How safe is an international bank transfer?

[eccles]

I've recently sold a car on ebay and it was bought by a chap in Italy. After paying the deposit he's offered to pay the balance by international bank transfer (approx £2,600).
How easy is it to reverse these payments, or is it a case of once transferred it's mine? I have no reason to be suspicious of him, but I'm naturally cautious, and I still have the option of cash on collection.
Many thanks in advance for your help.

[anonymous-user]

get your bank to confirm its cleared funds first

watch the fees, buyer should pay them all or you will end up a few quid light

[55allgold]

I don't think you (he) can reverse the payment. Which is why it's a royal PITA if someone mistypes an IBAN or SWIFT/BIC number. So you're safe once the money arrives. People who do it regularly use an account just for receiving money and transfer it into another account straightaway.

The only danger is that you have to give those bank account numbers and a fraudster could create some minor mischief (as Clarkson found out).

[Stu R]

I do them weekly. I wouldn't if I was worried about it. I'm doing one for £20k tomorrow in one lump, and I'm not the least bit concerned about it (and no, that's not because I've got lots of spare 20k piles lying around and I can afford lose a few )

[bint]

Having dealt with the fallout of when it needs to be reversed, it takes days and I would say you will be fine.

[eccles]

Thans for all your replies, I feel a bit happier now.