Do I have this wire transfer thing correct...?

[Rubin215]

I have sold a motorbike on feepay to a buyer in France.

He has been in touch, intends to collect it in time to go to the TT races on it and has already paid a £100 deposit through Paypal (which I know he can easily shark back if he wants to, but that's another matter).

Today however, he has been in touch and has asked if I want the rest of the money sent to my current account by wire transfer.
Now I know all the tales of woe about people sending money by wire transfer for goods that never appear etc. but, if he sends me the money this way is he then able to take it back again later after he has collected the bike?

I would obviously prefer a big fat wad of twentys when he arrives, but if he doesn't then I'm out of pocket for the ebay ad etc. and have to go through all the selling hassle again.

Advice please!

[VR46]

Cash only or you'll end up conned! Be very, very carefull.

[Marf]

Cash. Take him to bank and pay in. It's the only safe way.

[orbtar]

Wire transfer should be fine as long as you check out the person that is paying you. Ask for some ID and Google them to make sure that it stacks up. Most scammers don't actually take the items, they are more keen to overpay you and then ask you to pay the overpaid amount to their shipper before you realise that their payment (which is usually stolen/forged cheque hasn't gone through.

[Gixer]

I've used wire transfer a few times when buying car parts from the states as some US companies still don't take credit/debit cards from outside the US. As a purchaser it's a bit risky as, for example, I wired around £500 over there last time and you have to sit and wait for your goods to arrive. Once it's wired, it's gone.

His bank in France will no doubt charge him. Your bank here in the the Uk may also charge you a small admin fee. You'll need to check that out. once its in your account that's it.

[northandy]

Gixer said:

I've used wire transfer a few times when buying car parts from the states as some US companies still don't take credit/debit cards from outside the US. As a purchaser it's a bit risky as, for example, I wired around £500 over there last time and you have to sit and wait for your goods to arrive. Once it's wired, it's gone.

His bank in France will no doubt charge him. Your bank here in the the Uk may also charge you a small admin fee. You'll need to check that out. once its in your account that's it.

In addition though, you should check it was a wire transfer. One trick of a scammer is to say its been wired, but pay a dodgy cheque into your bank using a blank paying in slip. Money seems to appear, goods are released, cheque bounces a week or so later.

[veevee]

Bank transfer isn't an issue, when he turns up, check his ID matches the transfer details. Easy, it's not as if he's asking you to ship the bike to him.