bettylou
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posted on January 23, 2002 02:10:33 PM new
Dejapooh: I understand your concern but I'm not sure how someone can sue over a factual matter.
The kind of ad I had in mind would read:
K*** M*****-W****:
YOUR CHECKS BOUNCED
CONTACT ME AT:
6**-3**-0***
I have seen signs like this in store windows, which of course doesn't really work for us since we're not in Colorado. 
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bettylou
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posted on January 23, 2002 02:40:57 PM new
Thanks to the magic of the Web, I now have a phone number for the father-in-law, as well as a phone number for a brother and sister in-law.
She has a lot of family in town, from the look of it.
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Valleygirl
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posted on January 23, 2002 03:27:18 PM new
A prior poster made a good point: Does Sgt Daughterty realize that those stolen good are now being resold? It might be worth calling him again and giving him the additional info.
Not my name on ebay.
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richierich
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posted on January 23, 2002 04:58:17 PM new
bettylou
Like I posted earlier, I live in Colorado. But since I don't know where the guilty person lives, I don't know if I live close or not.
Maybe I could hang up your sign on the post outside the grocery store....KMW call me about the BOUNCED check ### ### ####.
Wouldn't she just die! She'd have no idea how it got there!
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bettylou
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posted on January 23, 2002 05:40:21 PM new
Hi richierich: It is so kind of you to offer, but really I can't.
I emailed her a 24 hour ultimatum and when that expires, I'm handing this over to a collection agency. I can't burn any more time on it.
I'm a cynic, but even I can't imagine what it's like to pass two bad checks then portray one's self as the victim of an irrational harassing seller. She continues to assert she sent us a money order, yet has no proof of mailing or a receipt for the money order.
I keep the receipts for money orders I buy. Don't you?
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bettylou
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posted on January 23, 2002 05:42:00 PM new
Valleygirl: I will mention that to the local p.d. when I speak with them, but I expect to be told that neither they or the Colorado local p.d. have jurisdiction over fraud on eBay.
And eBay itself is not interested that she is selling stolen property.
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mrssantaclaus
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posted on January 23, 2002 07:40:00 PM new
Call the father-in-law first ...
Hello, I am trying to find a Mrs Bill Smith. Would you happen to know how I could contact her? She sent me two bad checks and I am trying to find her to recover my $xxx without filing legal charges."
See ... using Mrs BILL Smith you will FREAK his Dad out. WHAT! RUIN HIS SON'S NAME????
Ha ha ha
Not that I ever did anything like that before 
Oh, it will work like a charm. In-Laws are ALWAYS better than parents.
If that fails and you know where they work leaving a message there will get the word out too.
Not that I ever did that, either
lol
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zzyzx000
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posted on January 23, 2002 07:53:08 PM new
Ready for the moral of the story? Here it is:
Don't take personal checks.
Why trust a stranger in a far off land? C2it.com is the free electronic payment service. And Money Orders are available at post Offices, banks and 7-Elevens. For foreign buyers you can't beat Bidpay.com. The buyer pays the fees and Bidpay takes the credit risk and sends you a money order.
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bettylou
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posted on January 23, 2002 07:57:09 PM new
Sorry you didn't read the original posting, where I said "Please spare us the sermon about accepting checks."
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professorhiggins
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posted on January 23, 2002 08:56:38 PM new
I don't think there is anything wrong with accepting personal checks. It's much more convenient than a MO for a lot of people.
I also accept and use paypal regularly, but
some people choose not to accept it which is perfectly fine. After all, paypal fees add up.
Also, even Paypal and MO's are not scam proof
and I have heard that it is possible to stop payment on MO's. As someone already stated, "if someone is out to cheat you, there are many opportunities to do so."
Accepting checks as bettylou has done establishes a trust between the Buyer and seller. I think that's a good thing.
She had one bad apple but that's usually the exception, not the rule.
It's unfortunate, but there are also many cases of buyers who get ripped off by unscrupulous sellers.
Bottom line, if you want to make yourself completely immune to fraud on ebay.......Stay
off Ebay. If you're a buyer you have the possibility of being screwed. If you are a seller you can also be screwed.
Ebay will never be completely safe because
there will always be bad apples.
I certainly hope that this incident won't
keep you off ebay....Keep on selling!
I hope she gets nailed.
I wish I had her user ID so I could go to one of her auctions and ASK THE SELLER A QUESTION.
"Hello,
I am interested in bidding on one of your auctions, but have heard from, several people that you are selling stolen property.
I am concerned that if this is in fact true that I could be guilty of buying stolen property. I look forward to hearing from you .
Have a nice day and stay out of the BIG HOUSE."
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dejapooh
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posted on January 23, 2002 08:59:34 PM new
Exactly true.
