posted on March 21, 2001 02:03:11 PM new
I won an EOA for an auction that had payments only in Cash or Postal Orders. "Fine", I thought, "I'll send a postal order."
The seller also demanded payment in 3 days. "Whew!", I thought, "That's fast, considering I had a first-class payment take more than that to arrive last week. But, I'll have a go."
So I bid, and got the EOA, which now requests payment in Cash or an UNCROSSED postal order. The uncrossed bit was NOT in the auction details. The auction win is for £19.95, the postal order costs £0.95, and to send it insured (the only way of safeguarding cash or uncrossed postal order) is £3.50.
I have become very edgy about the idea of a seller demanding payments that I can't protect unless I pay nearly 20% more.
The 3 days to RECEIVE payment has become 3 days to POST payment, but I am not happy at not being able to send a crossed postal order which would cost less than a pound to cover by recorded delivery.
So, what do you all think?
[ edited by mivona on Mar 21, 2001 02:03 PM ]
posted on March 21, 2001 02:16:03 PM new
In the UK, if you cross a cheque or money order, they have to be paid into a bank account, and cannot be exchanged for cash over a counter. By not "crossing" it (literally, putting two vertical lines on it), it makes it effectively cash, to who ever gets their hands on it.
posted on March 21, 2001 02:37:58 PM new
Well, my mom always said there isn't any such thing as a stupid question so here goes: when an uncrossed money order is cashed is it endorsed by the person cashing it? What is this seller's feedback like?
I don't know what the process is for cashing a postal order, but there is a space for a received signature.
If it is crossed, then the recipient must pay it into a bank account, like a cheque, but it is obviously guaranteed funds. If it is not crossed, then anyone could take it to a post office, put a signature on it (a squiggle, or the payee's name), and get cash over the counter.
I emailed the seller, saying I was not happy with being asked to send what is effectively cash through the mail. The seller said they didn't take crossed postal orders because they took too long to clear in the bank. And that is why they wanted payment in three days too, to keep cashflow going.
The seller said to just send it recorded delivery, and if it gets lost, a claim could be put in on it, without telling the post office that it was a money order.
posted on March 21, 2001 06:10:22 PM new
If the AUCTION LISTING didn't say "uncrossed", they can't change the request after the close of auction. Ebay doesn't allow undeclared terms.
Tell them they'll get a standard MO and they can handle it at their end, ands if they want "uncrossed" ones they should specify it in the text of the auction.
Or tell them to bugger off because they are asking you to risk your money for their convenience and dodging the Inlend Revenue.
