How can you tell if a sale legitimate?

[marieteressa1234]

I have just bought a car from here and the seller asked me to pay via Bacs. Which is what I have done, it's supposed to be delivered on Monday. But what if it doesn't arrive what can I do about it?

[**peaseblossom**]

The transaction may be OK but it's a risk.   There is no buyer protection for vehicles on ebay.   You're better off buying a car you can inspect before paying.    If you've only just paid I would contact your bank to try and get it back.   

[plpmr]

adding to the advice already given.

Never pay for a vehicle until you have seen it and checked it out and are ready to drive it away.

If your car does not arrive there's nothing you can do about it and if it arrives and it's a wreck you can do nothing.

Basically, you can do nothing except take possible legal action.

[red_magpie]

But what if it doesn't arrive what can I do about it?

I do wish you had asked here before paying!! You have put yourself massively at risk of fraud.

eBay would not be interested if there is no car; motor vehicles are not covered by eBay's money back guarantee. eBay even warns buyers in the user agreement that they don't guarantee the existence of items listed for sale here. Listing a car on eBay can be as simple as copying pictures of one and offering it "for sale".

When - exactly -did you pay by BACS? If today, at what time? If you contact your bank's 24/7 fraud departent they might still be able to cancel or recall the payment if it hasn't been processed yet, if it's still within the recall window.

If still possible, I would advise you strongly to do this. Talking a buyer into paying unseen for a car "to be delivered" is is a classic motor vehicle fraud on eBay motors. We have heard from so many buyers who have been conned in this way. 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 non-existent motor vehicles.

I'm sorry to sound so negative, but I believe you are hugely at risk of losing your money. If the sale is fraudulent, and orchestrated by organised crime you have very little chance of recovering your money if once your BACS transfer has been processed.

If the sale is genuine I'm sure your seller will understand the need for this caution. If he really wants payment by bank transfer it shouldn't be made until you have seen and inspected the car. In practice, payment in cash is likely to be the simplest way of paying that's safe for both parties.

Good luck!