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kiara
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posted on January 23, 2002 09:07:04 PM new
professorhiggins 
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ashlandtrader
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posted on January 24, 2002 10:46:41 AM new
Hi Bettylou,
<br />
Ebays last email IS a really good sign that they will remove them. I got that same form email too, shortly before they removed mine.
<br />
<br />
Sounds like you have gotten a lot of good advice (and some funny stuff too-- I was imagining her walking past the sign outside of the grocery store and doing a double take. That would have freaked her out and rightly so).
<br />
<br />
Edited to add that when my feedback was removed, I later looked up the deadbeats feedback and the negs I left her still stood-- so if you left her 35 then ebay may leave those alone while erasing yours. That would be good!
[ edited by ashlandtrader on Jan 24, 2002 10:48 AM ]
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Valleygirl
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posted on January 24, 2002 11:42:10 AM new
Obviously you are not Bettylou on ebay, as that person has a good record and no negs.
Not my name on ebay.
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professorhiggins
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posted on January 24, 2002 11:54:26 AM new
I certainly hope you get the feedback removed.
However, I'm not sure that I would leave her
35 negs or ebay may feel that you are trying to
harrass her.
Keep yourself as clean as possible.
Hopefully if they do remove the feedback because of harrassment they will suspend
her too.
Why not make copies of her feedback via a print out so you have them in the future if you need them for evidence.
Perhaps Judge Judy can resolve this.....
just kidding
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bettylou
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posted on January 24, 2002 12:32:05 PM new
professorhiggins: Interesting idea, making copies of the feedback. I'll do that.
I'd like to meet Judge Judy. I saw her show once.
Valleygirl: No, I am not bettylou on eBay, or anywhere else other than here. I'd like to think we have a good record too; we'll be at 5000 feedback soon, with 7230 positives currently. And in five years of selling on eBay, we didn't have as many total negs as our charming check writer left us (they're still there, I just checked).
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bigdaddywes
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posted on January 24, 2002 12:40:58 PM new
WOW!!!!
I'm glad I got to read all this today. I was getting bored at work, and then I decided to log on here. I personally think you should sit down, put your thoughts down on paper. Then reformat that into a screen play, and POOF.... an off Broadway suspense that stars "Julia Roberts" as Betty Lou and "Rhea Perlman" as Mrs. Deatbeat. Don't forget "Jeff Foxworthy" as the father-in-law. I can just see it now.... You might be a deadbeat if.....
Just wanted to make you laugh,
big.daddy.wes
PS. I too am interested in your ebay name.
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Valleygirl
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posted on January 24, 2002 12:46:27 PM new
I just read what I wrote about your ebay name, and what I meant to say was:
Since you said she put so many negs in your file, you must not be bettylou on ebay because that person has no recent activity.
I hope that sounds better, because I didn't mean anything rude.
Not my name on ebay.
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nufsaid
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posted on January 24, 2002 01:19:12 PM new
bettylou: What type of this do you sell?
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bettylou
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posted on January 24, 2002 02:12:45 PM new
Valleygirl: No offense taken, I assure you. I just re-read my reply and it does sound a bit snippy, but I'm feeling on the defensive these days.
bigdaddywes: It worked.
The original bettylou is my mother (Hi Mom!).
nufsaid: We sell sterling silver jewelry and flatware on eBay. We have another separate account on eBay where we sell all kinds of things. It was 65 pieces of jewelry that our problem child had bid on.
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bettylou
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posted on January 24, 2002 02:17:46 PM new
Here's her note in response to our 24-hour ultimatum (which will expire in 45 minutes):
[deleted],
I have spoken with Sgt. Dougherty and explained what is going on. We will
make payment for the items we have received in the amount of $189.91
($184.91 + $5.00fee), which we have already done but you refused to accept.
Payment will be made thru BidPay, per your request, on or before Feb. 5th
2002. As for the second order it has been submitted to Ebay for mediation, I
suggest you follow your own rules which you have posted on Ebay and cancel
the sale. Once Ebay has reached their decision we will honor their decision.
I have printed out your about me page and will include that along with the
documentation from PayPal that we sent you payment for the $189.91 and you
choose not to accept it, when I speak with Sgt. Dougherty tomorrow to add to
our statement to your compliant, copies will also go to my lawyer. As for my
family members you will not harass them. Thank You and God Bless.
Would someone like to email this twit and explain to her that SquareTrade != eBay and it is strictly voluntary and has no jurisdiction over anyone? It frightens me that there are people who are either (1) this delusional or (2) this misinformed roaming the streets.
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bettylou
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posted on January 24, 2002 02:24:16 PM new
Mrs. Deadbeat's reference to our AboutMe page made me think I should explain.
