THE MONEY DOCTOR ...WITH FERGUS MUIRHEAD
Financial worries or just looking for better value for money? Consumer champion Fergus Muirhead can help
QI’M looking for some help regarding a dispute I’ve had with a customer on Depop which has resulted in a debt collection agency chasing me for £150. Back in November, I sold a pair of Gucci trainers on Depop for £133.99. I bought them months previously, never worn, in original packaging and with receipts. Shortly after receiving the shoes, the girl sent me messages asking if she could get a refund because although she loved them, they didn’t fit her. I told her I don’t accept returns and it’s just the chance you take when buying something online. She then made a case with Paypal claiming they were fake and different sizes and the case was ongoing for two months. They sided with me and I thought the case was closed. She has now made a complaint to her bank and has been refunded the money, so she has the authentic trainers, which I paid £180 for, along with the £130 she claimed back. My Paypal account has since been frozen and Depop has removed all items from my app and given me a warning. I have tried numerous times to explain to Depop that they are authentic and have tried to send copies of everything. I got an email on January 24 saying they would revoke the warning and add my items back but I’m still waiting.
Paypal is calling me daily saying I need to put money back into my account and now a debt collection agency is hounding me too.
I have taken out a claim with Action Fraud which is currently dealing with this. I received a letter on the 13th claiming it would be 27 days before I hear anything back but I’m just extremely frustrated as it looks like I’ll be out of pocket and out of trainers.