iPhone Scammer Seller

[kula1208]

Please can someone help me?

I purchased an iPhone on 9 August. Seller asked me to cancel the purchase as he was unable to send the item. I sent him a cancellation request. Three days later he declined the cancellation and messaged to say it’s on its way. 

Package arrived yesterday and all there was inside was 2 phone protectors.

I panicked and tried to start a refund request but the eBay app said the item hadn’t been delivered yet (whilst clearly showing it had been delivered). So I did the only available option at the time which was to log a return. 

Seeing as there was nothing to actually return I closed that and followed the app’s suggestion which was to log the refund today (15 August). But the app won’t let me. 

I got hold of an agent - they’re unable to reopen my request one way or the other. They escalated to the disputes department who said I’m essentially NOT going to get anywhere with eBay. 

Does anyone have any experience/suggestions? So much for Buyer’s Protection. 

[papso22]

The money back guarantee works very well when people understand how to use it.

Your error was closing the return case because you did have something to return, I.e the protectors. 

CS is correct, you can't now open another case so need to turn to your funding source for help.

[plpmr]

When taking advice here please remember that these are the UK boards and you are in South Africa.

[*vyolla*]

@kula1208 

How did you fund the payment?

[red_magpie]

So much for Buyer’s Protection.

There's no point in blaming eBay's buyer protection if you didn't use it correctly. The moral is never to act  in panic as it's so easy to make a mistake. It happens all the time.

It's hard to know exactly what to advise if you're in South Africa, but I imagine that as in the UK the next step should be to check what other purchase protection you may have. This will depend upon how you paid, or funded the payment.

If by PayPal, I don't know how their user in agreement may vary from the UK, but you may have a claim under their buyer protection policy. Ortherwise, your credit or debit card issuer may be able to help. Protection in the RSA is likely to differ from the UK, as here it's interfaces with UK statutory card purchase protection laws.

Otherwise, for the money involved take legal advice. Good luck anyway!

[kula1208]

Hi vyolla

Debit card.