We have a clause in our Terms of Service, prompted (unfortunately) by necessity:
"We reserve the right to cancel the bids of any bidder who has not contacted us or made payment in a timely manner on a previous auction in which they were high bidder."
And this is her imagined justification for her behavior. (Actually, it seems her justification is a moving target; a couple of days ago it was A-OK to cheat us because we were "rude and unprofessional".)
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bettylou
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posted on January 24, 2002 02:46:11 PM new
I have to escape this daytime drama for awhile: I'm going shopping.
Page me at Bloomies if anything comes up.
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professorhiggins
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posted on January 24, 2002 03:49:03 PM new
If you have time re-explain the paypal situation if you don't mind. However, I believe it went something like this:
You don't accept paypal and she clearly knows it.
She sends paypal anyway and cancels the payment
before you can
A) Accept it (even though you don't usually)
B) Decline it
She then has the nerve to accuse you of not accepting it when you really had no choice because the payment was already cancelled.
Sound right?
Well, it sounds like you're going to come out smelling roses on this one assuming that
the first payment is sent and the bad feedbacks are removed. I see both things as being highly possible.
This is, of course, optional but if all goes well, you may want to consider sending
Sgt. Dougherty or the first police woman a
small thank you (a note or whatever)
It sounds like the deadbeat felt much more compelled to pay when you began to put the heat on.
You'll have to let us know when you receive that juicy check in the mail!!!
BTW, had you mentioned something about her family in a prior e-mail. I highly doubt that whatever you may have said to her was harrassing in the least. However, in her reply, she is certainly making herself out to be the VICTIM
"Oh please Ms. Crazed Seller Lunatic, LEAVE my family alone. I have done nothing
(accept try to rip you off) to deserve your anger (Ya Right!!). Please, Please, go away.
I'm crying genuine tears.....(that I will actually have to PAY you...)"
What a piece of work.......
If she wants to bring her lawyer into this you certainly won't need Johnny Cochran to win this case. In fact I hear Bozo the Clown is available. Not only would he win this case for you, but he has a nose that HONKS!!!
Bidpay sends MO's so that should be good as gold, but wait until you have it in your hands.
Heck, send me her Ebay ID if you wouldn't mind. She is the winner of my coveted
Deadbeat of the Year (and it's only Jan.)
award and will earn her place next to my other (Yes, I only have one so far) blocked
bidder on my list of shame.
E-mail: [email protected]
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mcjane
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posted on January 24, 2002 04:50:55 PM new
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dejapooh
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posted on January 24, 2002 09:55:49 PM new
Bidpay uses credit cards to buy the Money Order. I have heard that they CAN place a stop payment on it if the credit card does not pay, or if a charge back comes through before the money order clears. I would not let up until the money is in the bank...
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bigdaddywes
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posted on January 25, 2002 09:21:08 AM new
But if your "about me" page says "we reserve the right to cancel.... for payment not received in a timely manner" does that in any way:
1) promise to cancel any bids if the seller does not contact you or make payment?
2) guarantee you will cancel any or all bids if they do not make payment?
3) or give you no other options but to cancel the bids?
4) bind you to do nothing but cancel the bids?
I say no... It just gives you the "right" to cancel "if you so desire". I think you have played this on the very up and up, and have been more than forgiving in the time area. I also think you made the right choice in starting to play hard ball. I'm not sure what the police office said to the father in law (you know the Jeff Foxworthy character in your up and coming off Broadway play which I better get some type of recognition in the fine print), but was that not her choice in doing so? Did you force or in anyway suggest that the police officer harass her family. In fact, can a police office harass her family if they go out and talk to them ONCE!!!! I don't think one question session constitutes harassment. In fact if this is the case.... My wife harasses me every time I come home late from work!
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bettylou
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posted on January 25, 2002 10:11:35 AM new
I just received another form letter from SafeHarbor stating that they will not remove the dozens of retaliatory negatives. No point in posting the text of it; it's a firm but pseudo-regretful NO.
Time to modify my AboutMe page with a link to the scanned NSF checks. Mrs. Deadbeat was stupid enough to write her eBay userid on each, so I can block out her name, address and account number so as not to violate eBay guidelines. (Why I should care at this point is open to debate; eBay's done nothing for me.)
Remember friends, eBay protects bad check writers and fraudsters.
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bettylou
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posted on January 25, 2002 10:32:09 AM new
Just got a harassing phone call from some anonymous yobbo.
I'm sure it's just a coincidence.
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ashlandtrader
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posted on January 25, 2002 10:48:08 AM new
Hi bettylou,
Don't give up. Send it again and eventually the right person at ebay is bound to read it. What I did was each time I re-sent my emails to ebay I would ask another question, or point out something they were missing again and again.
Anyway just don't give up on them yet. It may take more time.
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