How to get buyers address for court action?

[theforeigncoinman]

Hello all, think I’ve uncovered another type of scam. So had a scammer buy a gold proof coin off me for £800. I sent it special delivery to the Argos address he requested. He picked it up, then sent me a message saying coin was damaged etc etc (it wasn’t it was perfect). At this point I knew it was a scam. Then started a return which was auto approved and I got an empty envelope through my door on Thursday. Despite the fact it was a parcel size box that it went out in as cones in fancy display case etc. I know eBay will be completely useless in this situation in terms of helping or protecting me so I wish to proceed in court and let a judge decide who’s telling the truth. 

Main issue is I can’t lodge court action without knowing the buyer address. Is this a new loophole where scammers can use the Argos address and thereby protect themselves from legal action? Is the only solution to turn off Argos deliveries and is that even possible? Any suggestions?

[a45heaven]

Is it not that ebay should be taking the actions ( maybe you against ebay ? too ) 

If you follow the rules of the platform , then surely they must be liable ?

What do you pay your fees for then.

[plpmr]

eBay will only release the information you request if your legal representative contacts them.

Have you reported matters to the police?

[theforeigncoinman]

Police don’t care and just direct you to action fraud (which is just a placebo website to make people feel like something is being done). 

I intend to represent myself given the value so if I sent a legal letter to eBay demanding the buyers address they will give me it? Are you sure about this? 

[theforeigncoinman]

You pay your fees to gain access to eBay’s customers. Not for any protection or help when something goes wrong. You must not sell on here often but everything on eBay is geared to protect buyers or scammers as much as possible. It’s only sellers that get screwed on here as they make 100% of eBay’s money unlike buyers. So long story short eBay will not help no I need a judge. 

[a45heaven]

@theforeigncoinman 

You pay your fees to gain access to eBay’s customers.

Ah good to know theres going to be big reductions in fees then due to drop in customers numbers, i look forward to that.

[*guinevere*]

I have read of cases on here where a seller receives the wrong item back.

The seller does not immediately refund.

Instead they  contact Actionfraud and get a crime number.

Seller then contacts ebay with the crime number and ebay investigates.

Such cases usually end in favour of the seller and they are refunded.

*vyolla*

Please could you check that I have given the OP correct info, thanks

[kyanyama]

Sorry I can't help you with your current situation (others more knowledgeable have advised you already)  but I would definitely switch off the collection option where you can't see the buyer's actual address.  I think it's under your selling preferences in your account section.  I switched mine off - but it was years ago.  I will try and find it next time I log in.  If I do I will try and take a screenshot.

And don't forget to add the buyer to your blocked list - both their ebay id and their email address.

Can you not take those expensive items to an actual bullion buyer?  You may get less but unlikely to get scammed.  I know from enquiring for myself for a similar item (KR).

Hope you will come back and let us know a positive outcome.  Good luck.

[comrie-antique-books]

Hi

"Is the only solution to turn off Argos deliveries and is that even possible?" You should be able to turn of click and collect by going to "Account", "Postage preferences" and unsubscribe from "click and collect" under "Ebay's deliveries options". It's probably wise to unsubscribe if you're selling things for over £800, it sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Additionally I would make a note of the postage weight as their legal argument will probably be that it was stolen in the mail. Did the customer return with an Ebay return label? or a postage stamp? as I thought Ebay's return labels have to be weighted. 

[eyewear247]

@theforeigncoinman 

If you print off a packing/invoice sheet this will show both the delivery address and also the buyers registered address.

I once has a similar situation where the buyer sent back an empty envelope by special delivery (which proved delivery)  however he was too stupid to not realise the weight was printed on to the postage label and also the price.

I spoke to eBay and showed the photos of the envelope, tracking number, weight and postage price and was able to prove that it would of been impossible to fit the item purchased into that envelope.

On that occasion eBay ask me to get a crime reference number to quote that back to them and eBay then sided with me and did not refund the buyer. 

[4_bathrooms]

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@theforeigncoinman wrote:

At this point I knew it was a scam. Then started a return which was auto approved and I got an empty envelope through my door on Thursday.

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Is the case still open or has the buyer been refunded?

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@theforeigncoinman wrote:

I know eBay will be completely useless in this situation in terms of helping or protecting me

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eBay have obligations under their FCA supervision to protect consumers (private sellers & buyers) against fraud. eBay often extend this protection to businesses as well however an affected seller needs to follow the correct process.

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@theforeigncoinman wrote:

Main issue is I can’t lodge court action without knowing the buyer address. Is this a new loophole where scammers can use the Argos address and thereby protect themselves from legal action?

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A thief is very unlikely to care about receiving a CCJ. Even if you obtained a judgement and paid to enforce it there's no guarantee you would ever see a penny back.

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@theforeigncoinman wrote:

Is the only solution to turn off Argos deliveries and is that even possible? Any suggestions?

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You can opt-out of Click and Collect here.

[aj_swift]

If you go to the order details page and select 'print invoice' the eBay design invoice that comes up has the buyer registration address on it. Even works for collection and click and collect orders.