wanted to make sure in case that wasn’t the situation.
Thanks,
Peter
Back in February I was looking to buy some kitesurfing kites using one of the groups set up on Facebook for selling second hand goods. Chatted to the seller, all seemed legit (users account wasn’t locked down, and still isn’t, I can see he is still active on Facebook, his messages were sent with location enabled so wasn’t trying to hide and reason for selling was due to a back injury). We agreed on a price (£600) for two kites which I then sent the money by bank transfer (mistake, I know). The seller sent me an email confirming receipt of the money and I waited the items to be sent.
A month passed, I contacted the seller again and he states he lost my contact details so could I send again for him to send that week, which I did.
Didn’t hear back from seller for 8 weeks. I request for him to send me back the money and to keep the kites. I then get a reply stating that the seller did not realise I had not received the kites as he got his son to send them who promptly left them on the train and kept quiet about it all as he didn’t want to get told off. He apologises and says he will get me the funds back as soon as possible but he has already spent the funds and is off sick (not sure how true that is with the amount of cycling photos he’s been posting on his page).
So I gave him the benefit of the doubt and offer to him to pay me back in instalments if it helps; I wait two months to allow for at least one pay day but receive no messages from him. I have now sent him two further messages but have had no reply. He is actively updating his Facebook page but is clearly avoiding the messages now.
I have attached the message transcripts here https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3SH7y1a9OpGQy1hT... I have removed the names and locations to avoid naming and shaming.
So the question is, where do I stand with getting any of the money back? Like I said I don’t think I have any leg to stand on, just wanted to make sure in case that wasn’t the situation.
Thanks,
Peter
Edited by pdrake007 on Tuesday 11th August 11:51
Depending on the transcripts, that seems like a reasonably open and shut Moneyclaim online job. One last message, a Letter Before Action, saying cough up or court, attach transcripts to claim should be fairly bulletproof. He might change the court to his local one, so be prepared to travel if necessary
Thanks randlemarcus, just updated the settings on the transcripts (sorry didn't realise it was locked out) see what you think. The only problem is I dont have his exact address, just the street from the location log on the messages, but I assume that is something that is possible to find out
HantsRat said:
Did you pay bank transfer? If so very unlikely you will see the cash again. It may look convincing but the profile probably isn't his real name.
Yes paid by bank transfer. Its definitely his profile, he is regularly updating it and his friends and family are commenting so I have ruled that out.If you know the street and his name you may well be able to find him on 192.com although there might be a fee.
Another option would be to check the planning portal of the local authority where he lives and see if his details come up which might get you name, address and phone number for free.
Another option would be to check the planning portal of the local authority where he lives and see if his details come up which might get you name, address and phone number for free.
That seems quite clear, in terms of offer & acceptance, and the fact that you have been as good as your word, or better all the way along. One would hesitate to suggest that he never had the things, or any intention of supplying the goods.
In terms of finding him you have name and a rough area, so check websites like 192.com to see if he leaves traces (do the free stuff first, only pay if it looks like a good match), or just google his name and location. You'd be amazed at the oversharing that goes on.
In terms of finding him you have name and a rough area, so check websites like 192.com to see if he leaves traces (do the free stuff first, only pay if it looks like a good match), or just google his name and location. You'd be amazed at the oversharing that goes on.
jimbobs said:
Do you live anywhere near the seller? The local library will usually have a copy of the electoral register for that area which you can look through for free...
It appears you can search the electoral register here, for a fee : http://www.192.com/people/electoral-roll/?gclid=CL...Hi Everyone,
Been a while and annoyingly no further with my search. I trawled through the internet to try and find as much information as possible (even found a virgin money giving fund raising page for a sponsored bike ride he did last year) but couldn't pin point his address any further than the tracking from the Facebook messages. Contacted a few of his family members on Facebook asking them to get him to contact me, to which they all ignored and have now blocked me, as has the original seller! Luckily I saved a copy of all the information and websites I could find about him and his Facebook friends in case I need to contact them.
So the last place I then searched was paying for 192.com; which gave me a result of his previous house back in 2013-2014 but I can now see that is occupied by someone else and there are no further records of him being on an electoral register.
So I'm still no further
does anyone have any other ideas / can help. I want to avoid naming and shaming in public on here but I have numerous details if anyone can help, thanks!
Been a while and annoyingly no further with my search. I trawled through the internet to try and find as much information as possible (even found a virgin money giving fund raising page for a sponsored bike ride he did last year) but couldn't pin point his address any further than the tracking from the Facebook messages. Contacted a few of his family members on Facebook asking them to get him to contact me, to which they all ignored and have now blocked me, as has the original seller! Luckily I saved a copy of all the information and websites I could find about him and his Facebook friends in case I need to contact them.
So the last place I then searched was paying for 192.com; which gave me a result of his previous house back in 2013-2014 but I can now see that is occupied by someone else and there are no further records of him being on an electoral register.
So I'm still no further
does anyone have any other ideas / can help. I want to avoid naming and shaming in public on here but I have numerous details if anyone can help, thanks!http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
Get it reported if you haven't already.
They should be ale to identify the account holder from names/bank account details and might pursue
Get it reported if you haven't already.
They should be ale to identify the account holder from names/bank account details and might pursue
This is going to sound brutal but how much is your time worth to you?
It strikes me that this pursuit is going to be both stressful and fruitless. I'm not saying that people should be allowed to get away with this sort of thing, but hopefully if nothing else it's been an expensive lesson not to buy things from total strangers with bank transfers.
It strikes me that this pursuit is going to be both stressful and fruitless. I'm not saying that people should be allowed to get away with this sort of thing, but hopefully if nothing else it's been an expensive lesson not to buy things from total strangers with bank transfers.
You can either use a tracing agent to find him, or arguably this is a police matter.
His conduct suggests that there were never any kites to send.
Do you even know the rough area he lives in? 192.com might help
If you pm me his details Ill see if I am any better on google than you, and have a credit checking facility.
His conduct suggests that there were never any kites to send.
Do you even know the rough area he lives in? 192.com might help
If you pm me his details Ill see if I am any better on google than you, and have a credit checking facility.
andburg said:
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
Get it reported if you haven't already.
They should be ale to identify the account holder from names/bank account details and might pursue
Thanks for the link, didnt know that existed.Get it reported if you haven't already.
They should be ale to identify the account holder from names/bank account details and might pursue
Durzel said:
This is going to sound brutal but how much is your time worth to you?
It strikes me that this pursuit is going to be both stressful and fruitless. I'm not saying that people should be allowed to get away with this sort of thing, but hopefully if nothing else it's been an expensive lesson not to buy things from total strangers with bank transfers.
No you are absolutely right. This is why I haven't really got very far and am only having a little look when I have nothing to do. Lesson definitely learnt! It strikes me that this pursuit is going to be both stressful and fruitless. I'm not saying that people should be allowed to get away with this sort of thing, but hopefully if nothing else it's been an expensive lesson not to buy things from total strangers with bank transfers.
Edited by pdrake007 on Tuesday 3rd November 15:19
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