Safe to Bank Transfer??

[theinnocents]

My wife has won a motorhome and the method of paying is cash on collection. The person we are buying off has agreed to deliver it, at our request, for an extra cost but, has requested payment prior to travelling up, via bank transfer, as his preferred option of paying through eBay, wasn't available. This method of payment suits us better but I am concerned about transferring a significant amount of money that isn't through an eBay method and is prior to receipt. There is also a concern that if we waited until the day he drops it off, the transfer may not go through immediately or may not allow us to transfer the whole amount. If we were to transfer prior to receipt, is this kind of transaction covered through eBay's payment protection? Any tips or advice would be very much appreciated.

[red_magpie]

has requested payment prior to travelling up, via bank transfer

DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, PAY ANYTHING UNTIL YOU HAVE SEEN AND INSPECTED THE MOTORHOME.

Be VERY careful if considering buying any motor vehicle through eBay - there are scams everywhere. Motorhomes are at the top of the list.

In a TV programme about organised crime, a senior police officer reported that one criminal gang alone had registered "multiple hundreds" of fake accounts on eBay to place fraudulent listings for motor vehicles.

The important thing to understand is that there is NO BUYER PROTECTION WHATSOEVER for vehicles bought here, however you pay. Many buyers don't realise this, making eBay motors a magnet for criminals. Fake listings are as easy as posting a photo of any motor vehicle, and claiming to be selling it. In one day alone we heard of three buyers who each paid over £6,000 for cars that paid for turned out not to exist. There are no refunds, and no help or support from eBay.

Don't assume that good feedback means anything - hacked accounts are often used to place ads for motor vehicles. Don't fall for bargain prices, or excuses why the vehicle isn't available for inspection, or fake claims that eBay or anyone else will hold your payment safe until you have approved the vehicle (they won't!).

The golden rule is not to pay anything, not even a deposit, until you have seen and inspected the vehicle, checked the paperwork and had an HPI check. Then pay in cash, which is the only method of payment that is safe for both buyer and seller.

If a seller comes up with excuses not to accept these conditions, walk away from it.