TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri May 16, 2008 10:18 pm

Sold a few hundred dollars worth of parts to someone shipped them out with in a few days of the order being placed and they were delivered as the tracking shows so. I was checking my bank account today and saw a charge back from American Express. I called them to find out what was up!! The customer never contacted me just went straight to them and said the wrong parts were shipped and they wanted their money back. They got both free parts and their money back!1 What would you guys do? I disputed the charge back, but I was told since I did not respond they won by default. I never got any letter AM said they mailed out and since the case is closed the only way for me to get paid is if the person is willing to give me the money back or the parts. It is 1 month to the day that the parts were ordered, so I think as soon as they got the parts they filled a claim with AM. Would would you do about this?

Fri May 16, 2008 10:31 pm

Never deal with credit cards again.

Honestly, I've heard of guys paying for restorations with credit cards, and then claiming they didn't get what they wanted, ripping shop owners off for tens of thousands of dollars.

It is reality, and you've just learned a very expensive lesson.

Fri May 16, 2008 10:59 pm

66busman wrote: Never deal with credit cards again.

Honestly, I've heard of guys paying for restorations with credit cards, and then claiming they didn't get what they wanted, ripping shop owners off for tens of thousands of dollars.

It is reality, and you've just learned a very expensive lesson.

Shitty as it may be busman is right, had it happen to me. Now it's check or cash only at my shop.

Fri May 16, 2008 11:06 pm

I would ask American Express how you can avoid this problem in the future or what they can do for you as you are considering no longer accepting their card. Also, can you file a complaint with them for a fraudulent report so it's on the buyer's account?

I would ask the person to send your parts back. If they won't do that or pay for what they have received, I would expose them as a crook on internet sites that they are known to frequent.

Fri May 16, 2008 11:22 pm

EverettB wrote: I would ask American Express how you can avoid this problem in the future or what they can do for you as you are considering no longer accepting their card. Also, can you file a complaint with them for a fraudulent report so it's on the buyer's account?

I would ask the person to send your parts back. If they won't do that or pay for what they have received, I would expose them as a crook on internet sites that they are known to frequent. I did file a fraudulent report as they never sent back the parts, was told by AM that unless the person is willing to send me the parts back their job is done. I closed the account with them today as their rate for online and phone orders is $3.75% Well they just lost a lot of money from me.

Fri May 16, 2008 11:47 pm

so who did you send em to?

Fri May 16, 2008 11:52 pm

Foxx wrote: so who did you send em to? Someone who had found my web site through google search, and called to place an order by phone.

Sat May 17, 2008 7:00 am

i believe i'd have to call a lawyer.it may cost a few bucks but perhaps a letter to the thief would help them to realize what they really are.you can also post who they are in the buyer and seller feedback.after a few negative reports i can't imagine anyone who would want to deal with them.sorry about the bad dealings,just shows the nigerians are starting to fool with vw's now-not just the fake check scams

Sat May 17, 2008 10:36 am

X2 on posting it on the 'Buyers and Selles Feedback'....if this jerk is a SAMBA member :evil: . Seems like someone wanted free parts! It is too bad that it is SO easy for someone to do this before you are even aware of any type of problem. Hope it works out for you.

Mark

Sat May 17, 2008 11:42 am

I work for a small company, we will file a suit in small claims court for as little as $500. People get scared and pay up to avoid court.

Sat May 17, 2008 4:13 pm

That sucks. I hate thiefs. post up there name and adress we can all send them a letter. :lol:

Sun May 18, 2008 12:27 pm

I am going through an issue like this with an Ebay transaction. The buyer kept the parts, disputed the charge claiming "did not perform service as stated". This was only a merchandise sale, and there was no service. I thought it was a stupid reason for claim, but it turns out that this is precisely the way the scammers win.

I currently have a USPS fraud claim filed. The buyer returned calls and started talking about resolution once he got the letter from USPS. I did mail it insured. If these parts were mailed, it is a fraud.

Sun May 18, 2008 12:37 pm

boy,there are some dirty people in this hobby,ask me how i know.
well,ive bookmarked your site,never knew about you.
sorry to hear about that,maybe you could post where they are from and a first name.
someone might know who they are.
also do a feedback on them here to warn others.

Sun May 18, 2008 12:53 pm

oibovveroi wrote: boy,there are some dirty people in this hobby,ask me how i know.
well,ive bookmarked your site,never knew about you.
sorry to hear about that,maybe you could post where they are from and a first name.
someone might know who they are.
also do a feedback on them here to warn others.

I have filed an appeal with American Express as I was never given a chance to respond to their claim that they got the wrong parts. I was never contacted by the customer did not even know anything was wrong till I saw that the money was taken from my account from AM. I asked them how come they don't give a merchant a chance to tell their sideb first. I was told they sent out a letter, but since I did not respond within 3 days they won by default. I told them I never got the letter and said what can we do. I was told that the case is closed and i need to see if the customer is willing to send me the money or the parts back, but AM said their job is done. I have contacted them and given them the chance to make it right by paying for the parts or send the parts back they don't get both.

Sun May 18, 2008 2:51 pm

FWIW,

American Express is very hostile towards merchants. When I lived in Vail, almost the entire town had a AE revolt. I had a buddy rent a pair of skis to a guy who lost them. He was charged for ski replacement and disputed. American Express sided with the renter. That happens enough, people talk, and the next thing you know your AE card is useless.

I will not accept AE in my transactions.

Sun May 18, 2008 3:27 pm

"American" Express is the worst. I put the word "American" in quotes because they have out-sourced all of their customer service positions to India. Add in the fact that they refuse to work with American small business owners to resolve even minor issues, and you have a company that doesn't seem very American to me!

They jerked me around several years ago, and refused to lift a finger to resolve a simple problem. When I called "customer service", I ended up getting the run around from a guy named "John" whose real name was obviously not "John". I had been a card member in good standing for well over a decade, and had both personal and business accounts set up which apparently didn't mean squat to the fine folks answering the phones in Calcutta.

Needless to say, I will NEVER deal with Bombay Express again! :fist:

Sun May 18, 2008 6:13 pm

This is very good to know about AE , I will never deal with them . :wink:

Sun May 18, 2008 7:57 pm

If all else fails then take out a classified ad in the persons local paper with their full name and address warning others of what they have done and to beware if ever dealing with them. Then call the buyer and tell him to check the classifieds and when he wants to resolve the issue you'll stop the ad, otherwise it continues to run.

Mon May 19, 2008 8:13 am

In Florida we have Department of Agriculture Consumer Affairs to deal with consumer issues. I would find the California counterpart and file a complaint. This sounds like blatant theft.

He got the parts and kept them and the money. Maybe contact the FBI to file a fraud allegation. (Due to transaction across state lines) 10th Amendment.

Just some ideas.

Tue May 20, 2008 6:20 am

TDC,
I understand your point. It wasn't fair at all of AMEX to nail you like that. But on the other side of the coin, they do do a good job in protecting their legitimate clients from fraud on the part of sellers. I bought a wiring harness off ebay with my paypal account linked to my AMEX card. The seller jerked me, and several others, around to get past the time limit to contest a charge under Paypal (45, 60 90 days? Can't remember). After that time had lapsed he disappeared. Paypal's response was "sorry...you waited too long". I called AMEX and within a week the charge was reversed on my statement.

I know this doesn't help you from the scumbag who stiffed you, but I just wanted to throw out "the other side of the coin" so to speak.