playbackfactor
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posted on August 17, 2004 12:08:30 AM
Does anyone let buyers do bank transfers? I have a potential buyer who wants to use his Visa to do a bank transfer. He says that all he needs is my name, surname and account number. I asked him if he didn't want to just use PayPal and he said that he lives in Malta, which is not listed in PayPal and that he's been "robbed twice on ebay and it won't happen again".
Does this sound shady in any way? Is there anything that I should be careful of? I know that my name and account number are on my checks and that anyone could get them but something just sounds weird to me. I don't know why this person thinks this is a better way for him to do the transaction so that he won't get robbed. I guess he must've sent cash before?? Anyhow, any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Thanks!
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gousainc-07
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posted on August 17, 2004 12:24:12 AM
This does not sound right to me either.
Be careful.
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AintRichYet
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posted on August 17, 2004 02:45:38 AM
playback ... i think you should give your bank a call this morning, and tell them all this; see what THEY say {it's their business to know how to do this, safely, to your account}, and ask them what length of 'hold-time' they will put on the $}
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agitprop
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posted on August 17, 2004 03:29:27 AM
Credit cards such as Visa are NOT used for bank transfers. Transfers within the EU (Malta is a recent member state) are made using IBAN/BIC codes and are generally free or quite cheap, and almost instantaneous.
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stopwhining
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posted on August 17, 2004 05:26:42 AM
you need to give him more than your account number,you have to include your bank ABA number.
Ask him if he has done this before-with a non EU country and with his VISA??
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
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vvalhalla
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posted on August 17, 2004 06:24:59 AM
Can be very expensive. Expect to pay 10% in fees plus $10 service charge.
dd
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jennylynng
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posted on August 17, 2004 06:40:38 AM
Maybe it's just me - but I wouldn't even consider it. Way too many scammers out there.
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stopwhining
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posted on August 17, 2004 07:40:10 AM
on Ebay Australia,sellers will post their bank info on the item page ,it is free as long as both bidder and seller have aussie bank accounts.
this is actually called ACH-automated clearance house ,we do that too with online banking.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
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bunnicula
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posted on August 17, 2004 07:54:47 AM
Agitprop is right. Wire transfers are NOT done through Visa or any other credit card. They are done bank to bank.
There is absolutely nothing wrong or shady about doing a wire transfer BUT: your bank will probably charge a big fee for it. Bank of America, IIRC, charges $30 or $35.
____________________
"Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man's venom poisons himself more than his victim." --Charles Buxton
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stopwhining
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posted on August 17, 2004 08:10:13 AM
wiretransfer is not free,but ACH is free.
may be he has a bank visa debit card linked to his bank account in Malta??
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
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sparkz
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posted on August 17, 2004 08:19:45 AM
If his Visa is not stolen or maxed out, he will have absolutely no problem paying you through Bidpay, at no fee to you. Unless you specify in your TOS that the winning bidder has total freedom to dictate the payment method of their choice, you should only accept payment via the methods you choose.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
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playbackfactor
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posted on August 17, 2004 08:48:33 AM
Thanks for all of your great responses- you're all a big help. It really sounds like too much trouble to me and I too am worried about scammers out there as they just seem to be growing and growing in numbers. The item I'm selling is a good piece and I really don't need to be trying so hard and risking anything to sell it! I'm going to let this buyer pass... but I learned a lot of good info on wire transfers. I had no idea that the bank charged you money to do that.
Thanks for all of your help!
Yves
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agitprop
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posted on August 17, 2004 03:57:52 PM
US banks will charge between $5 and $45 to receive wire transfers since there isn't a universal method of netting interbank payments; many smaller banks and credit associations don't offer ACH. Overseas it's a different matter with most countries only having a few large banks that are nationwide, and smaller regional ones so payments are easier, cheaper and faster. Wire transfers within the EU using the IBAN/BIC account codes are free or low cost for amounts up to €12,500. Same goes for many other OECD countries using SWIFT payments.
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ebayvet
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posted on August 17, 2004 09:13:14 PM
I've been asked by customers to do wire transfers, but I won't give out my account information to anyone, so when requested, I reject that option right away.
Friends don't let Friends say stupid things like Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
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