Difficulty with sale.

[Strykervet]

I sent money to a fellow on here that's been a member for a while and has good feedback, hence why I dealt with him. I sent him $440 the end of November/1st of December for what I thought was a simple transaction. I've received several "down on my luck" replies to my queries about the order (sick, wife sick, kid problems, snow storm, wrong order, short on this or that, etc.). I keep being promised more and more for my inconvenience.

I'm just wondering what my recourse is for this situation? I have all the correspondence and receipts for the money orders I sent him, filled out correctly, and his home address. I'm considering going to small claims court and filing a lien against his property unless somebody else has a better idea.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. This is the first time I've ever had a problem dealing with a member here, particularly one in apparent good standing.

I'd like to withhold his identity for the time being as I gave him a week to either send the money or the goods.

Thanks for any help.

 

[squishee]

Good luck . Money order leaves you little recourse. I hope it all works out.

 

[Strykervet]

I'd kinda like to hear from someone from the site who is familiar with this query, but thanks anyway.

Oh no, I have recourse, and that's a fact. For one, I have all the receipts and correspondence. For two, it was a fully filled out Postal MO sent to a residential address. It's a federal crime to use USPS for fraud, that's why I use it, and I'm in pretty good with my local postmaster. I can get the ISP one way or another. I can also get a judgement here, and file a lien on his property there. I talked to my wife and she's familiar with this and says it does happen and can be done.

I just REALLY don't want to go this route. I'd rather just get the money back or the items.

BTW, can I leave feedback, then change it later if he comes through? Perhaps that would give him incentive?

 

[Ultraman550]

A quick search reveals who he is. I have added him to my list of people not to ever trust.

Answering your question, I was in the same dilemma as you and looked into filing a claim with the USPS. It's a PITA to the 10th degree. The whole process takes about a month or more and you're actually charged a fee. Luckily the guy I and several others had ordered from came through but it took a month and the same bullshit excuses. We all called and texted him endlessly, I called him at his office, his house, his cell. At least your seller has had positive feedback so hopefully you'll get your stuff, unfortunately it's going to be on his time. I personally think people should be called out for this type of shit so everybody knows never to trust them. If their reputation is important to them they will provide a reason for their actions. I would definitely leave negative feedback as well.

 

[Strykervet]

Thanks Ultraman, I'm a disabled vet with nothing but time and a penchant for filling out paperwork. The cost is $5.40 I think. I'm sure the postmaster here will be able to help move it along for me, I've known him for years.

How do you know who he is, I didn't mention him and I've been cautious not to out him just yet. I don't think I've discussed him in any of the forums. I'd hate for you think I'm talking about someone else who is actually a good guy. Can you PM me who you think this is? If we're talking about the same person, perhaps you'd have some more info or at least the screen names of the others who may be able to lend a hand.

Thanks.

 

[JB02]

Tell him what you intend to do with the USPS and also say you'll call him out. That should get his attention.

 

[Strykervet]

I told him in the latest PM that if I don't get the money or the goods this week then I'm starting the process. I'll wait until he replies and see what he says (it better be a tracking number for a package or a MO). If not, I'm not threatening anymore, I'm just going to do it. I've already told him I was considering the authorities and he didn't want that, offered me more free stuff.

But perhaps I should remind him that since we used USPS for the entire transaction and that there are completely filled receipts that he's in jeopardy of committing mail fraud. Last I checked, they take that seriously and where he's located I'm sure they're dying for something to do.

I don't plan on calling him out, I plan on forwarding all the relevant info to Lowlight and let him decide if that's the kind of members he wants conducting business on his site. In addition, I have the necessary means for the necessary means to acquire his ISP address and make it impossible for him to conduct business on any internet forum under any name from that address without me hounding him, and in addition, I'll file fraud charges and contact the ISP. I have nothing better to do. I don't think I'm being difficult here, do you?

 

[Lowlight]

All we do is ban them, from there if they make it right we can remove the ban, but otherwise we have no recourse but to ban the party involved.

Most of the time, especially if they are a long time member they will take care of it, but there is no recourse but what you work out yourself

 

[Strykervet]

Thanks Lowlight, I kinda know my options now and if he can't get his ass in gear next week I'll go ahead and forward you whatever you need so you can ban him in good faith. I try damn hard when dealing with members on here and I'm proud of my feedback score; it's how folks know I'm honest to deal with. I guess when I'm not extended similar courtesies I get a little tweaked.

He's been a member for a few years same as me and has close to a dozen good feedback scores with one saying he's slow... But not this slow.

Should I call him out on here and see if someone local to him can light a fire, or do you think it better to just go with the authorities and give you the info to ban him once I'm done waiting on him?

 

[MAGUA]

Go to the Post office and do a trace to find out if the MO was cashed.

 

[Lowlight]

Just PM his user name ... we'll ban the account, if he makes good, you can let us know and we'll remove it

 

[Strykervet]

Roger. Let me see what he says this week and if it's still a run around, I'll do that.

They'll check the MO out I'm sure if I have to file fraud charges. I'm sure USPS will want everything I have for the investigation.

 

[ballistic1]

It costs $5.80 to file a trace on a usps money order. The post office will then
send a letter to the person who filed the trace by us mail.

It takes 7-14 days, or perhaps longer, to get an intital response from the inquiry.

The US postal service requires 60 days to elapse since date of purchase of
USPS money order, before the original remitter of said money order can
begin process to file a claim/ refund process.

You can commence a Postal trace on a Money order before the 60 days elapse,
but you are not eligible for commencement of refund process until after 60 days.

 

[Eastbay]

It costs $5.80 to file a trace on a usps money order. The post office will then
send a letter to the person who filed the trace by us mail.

It takes 7-14 days, or perhaps longer, to get an intital response from the inquiry.

The US postal service requires 60 days to elapse since date of purchase of
USPS money order, before the original remitter of said money order can
begin process to file a claim/ refund process.

You can commence a Postal trace on a Money order before the 60 days elapse,
but you are not eligible for commencement of refund process until after 60 days.

Is this valid even if the MO is cashed? Hope everything gets worked out in your favor. This has been a fear of mine since I started sending MOs and CCs through the mail.

 

[MAGUA]

Is this valid even if the MO is cashed? Hope everything gets worked out in your favor. This has been a fear of mine since I started sending MOs and CCs through the mail.[/QUOTE

If you put a trace on the MO and it has been cashed the Federal Reserve will provide a photocopy of the MO front/back to the Postal service .

 

[Strykervet]

Is this valid even if the MO is cashed? Hope everything gets worked out in your favor. This has been a fear of mine since I started sending MOs and CCs through the mail.

Make sure to use USPS for everything, keep receipts, etc. Yeah, I thought it was $5.40 but that was 2010. Send everything with tracking. Then it becomes postal fraud, not just another internet ripoff.

Guy says he's shipping today, we'll see. That's all I want and if that happens all's good. I just want my shit or my money.

 

[finefire]

Any update?