Here is one to ponder.

I bought an item on 27th Oct.  I went to pay via Paypal.  There was a problem with the sellers Paypal and it wouldn't work.  I contacted the seller, they responded that their Paypal had been hacked, can I send a cheque or use internet banking.  I e-mail back to say I'll send a cheque and to request their name and address. 

28th Oct. Got an e-mail back with their name and address stating that they would post the item a few days after paying the cheque into their bank account.

I posted off a cheque on 29th Oct. 

I e-mailed the seller to say I had posted the cheque and could they let me know when they receive my cheque and when they will post the item.  I sent this recorded delivery. 29th Oct

The seller collected my cheque from their local Postal Sorting Office on 5th Nov.  I have a copy of their signature on collection.

I had not had a response from the seller so on the 13th Nov I sent an e-mail just to check everything was o.k.

No response

Cheque was cashed/money left my account on 16th Nov.

25th Nov, not heard from seller nor seen item so I sent an futher e-mail asking if everything was o.k.

29th Nov 12.35, still nothing. 

Am I worrying too early? I can't help but think that the e-mail I sent on the 13th prompted the cheque to be cashed within the next few days so I'm wondering if my e-mail on the 25th will prompt a dispatch.

I have bought from this seller before and it was 100% spot on.  The item I have bought plus postage came to less than £17.  I know it's not huge value and I can no doubt source another item, it's more the principal of the whole thing that I'm a bit angry about.

Any suggestions on what I should do next?

Ta

Andrew

If you haven't had any communication or response in that time I'd say you should be concerned. 

You could e-mail again and let them know that if they don't respond in a specific time frame that you will be forced to leave negative feedback on e-bay.  The downside is that it may give them a warning and they may try to beat you to it on negative feedback.

The alternative, bearing in mind that you have given them several opportunities to respond, is to leave the negative feedback and then e-mail them again.  You can always update it.

Option 2 would be my suggestion.

Dergside wrote: The alternative, bearing in mind that you have given them several opportunities to respond, is to leave the negative feedback and then e-mail them again.  You can always update it.

If you leave negative feedback I didn't think you could reverse it?

Thanks

Andrew RollandIf you leave negative feedback I didn't think you could reverse it?[/QUOTE wrote: AFAIK, there is a process where the seller can request you to revise your feed

AFAIK, there is a process where the seller can request you to revise your feedback, you get a mail inviting you to change it and you can accept or decline the request.

Sporty1 wrote: BTW, your braver than I, sending someone you do not know and possibly, cannot trace a personal cheque, as he/she now has your full(?) name, address, bank account #, sort code and signature.

This is what Mr Clarkson said.  He published all of the above stating that no one could do anything with that info...but someone managed to do something with his account.

I suppose you take that risk when you pay for anything by cheque.

I have left a voicemail on their mobile, polietly asking them if everything is o.k. and could they respond to my e-mails.

If nothing by tomorrow I'll start the escalation process.

Thanks ollii, glad you got it sorted.  That's the job for lunch time, e-mail ebay....

I have paid by cheque not paypal, will that affect my chances of a refund?

I've opened a resolution case in Ebay.

Ebay are saying because I din't pay via Paypal, I'm not covered by the Ebay protection thingie.

The thing that gets me most is the fact that the sellers Paypal account was not working (it had been hacked) so if I wanted the item I would have to pay via cheque!

The seller has till 11.12.10 to respond then I can escalate....

The joys continue.

Oh poo.

I contacted others who have "bought" from this seller, they have also been stung.  They paid by cheque also.  Ebay flung out their case as Paypal was not used.

Fingers burnt, leason learned, chalk it up to experience.

Paypal only!

Thanks Peter, I know but considering that it was for less than £17, you would think if they were going to scam someone they would do it for a bit more than that?  I could see a scam for £170 but £17 it's not worth the hassle or risk IMO, but then again I'm a law abiding person.

They have a high number of positive feedbacks previously, only appears in the last month that it's gone pear shaped.

Anyhoo there is a similar item back up for sale on Ebay and this time the sellers Paypal is working.

ollii wrote: Have to say I'm not a huge BMW fan now - dont think i will be buying an old one again !! Back to reliable Saab or VW next time !!

o/t, but don't be put off too soon.  We've put about 370k miles on our BMW's over the past 12 years and had no major issues.  This contrasts with the experience I had with a Golf GTI and an Audi A4 that had plenty of niggly problems.  You may just have had a bad experience in the way that I probably did with my VAG cars.

What a suprise, no response to e-mails by 11.12.10.  Case now escalated to Ebay customer services.  Will wait and see. 

Meanwhile I'm still waiting for the same item to be posted from a different seller. 

Ebay got back to me this morning.

F off was the jist.  Didn't use Paypal so no refund!

The Polis would just laff it off, not worth the £17....

Meanwhile I did manage to get the same item from a different seller last week.

So it cost me twice as much but hey ho.

Andrew Rolland wrote: I contacted others who have "bought" from this seller, they have also been stung.  They paid by cheque also.

Andrew Rolland wrote: The Polis would just laff it off, not worth the £17....

You could always contact the other buyers. The total may well be a lot more than £17.

Either way, it's worth running it by the Police.

I'll mibbie go and see the Polis over the holidays, when I've got a bit more time.

Thanks guys.