Failed eCheque (twice and counting)

[tstore]

Sold an item 21 December. Buyer has already tried to pay twice via eCheque both failed. Second time failed today and I told the buyer to just do a bank deposit. What does he do? Initiate a 3rd eCheque ... No responses to any of my messages. I feel like even if I open an UID he will attempt to pay again with eCheque which will fail and then I won't be able to open it again.

Advice if fails the 3rd time? Also don't they usually get charged a dishonour fee with their bank?

[digital*ghost]

I was hoping someone else would have the answer to this one, as I haven't had a failed eCheque yet and most of the time it seems buyers don't try to pay again after the first attempt.

The only thing I know for sure is that beyond a certain point (31 days, I think) the buyer will no longer be able to use the eBay checkout, the rub is that it's around the same time you can't open a UPI dispute - if you get the timing right, though, you might be able to open it just before they can't try to pay again, at the very least ensuring as much as is possible that the FVF is credited back....eventually.  (Certainly not the ideal solution, I know, but there's not really any way to prevent them initiating a payment, not wholly above board ways, anyway).

[tstore]

Thanks for the response. The 31 day thing is interesting as I never knew this was the case. I thought they still have the full 60 days? I just don't understand the reasoning for my buyer - surely you would only try an eCheque if you knew you had money. To fail the second time is baffling. And this buyer is not new either.

[digital*ghost]

I just tried to double-check the time frames, and it looks like I was wrong re: not being able to go through checkout.

eBay basically closes off transactions no matter what 36 days after the sale (which is when the buyer can no longer use the eBay checkout), and you've got up to 32 days to open a case, so even then the buyer could still initiate another eCheque during the next 4 days.

What's more baffling (to me) is that they haven't communicated with you - whatever the reason(s) for the failures etc, I would have thought it was polite to at least say something to the seller (including an apology). Maybe they're intentionally playing for time for some reason, it may not be costing them anything as some banks no longer charge dishonour fees, though others still charge up to $30-odd. o_O 

[trulyspecialgoodies]

I've got an open UID at the moment for which payment has been initiated with an eCheque. It's still showing as 'awaiting other members response' . The eCheque is supposed to clear by Fri 3rd - if it doesn't clear then I'll close the case as 'unpaid'.

I'd suggest you open an UID since a payment initiated by eCheque obviously isn't classified as 'payment received'. I never knew this previously so it's handy that I'm in this situation - at least we'll know for future reference

[tstore]

That is interesting. A while back I read on these forums that buyers could initiate an eCheque if there is an UID in progress which would automatically close the UID process and you would be unable to reopen if the eCheque failed - it was a big dodgy loophole ...

In addition, both times this buyer's eCheque failed, the item disappeared from my 'awaiting payment' page. When a new eCheque was initiated however, the item would reappear - isn't thay strange?

Didn't know buyers had 36 days to make payment too - very interesting

[tstore]

eCheque failed for 3rd time. Still no responses to my emails - is this buyer doing this in purpose? I have asked him to do a bank deposit and all my messages are being ignored. I don't want a fourth eCheque to be initiated!

[zelly888]

Yes this buyer is doing this on purpose.Open UID 

[trulyspecialgoodies]

My eCheque payment cleared yesterday but I still had to manually close the UID - it didn't automatically disappear when the payment went through - so my advice is to go ahead and open one.