The problem with check cards is just that--they debit from your checking account. For me, that is the money I depend upon to pay bills. If he would have used a debit card, through paypal or other service, his bank account would have still be debited, and he would still have no plane. Now, grantid, it would be easier to get his money back, but his money would still be tied up until he could get a refund, which can take up to and over a month. During this time, your money is tied up for no good reason. I never use my debit card over the internet, or for hotels. I don't use it over the internet because I don't know who I'm dealing with, and if they are trustworthy or not. I don't use it for hotels because they have a tendency to charge you for nickel and dime stuff when you leave. I don't want any surprises in my bank statement. It's easier to use a credit card, and then pay it off at the end of the month. Same result--no interest, and you've still only spent money you already had. That way if something goes south, the money you pay bills with is not tied up. Also, someone you don't even know doesn't have your debit card number. Just my .02!
I had some friends who charged a hotel room to their debit card, and the hotel charged them for a bunch of damage they didn't do. They didn't realize this had happened until checks started bouncing. Come to find out, the hotel had put over a 1000 dollars worth of damages on the debit card without them knowing it. They got it all cleared up, but that doesn't really help your reputation at the establishments where you bounced checks! If they'd used a credit card, no bounced checks!

There is one small problem with you using your check card Shakes, it draws directly out of your bank account. While it does keep you from going into debt, if someone gets a hold of your number and charges to it, you will be in worse shape than using a standard credit card. Your checks or other charges to your account could bounce then you would have to pay for bounced check fees and so on. I am not disagreeing with you about having a check card, it is just that it is too risky to use over the Internet. I have one and I use it for local purchases only and not online or out of state purchases. This way if something does happen I can drive over to the store that is having the problem with my purchase if it ever bounces back to me. I have a credit card and I do pay it off every month, but as long as you do that religiously you will not go into debt. If a person cannot keep track of their purchases very well then I probably would say do not get a credit card. It is always nice to have a backup plan just in case if something goes wrong either with your car or house and you do not have the funds in the bank to pay for it. If you do decide to get a credit card Sarge, make sure to get the lowest APR available. Most of the offers that get sent to you in the mail usually offer 0.0% interest, but for a limited time then they jack it up to almost 20% sometimes. I would personally get either a visa or mastercard from a big corporation like Citibank. 99% of stores usually accept either of these two cards. I know Citibank has a 30 day grace period in which they do not charge you interest for your purchases. They were charging we 20% interest at one time so I called them up and asked that it be lowered since I have been a good boy with their company and they lowered it to 7% interest. It really did not matter to me anyways because I always paid it off at the end of each month, but it was good to know that I had such a low interest rate. I am not sure how old you are, but keep in mind that having a credit card is a great responsibility. If you decide to go wild with it, make a lot of charges to it, and not pay it off every month, you can get into some serious debt problems. If you ever decide to buy something BIG one day (a house) and your credit score is not very high, then you may not even be able to purchase it. Anyways.....I have to get back to work, Just remember that this is my .02 and you have to decide on what to do. I can only suggest.

Dang it I was 2 slow
2slow2matter

Fortunately, I have had no problems like our friend. I have purchased two kits, both off RCU, and paid for one with Money Order and the other with Paypal, both at the sellers request. I did check their record, both appeared to be letigimate. It is a shame that there is a "bad apple" every now and then. One thing I have admired about RC people is their honesty, genuine friendliness. I am new to RC, but the RCU forum is the "cleanest " web site I have ever been on.

I hope and pray you get your money back. If you need a trainer, check with your local club. A member might have one he wants to sell and, if you need it, he might even throw in a little instructor time. Good luck, and keep us posted. We are pulling for you.

Excellent point, LarryC. I was thinking the same thing. I was also thinking, if a guy gets his money order from the post office, and the deal goes sour and the money order is cashed...isn't that a Federal offense because you involved a Federal entity?

If I remember correctly, the "bill me later" deal at Tower Hobbies has an interest rate of about 18 percent. I could be wrong. Like all other credit deals, check before you use it. They have a web site too. I just checked my account with them. Last time I used them, they charged me 18 percent. Be aware, that is pretty high. Pay off quickly and all is OK. Pay slow and THEY make a lot off of you. That is what they are counting on.

