Trading Standards and ebay ?

[cherrybomb]

My husband sold a working but used CPU on ebay to a buyer who has been a ebay member for just a year (Dec '04) with a feedback of 24 and 1 negative for non-payment. Today he had an email (not through ebay) the bloke claims he is a "Forensic computer engineer" working for Trading Standards. He then proceeded to comment on the Sale: delivery and packaging (good) the cooling fan (working to the manufacturer's specifications) CPU (bent pins, and he has assumed it's been running above the specified temperature) then he said he tried it in 5 different motherboards and it doesn't work and He is awaiting my husbands comments.

His email address is a private one, he doesn't say the name of any company or which Trading Standards Office he works for.

The CPU was working correctly 100% as it came out of my husbands computer, listed then packed immediately.

We are not sure how to proceed with this, and how can we be sure he is genuine?

[tomd]

Ignore it, official communication will not be though email.

[stanleyman]

Sounds dodgy to me! Trading Standards would contact you direct, making it clear who they were, not through someone else. Ask him his name, company, telephone, trading standards office, telephone etc. If you are a private seller then I'd be surprised if trading standards would get involved unless you have a history of selling duff parts. Your customer can always return it for a refund if it doesn't work, it's secondhand for gods sake. Presumably you have been paid.

Forensic means in connection with a court of law, anyone can call themselves a forensic whatever and it would prejudice any case if you were contacted directly by an expert witness, its not how it works and sounds as if someone is trying to frighten you into a refund.

You could contact ebay about it or you can probably find the area of your customer and then contact trading standards there to see what they say, could be a fraud. You don't need to do anything unless you are convinced it is genuine. Tell him you need to varify his details with TS and see what happens. If it all goes quiet then I would still copy the email to TS with a complaint.

[cherrybomb]

Thank you both very much. you have confirmed my suspisions.

Why don't people just ask for a refund, Instead of trying to pull a fast one?

Thanks again.

cherrybomb

[qapmoc]

Hi cherrybomb, this CPU wasn't a Celeron 1000Mhz by any chance was it ?? If so, many people have problems with them because Intel changed the design with this model and there are two different versions available, they both look exactly the same with the same pins etc... but they won't work in each others motherboards !! If this is the case then it is just too bad if the buyer doesn't know what he is doing.

[KARL]

My suggestion is that you immediately contact your local Trading Standards Office which will almost certainly take a very dim view of their being impersonated (compare with impersonating a police officer: "Hi I'm your local bobby and must take your computer to the station, plus all your jewellery, etc." - a criminal offense). I would not be surprised if they follow this up with vigour - just make sure you ask them to keep you informed.

[joko]

If you do decide to give a refund, tell the purchaser that you have a record of the serial number etc - he may intend to return an identical but not working copy, and hope you won't realise its not the same one

[Markandshez]

Follow CARLs advice and hammer the low life into the ground.These obnoxiois pigs really get my goat. As you presumably sold the item privately on ebay it is of no interest to Trading Standards - they only deal with commecial deals. Impersonating a Trading Standards Officer with a view to gain monetary advantge is an offence