Member is swearing at me - how to report

[xeposter]

Hello everyone. I recently asked a question about something somebody had for sale. Instead of getting a reply, I got a message full of swear words and attached was a photo of a clown. The person actually called me a clown...anyways...I replied and asked to please not use swear words in their messages to me. They just replied with swear words AGAIN. I blocked them, but I am still getting messages from them plus they threatened to buy anything I listed and leave me a negative feedback because they have "thousands more b******t accounts." I just looked at their profile too and they have my username there and it says they hate me. I really am unsure what to do about this...they will not stop sending me messages. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks,

Alex

[dmil8030 · Accepted solution]

Hello Alex, 

<<I got a message full of swear words and . . .The person actually called me a clown...I blocked them, but I am still getting messages from them plus they threatened to buy anything I listed and leave me a negative feedback because they have "thousands more b******t accounts.">>

Wow, this is something we don't hear every day.  To begin, do not contact him again for any reason.  

You say you have added him to your Blocked list, but did you remember to check the box to prevent blocked members from contacting you?

I am not sure if that is possible on a buyer-only account, but if you have any selling IDs, you can block the member and block contact as well.

<< I just looked at their profile too and they have my username there and it says they hate me.>>

I am not sure what you mean by this, but clearly this person has something seriously wrong with him and you will need to call ebay.  

Find the Help & Contact link at the top of the page, scroll down to Contact Us, and click your way through to a phone number and pass code.  Doing this can be a bit of a challenge so try various options until you get a phone number.

Use it right away because the pass code expires.

Tell the ebay Customer Service rep what is happening and that you need this person and his vulgar messages blocked from any and all IDs you may have.  

And if he has a reference to you somewhere (again, not sure if I understood that) tell the ebay CS rep you need to have those removed as well.  

Do it now, -- the sooner you settle this the better.  

And of course, never take anything like this personally.  Some people have something very wrong with them.  It may not be their fault, but 'online' means the whole world so just block them out of your life quickly, -- and move forward.  

Good luck 

[xeposter]

@dmil8030
Hello and thanks for the fast reply! I did not see a check box on the blocked bidder page...would it be on the site preferences page? "I just looked at their profile too and they have my username there and it says they hate me."...In the spot where you can put about yourself in your profile, they just put "I hate x..e and that is all." They also have the clown photo they sent me as their profile photo. Thanks again for your reply.
Alex

[dmil8030]

Hello again, Alex, 

<< I did not see a check box on the blocked bidder page...would it be on the site preferences page? . . .In the spot where you can put about yourself in your profile, they just put "I hate x..e and that is all." They also have the clown photo they sent me as their profile photo. >>

If yours is a buying-only account I don't think it will be possible to block contact.  

From the My eBay page under the Account tab, you could try Site Preferences but if the Show All does not show it, that is because ebay mistakenly thinks buyers will never encounter any block-worthy members.  

This is the ebay policy about blocking:

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/sell/manage_bidders_ov.html#block

You can add names to a blocked list but that's all it is, - a list.  So on a buying-only account, you will have to call ebay.  It is best that you do, -- even if you could block contact you will want to bring this person to ebay's attention and get that vile remark removed from his profile page.  

Don't waste time. 

[momcqueen · Accepted solution]

Uh....... this is one of those times you are going to have to call ebay to speak to someone about that. It's too complicated to try to report online, and I don't think it will adequately capture the essence of what you are dealing with. Go to a desktop computer and pick Help & Contact from the top of the page. I think Report a Member is your problem. Good luck.

[xeposter]

Thanks to everyone who answered my questions!
Alex

[reallynicestamps]

I really am unsure what to do about this...they will not stop sending me messages.

You are not required to open or read any messages. Delete them when you see the person's name.

You are not required to open or read any emails. Delete them when you see the person's name. You can usually block these through your email provider.

 because they have "thousands more b******t accounts."

Not unless they also have thousands of different credit card accounts. This is a madman's fantasy.

I just looked at their profile too and they have my username there and it says they hate me.

Remember this crazed person lives far from you and does not have any information about you except your eBay ID. And eBay will not give him any further information unless you are involved in a transaction, in which case you get all his ID too.

Since I am a nosy person, I looked at your FB to see what sort of thing you buy and noticed you took it private. In the short run, probably a wise move, but you should be aware that many sellers will not accept bids from bidders with private feedback.

And I think calling him that is an insult to the psychotic low-life community.-- Captain Malcolm Reynolds

[strange*highways]

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought messages sent through eBay contained a report link ?

You could also ask an Ebay staff member about it on the next weekly chat session.

There is one most Wednesdays.

http://community.ebay.ca/t5/Weekly-Chat-Session/bd-p/23000000073

[momcqueen]

They do but I wouldn't trust that mechanism to adequately handle this matter.

[xeposter]

I am not worried about them making more accounts and buying from me...I made this account for posting and maybe a little buying. I do have 2 other accounts where I sell, but I do not normally advertise about them.

[momcqueen]

May I ask something simply to satisfy my own curiosity? What was The Question that you asked that began this barrage of profanity? I'm not trying to imply you bear any responsibility for it. I merely wondered what set this other member off.

[xeposter]

"Hello. I am just wondering if your [toy] model is new in the box. You have it listed as 'new,' but the photo shows a loose model. Also, could you supply me with a photo of the from of it? Thanks for your time.
Alex"

That was my message to them..
Alex