Bruce []

i think the bill me later is not a bad idea even with 18 percent. I think it will hurt you if your bill is alot. but if your bill is around 500.. 18 percent wont be much and you can pay it off in a 2 to 3 months if you want. What you can also do is cancel the money order if you think the guy is a fraud. Not sure if you can do that once the money order is cashed though. I think if you payed by money order the guy will get away with it. I think on the internet the safest way is through paypal. if you dont receive the item you can file a dispute and the guy HAS to have proof of shipment.. if he doesent then your money is returned weather the seller likes it or not. paypal always takes the buyers side no matter what.

I could call the guy you were supposed to get the plane from a low-life but we are hearing one side of a story. why not PM him and tell him about this thread and invite him to put his side of the story forward. that way this could be discussed and the guy could not try to say you are harassing him. if he has nothing to hide then he will put his point across.
your lucky it was only $120 i know that is a lot of money to lose but it could have been one of the planes that are being sold for $3000+. have you informed the police? if you have paid for something then you should get the goods you paid for otherwise it is theft.
good luck i hope you either get your plane or your money back

You've already had quite a bit of advice on credit cards. I prefer gas credit cards. I have one for Shell (mastercard) and one for BP (visa). For both of them I get 1% back on all purchases. When I buy their brand of gas with the card, Shell gives me a 5% rebate and BP gives me a 3%. Shell's rebate goes directly into the account. For BP, when the rebate reaches $20 they send it as a gift card, which can be used at any BP station. Since my wife doesn't have a BP card (let's not get into a discussion of why she doesn't have one of mine), I give her the card. Most of the time, the gas rebate reduces the price below the generic brand stations. Since I get 1% back, I also use them for normal household purchases such as groceries and Tower Hobbies orders. Note, the discount is only worthwhile if you are very firm with yourself about paying the entire balance every month. If you don't, the rebate is quickly negated by interest charges.

well I just went to the place where i bought it from and get this! they were willing to tell me that it was cashed but, wont tell me where it was cashed!!!! GGRRrrrrrrrrrr... so what do i do now?

I still have the torn off portion with the bar code on it. but why wont they tell me where it was cashed!! so agrivating.

on a nother note. the debit card idea that was being tossed around, i have had some bad experience with this. every time it was used on the weekend the banks computer would show it as a negative ballance while it went throu. so they charged me for that. then they carged for taking care of a "- balance" by instituting there "over draft privlige" so they got me twice there, when i talked to the cops about it i felt i was lucky to get out of there with my life. the cops gave me abunch of gruff over it and called me a "f***ing teenager" and told ME that i would be the one to go to jail if i didn't shut up. can u believe this crap!!!

well gee,
while were at it i could just forget it all and let a federal criminal go. i mean it is just a lot of trouble and wont do any good, so why try?? jesus, gim me a break!

U criminals think ur so smooth, but u just stick out like a sore thum!!!!! I see you!!!! I know who to trust now!!!

Step 1, Collect your evidence. This includes the check stub, the ad on RCU, any profile info you can get from RCU, and copies of all emails you have sent and received.
Step 2, Report him to RCU, so he can't cheat anyone else.
Step 3, If the money order was from the Post Office, see if they pursue fraud. If so, it's great, cause that could make it mail fraud, which I believe is a Federal offense. I suspect most other places don't care.
Step 4, Determine where he lives, you have an address to which you sent the money order, right? File a report with his city police or county sherrif, etc.

Note, even if you don't want to name names, you might post his location. Perhaps there's someone else here who can help you with some of the legwork. I'm not suggesting that someone "pay him a visit" (although the thought did cross my mind), but they can look him up in the phone book, give you the contact info for the police dept, county courthouse, etc.

here is a copy of all the emails we sent.
_____________________________________________
From: "Mike ." <[email protected]> Add to Address BookAdd to Address Book
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Question Re: Item 62582 in Classifieds Marketplace
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 07:37:54 -0600

actually no I didnt send the plane I sent a money order back to you
because
it would have been $40.00 to ship it and I'm not taking that much of a
dive
on the plane. and it was sent via usps. in a white envelope.
Have a nice day and leave me alone. I emailed you last week and told
you
this already and your still harrassing me.

