Legal Advice - eBay's After Me for $13,000+

basse · Post by **basse** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:40 pm

eBay is chasing me for in excess of $13,000 that I don't owe them.

They had some kind of computer glitch last May that multiplied my auction fees by hundreds. My $40.00 or so monthly fee was billed at more than 13 grand.

I got them to "fix" the situation once by crediting the incorrect amount. And they sent me e-mails admitting to the mistake and the corrective action.

Now, for some reason the incorrect 13 grand amount has been reinstated and they're chasing me for it. I've informed my credit card company that it is a fraudulent amount and instructed them not to pay. eBay thinks I'm screwing them for what they're legally owed - even though I've told them it's a mistake and that if they simply checked their own records they'd see what the issue was.

If you've ever had a problem with them you'll know that they're IMPOSSIBLE to deal with because you can't talk to anyone one-on-one and they just reply with form letters so that it seems like they don't even take the time to read or understand what you're telling them. They just make it worse by sending threatening notes talking about how they're now going to send the account to collection agency. Reading between the lines, that also means that they'll screw your credit rating because they'll report you as a bad credit risk.

What can I do to break through the cycle of form-letter responses so that they actually do the homework and see that it is THEIR mistake.

That account is now suspended and I can't bid or buy my beloved Rics.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

varmint · Post by **varmint** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:47 pm

I'm sorry to hear about your plight David. I can't offer you any help other than to say keep everything remotely related to this transaction, like those e-mails.
If they actually said they made a mistake, and it's documented, you have legal recourse if it comes down to it.

I wish you luck!

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:59 pm

David,

A legal mind is likely needed here. Do you have a Paypal account as well? If you have the emails from them admitting thier mistake, make sure you have made and kept every to and fro email. Keep every item of correspondence. If the problem can't be rectified in due course, then, gulp, seek some kind of legal advice. Maybe someone on the Forum has had a 'real' one on one talk with those folks, but I've never heard of it.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 1:04 pm

Oh, just pay it.

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 1:08 pm

Atta boy, John. What's 13K? Drop in the old bucket? LOL. If it was me, I'd be having a fit followed by cardiac arrest....or maybe the other way around.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 1:17 pm

John can sell one of his weeds...

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 1:50 pm

huh, huh, he said "weeds"...

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 1:53 pm

Yup! I'd be swapping my undies and trousers big time!!

Hope it all works out for you David.

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 2:00 pm

Holy Cripes! Good luck!

Now I'm worried ...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 2:11 pm

Not as bad as owing the IRS $38,000 because of their error.

Anybody here work for the IRS?

How about the IRA? Maybe we can work something out?

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 2:21 pm

LOL, Paul. Maybe my cousin Richard of Ulster could be of assistance. He took me for a drive through the ugly parts of Belfast (Shankhill Rd,. Springfield Road, The Falls, etc.) - scary!

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 4:19 pm

Isn't it up to Ebay to PROVE that he owes the $$$$??
This is ridiculous!!

Like the others said, David .....print and keep all of the e-mails and correspondence in a safe place...

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 9:02 pm

David, I had some u-g-l-y dealings with Ebay about a few months back, had a problem with a return and an a-hole of a buyer. Long story short, they tied up my Ebay account for 2 MONTHS (and my Paypal account as well) while they "investigated it". Needless to say, it got straightened out eventually, but you're right. You can't just email one person and get it right. I even tried calling them and got the runaround. Sorry to hear you're getting the shaft and hope you can make it right again.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 7:48 pm

That's life in the cyber-auction-world. Sue the F-ing Arse Holes before they ruin your credit.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 9:36 pm

no-wait till there's damages, then litigate!

Bastards!