Bought a phone from eBay...can't be activated ....Fraud

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BustaBust

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2001
1,425
2
81
This guy sold me a phone then somehow the day he ships it someone somehow gets the ESN
and activates it, runs up a bill, and then tells me that Sprint made a mistake and assigned
the ESN to someone elses phone in Wisconsin.

I go to Sprint and they tell me that he probably had insurance and claimed it was stolen.
They said he ripped me off and put the phone under the "Fraud" category.

I contacted eBay and they say talk to PayPal since I used PayPal to pay for it.
Then PayPal says it does not meet buyer guidelines.

WTF am I supposed to do!?

Bastards name is Custoe on eBay.

PS- He said he sold the phone "free and clear" to me and that is my responsibility now.
 
DrPizza

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
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www.slatebrookfarm.com
Sprint said he probably claimed it was stolen? See if Sprint can verify that he claimed it was stolen. If so, then he sold you goods that were reported as stolen... I'm sure that meets paypal's criteria...
 
P

PoPPeR

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 2002
6,993
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hmm, sounds like the phone was indeed stolen. When I got my Sprint phone jacked, I immediately called Sprint and they flagged the ESN # so if the person ever called in to activate the phone they'd know they were dealing with a stolen phone. Sounds sort of like what happened to you.
 
B

BustaBust

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2001
1,425
2
81
Yes I left that in the explanation box for PayPal. Will they respond with what you guys just said?
Also, I cannot remember if it was USPS, but I am leaning towards it.
 
D

dude8604

Platinum Member
Oct 3, 2001
2,680
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Did you use credit card funds to pay for it? If so, contact your credit card company. Also, email Paypal customer service if you haven't yet.
 
halik

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
0
Originally posted by: BustaBust
This guy sold me a phone then somehow the day he ships it someone somehow gets the ESN
and activates it, runs up a bill, and then tells me that Sprint made a mistake and assigned
the ESN to someone elses phone in Wisconsin.

I go to Sprint and they tell me that he probably had insurance and claimed it was stolen.
They said he ripped me off and put the phone under the "Fraud" category.

I contacted eBay and they say talk to PayPal since I used PayPal to pay for it.
Then PayPal says it does not meet buyer guidelines.

WTF am I supposed to do!?

Bastards name is Custoe on eBay.

PS- He said he sold the phone "free and clear" to me and that is my responsibility now.
Click to expand...



dispute the charge.... NEVER DEAL WITH PAYPAL. Their protection dept is a joke. Dispute the charge from your CC and have paypal deal with your creditor
 
C

CocoGdog

Senior member
May 31, 2000
848
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0
Speaking from real experience, someone sold me a phone that they found. It's a very strange situation, but the way it is going these days, anything sells on eBay.
 
B

BustaBust

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2001
1,425
2
81
USPS has not responded and my CC (Mastercard) says to interact with my bank
that is connected to. This card doubles as a debit/credit card.

Am I supposed to call up my bank and speak about how PayPal charged for fraudelent products?
 
C

Crucial

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
5,026
0
71
you are screwed everywhich way on this deal. That is why you don't use debi/credit cards. They are not real credsit cards and don't allways offer the same protection as a real credit card. You are at the mercy of your bank when it comes to the chargeback.
 
H

Hammer

Lifer
Oct 19, 2001
13,217
1
81
you're screwed. why the hell would you use a debit card for an online purchase? there are little to no protections.
 
T

Train

Lifer
Jun 22, 2000
13,579
75
91
www.bing.com
yes, tell the bank or CC company to do a chargeback, that will get PayPal's attention. When they come complaining, tell them eat dirt for not taking care of fraud the first time, and that if they want thier money, and the chargeback removed (PayPal gets a bad rep if they have too many chargebacks, they really dont want them) That they better unfudge the situation with one of thier sellers. The CC company should be on your side in this case.
 
mcvickj

mcvickj

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2001
4,602
0
76
File a fraud complaint with eBay. They will or at least should investigate the matter. The one time I was burned on eBay I contacted them and after a month they ruled in my favor and I got most of my money back. IIRC they took $20 bucks for processing fees and such. I didn't mind considering I was out over $300 bucks.
 
B

BustaBust

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2001
1,425
2
81
mcvickj....I already contacted eBay and they told me to go to PayPal. PayPal said my purchase did not qualify for their "protection".
USPS did not even reply.

I'm gonna go to the bank: Request a chargeback,
tell PayPal to eat a dick,
tell "Custoe" and eBay Inc. to one as well

BTW- PayPal states the charge as a 'credit card', but instead of me writing checks to the bank
or wherever they go....they just debit it from the account so I will not have any hassles.
 
C

Crucial

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
5,026
0
71
Originally posted by: BustaBust
mcvickj....I already contacted eBay and they told me to go to PayPal. PayPal said my purchase did not qualify for their "protection".
USPS did not even reply.

I'm gonna go to the bank: Request a chargeback,
tell PayPal to eat a dick,
tell "Custoe" and eBay Inc. to one as well

BTW- PayPal states the charge as a 'credit card', but instead of me writing checks to the bank
or wherever they go....they just debit it from the account so I will not have any hassles.
Click to expand...

You won't have any hassles if your bank will do a chargeback. IIRC they don't have to give you the same protections as a credit card.
 
B

BustaBust

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2001
1,425
2
81
Crucial.....They do if they themselves set up my card this way, especially if I didn't ask for it to be this way. They use this feature to be hassle free for the account holder, but really they are doing it so you
won't have delinquencies.
 
S

SuepaFly

Senior member
Jun 3, 2001
972
0
0
Editted: didn't read carefully

Can you call Sprint again? Atleast you can maybe screw him over because of it.
 
B

BustaBust

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2001
1,425
2
81
When I went to Sprint and told them that I bought it from a guy from an internet auction.
The guy was just looking at me, he was thinking I probably stole the phone myself that is
until I told him the guy on eBay sold it to me and what he said and this and that.
He said the phone was under fraud and that I got "screwed" (the guy was in 20's) and could
not do anything with the phone on the network.

I am going for the chargeback tomorrow.
Anyone have experience with a chargeback?
What exactly do I say to them in my current situation?

ME: I would like to request a chargeback for a fraudelent product
Someone on eBay sold me a cell phone and it was under fraud
The party that transferred my funds said I didn't qualify for their services
They are weaseling out of paying me my money
eBay told me to go to the company which transferred my funds
PayPal Inc is not doing anything

Would this be something to say?
 
Koing

Koing

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator<br> Health and F
Oct 11, 2000
16,843
2
0
Hope you get your stuff sorted out.

This is why ebay is SERIOUSLY shady. Stuff like this can happen and paypal and ebay just SCREW YOU OVER. Sad but true.

SOMEONE should BUILD a better version with GOOD SUPPORT. I BET that would do MUCH better but you need the £££ to start and be MUCH harder on fraudualent sellers. But when you get lots of customers it will get SERIOUSLY difficult to manage...

Koing
 
EagleKeeper

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
5
0
Originally posted by: BustaBust
Still wondering what to say to the bank.....I've never done this before
Click to expand...

Pardon the paraphrase, but the truth will set you free.

Sit down with a branch manager, lay out your story and provide documentation to back it up.
Documention should include purchase from e-bay, including the original listing.
Any correspondence with E-bay, paypal and seller.
Printouts of E-bay/Paypal Fraud handling procedures.


 
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