Here's the scenario.
Instructions for this deal were "Payment by wire transfer only to my bank account." Do I always insist on wired funds? Not always, but when I do "that's the deal".
Response 1: Buyer ignores instruction and sets up Escrow.com transaction. FAIL.
Response 2: Buyer sends fund by ACH, not wire transfer.
The problem with ACH is, that unlike wired funds, ACH transactions (to my understanding) are more readily reversed, e.g., a stolen credit/debit card was used, an online bank account used to approve transfer was actually "hacked", etc.
Why insist on a wire transfer? In most/all wired funds transactions you have to show up at the bank, show ID, have funds in your account, commit/lock those funds for the transfer, sign an authorization to transfer funds, etc. So, when in doubt, I like wire transfers.
When I received an email that "the transfer" was made I promptly asked for account info on "wire transfer". This request was ignored. Instead, I was forwarded a "confirmation #".
Only when my bank couldn't confirm receipt of an inbound wire did I dig deeper to find it was an ACH transfer, not a wire transfer.
Also, given the "I don't know you" nature of the buyer I conditioned the transfer on a "2 step delivery". Buyer sets up a Moniker acct, I push domain, buyer can do what they please after that. Why this route? Hmmmm . . because it would be easier for me to confirm that I did, indeed, "deliver the goods" in case of issues later.
Last/worst, buyer uses a HotMail account to do business. An "actual name" appears on the fund transfer but it's not too hard to open a Hotmail account to match a stolen credit card name . . so . .
So, what do YOU do when someone just doesn't do the deal as the deal was laid out?
The buyer could be a bona fide purchaser, through and through, but he just hasn't done himself any favors by how he has proceeded.
