I have a buyer who won a book from me on eBay (Auction for America) and cannot remember her password for billpoint, says she has e mailed them and that she has heard nothing back, says she has called eBay and heard nothing, and essentially says she can no longer get the book because of the trouble she is having. This has been over a period of four days or so.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
She offered to pay me, but I told her I personally cannot accept payment, as I do not want to jeopardize my seller status.
Who can I contact to help get this straightened out?????
posted on September 28, 2001 03:44:38 PM
On Billpoint's homepage where you log in, there is a link to click if you have forgotten your Security Key (what they call a password). All she has to do is click on that link and enter her e-mail address or eBay ID. They will send her another password.
posted on September 28, 2001 04:38:42 PM
misscandle,
She says she did that. I will post our emails here, so you can see what has transpired. All names deleted to protect the innocent
Subj: ItemXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Date: 9/25/01 11:55:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Buyer
To: Seller
Hi, I was the winning bidder for your book. I am having a great deal of problem with Billpoint trying to pay for it because I can't remember my security key (password). I emailed them twice for help but they won't email me back. Is there someway for me to pay you and then you pay them. If I would have known that I would spend all night trying to pay for this, I wouldn't have done this. Please tell me you can help me. Thanks, XXXXXX
I replied,
XXXXXX
I am sure that they are overwhelmed with payments lately. Give that e mail a little more time to arrive. If you have not gotten your password by this evening, we will try to figure out how to do this.
Thanks!
RebeAng
Subj: Re: XXXXXXXXXXX
Date: 9/26/01 10:53:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Buyer
To: Seller
Hi, I still haven't heard from Billpoint after 2 emails from me. Can we please do something here? I will send you a money order which you can give them. Please let me know. Thanks, XXXXXX
Subj: Re: XXXXXXXXXXXX
Date: 9/27/01 5:51:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Seller
To: Buyer
I really don't know what to do. I am going to suggest that you email eBay Support and ask them how to handle this. I am not supposed to accept payment for the item. Try that and see what they suggest? I do not want to jeopardize my seller status as I depend on eBay and half.com for extra income. It will take them a little while to get back to you, but I would rather wait than do something that might get me "fired" from eBay.
Thanks!
RebeAng
ubj: Re: XXXXXXXXXXXX
Date: 9/28/01 6:02:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Buyer
To: Seller
Hi, I called ebay last evening and left a message for them to call me about the problem with Billpoint- they stated they would call within 24 hours. I never heard from them again. I guess I'm telling you that I can't take the book anymore, for there is no way I can pay for the book through Billpoint, since they won't email or call me to help me. I apologize for any inconvenience on my part. It would have been nice to work with you. I hope the book sells quick. XXXXXX
Subj: Re: XXXXXXXXXXXX
Date: 9/28/01 6:36:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Seller
To: Buyer
I emailed eBay support for help. They will get this worked out, so please sit tight. I find I usually get a response within a couple of days.
posted on September 28, 2001 05:45:18 PM
Rebeang: I went to Billpoint and clicked on the Help link for A4A. In the FAQs it says:
"Do I have to register with eBay Online Payments by Billpoint to pay with this service?
No. You do not need to register with eBay Online Payments by Billpoint in order to pay with this service.
How do I pay for an Auction for America item?
You can pay for Auction for America items with your credit card or checking account by using eBay Online Payments by Billpoint. Just click on the Pay Now! button on your auction listing page. We will ensure that your entire payment is routed directly to the charities in a timely fashion.
For more information about how to pay for an auction with eBay Online Payments by Billpoint, please go to this link:
So, basically the password/security key issue should not prevent this buyer from paying. They click on the "Pay Now!" button and follow directions from there.
I don't mean to be uncharitable (pun intended, Tom) but perhaps your buyer is having difficulties on purpose to get out of the transaction. No slander intended, it just reminds me of when the washing machine has problems on the days my husband has to do laundry. Works fine on MY days.
I'd write back with "Good News! You don't need your security key to pay for this A4A auction" ....and tell her to click on the Pay button, etc. If she is genuine, she will follow through. If not, then you'll find out soon enough.
posted on September 29, 2001 08:58:05 AM
Well, I tried what you said, and here is the reply:
Subj: Re: Great News! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Date: 9/29/01 1:49:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Buyer
To: Seller
Hi, I have tried this for 3 nights the same thing your telling me. It always goes to knowing the security key which I don't know and then if you push forgot scurity key, It then asks you questions I don't remember the answers to. I ask question and it doesn't know the answer. I am giving up. I told them last night when I requested them to call me the only way I'm paying now is to talk to someone personally. So please forget about this and again I apologize for not being able to pay. XXXXXX
Now, what do do I do?
I emailed eBay already, but I have not even gotten the automated response that says my e mail has been received. I tried to go through the motions of paying to see if it would let me pay or if it asked for a security key, but not being the high bidder, it would not let me get that far.
Please someone tell me what I do now. Do I file NPB? Do I relist? I have not lost a thing on this, do I just give up and try again? I would offer it to the next high bidder, but it obviously won't let them pay either.
posted on September 29, 2001 09:54:23 AM
This may be a dumb question..
Have you tried "send a BillPoint invoice"?
I guess they would probably end up in the same predicament, though.
hmmm...
The part about It then asks you questions I don't remember the answers to is kinda fishy ~
didn't we make up our own question for Billpoint? (Dogs name, anniversary, etc?)
I can't recall.
If not, it would be the standard "mother's maiden name/last four digits of Social Security number" type of question?
posted on September 29, 2001 11:34:51 AM
reabang, your buyer is either terminally stupid or wants out. I would tell him to send the money directly to me, including shipping!!
HTF can you jeopardize your status by doing this?
Either that, or grow some acorns and give the buyer a neg.
posted on September 29, 2001 11:55:06 AM
capotasto---
I think the reason a person could jeopardize their selling status (just a guess) by accepting payment directly is because
if ebay, for some reason found out about it,
they could ASSume that he was trying to
profit on A4A by selling and having no listing
or FVF fees. My understanding of A4A is that the buyer and seller are supposed to have a very limited amount of interacting, if any.
Now, maybe the odds of ebay finding out are slim but why take the chance. He will not profit anyway and it would be terrible if ebay gave him grief.
If I was in the A4A program (IF being the key word) I would see know reason to be hasseled and playing the wait game more than a few days. No listing or FVF fees mean that I will be out no money if a buyer decides to back out.
posted on September 29, 2001 12:32:24 PMmisscandle
I agree, time to move on.
capotasto see Professorhiggins's reply. Sorry, don' wanna take no chances losing out because of a bidder, and yes, I am out nothing.
I paid a dollar for the book, and well, really, I still have the book, so no big deal (but let's just say the bid went many times higher than that!.)
I suppose the reason I got so upset was, I decided this (A4A) was what I was going to do to do my part to help out instead of giving blood, and I suppose I am a little disappointed that this has happened. I will just let it go now, as I do get the feeling my bidder really does not want to pay.
)