>From: darren matthews <[email protected]>
>To: "Mike ." <[email protected]>
>Subject: Re: Question Re: Item 62582 in Classifieds Marketplace
>Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 20:53:54 -0800 (PST)
>
>hey,
> where is my airplane?? did u send it yet? which
>company did u go with?? did u get a tracking number??
> Im thinking about calling the cops. its been 2
>weeks since you said u would send it off, and it aint
>got here yet. so whats the deal?? are you scamming
>me??
>
>--- "Mike ." <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > ok i will take it to ups and fedex and we will go
> > from there
> >
> > >From: darren matthews <[email protected]>
> > >To: "Mike ." <[email protected]>
> > >Subject: Re: Question Re: Item 62582 in Classifieds
> > Marketplace
> > >Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2005 19:08:09 -0800 (PST)
> > >
> > >well, I have had good luck in getting things ive
> > >bought mailed through the ups, who is cheapest?
> > this
> > >is a big item, i see a lot of guys wanting a little
> > >money for shipin so I gues go with the cheapest.
> > >--- "Mike ." <[email protected]> wrote:
> > >
> > > > i recieved your money order today and am
> > wondering
> > > > what company you want me
> > > > to ship this with?
> > > >
> > > > >From: darren matthews
> > <[email protected]>
> > > > >To: "Mike ." <[email protected]>
> > > > >Subject: Re: Question Re: Item 62582 in
> > Classifieds
> > > > Marketplace
> > > > >Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 09:02:40 -0800 (PST)
> > > > >
> > > > >ok, thanks perfectly understandable. will you
> > let
> > > > me
> > > > >know when u get the order??
> > > > > Just a question, when u sent the address u
> > said
> > > > ur
> > > > >name was "mike whitng" I added a "I" to make it
> > > > >whiting is that how it is on your mailing
> > addres??
> > > > >--- "Mike ." <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > havent recieved it yet. will send when i
> > recieve
> > > > it.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > >From: darren matthews
> > > > <[email protected]>
> > > > > > >To: "Mike ." <[email protected]>
> > > > > > >Subject: Re: Question Re: Item 62582 in
> > > > Classifieds
> > > > > > Marketplace
> > > > > > >Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2005 14:46:54 -0800 (PST)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >did you get my money order?? is the plane
> > >>>>>>on the way??
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > sarges_heroes2003
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >--- "Mike ." <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > mike whitng
> > > > > > > > 1988 main st
> > > > > > > > centerville mn 55038
> > > > > > > >
sounds good
______________________
A REPLY HAS BEEN POSTED TO A MESSAGE BY SARGES_HEROES2003 REGARDING
ITEM 62582 - HUGE LOT OF RTF PLANES,KITS,PARTS, SELLING OUT:

--------------MESSAGE START-------------

i thought about it more and I will sell this to you for $125
the motor and flight pack alone are worth $200 easy let me know asap
either way please have someone else interested as well but you emailed me
first. If you want to call me my name is mike and my number is
651-755-3593

--------------MESSAGE END---------------

***THE INDIVIDUAL POSTED THIS QUESTION TO THE AD LISTING***

You may respond to the member by clicking reply on this email or, if
you would like to avoid similar questions on the same item, you can post
your reply directly to your item listing! To do this, just return to
your listing and click the "Post Comment" link under the "Discussion"
area of your ad. Here is your link:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemID=62582

Thank you,

RCU market

the money order was sent by regular mail, and it was purchased from a grociery store. I though that the gov. would recouire them to have a device that could check that for me but apperantly not.

I AM ON THE WAR PATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, you said he verbally admitted cashing the money order. Once cashed, you will NOT be able to stop payment on that money order even if it was from the Post Office. In the letter in post #37 he states that he sent you A money order, not that he sent back the same one. When you talked to him did he still claim to have mailed you a refund or not? If so, when did he mail it? You should then allow reasonable time (assuming you have not) for it to get to you. I can fully understand your anger and you may truly be being ripped off but make sure. Once you are SURE of the fraud you might go to your local postmaster and see if he thinks there are grounds for charges of postal fraud which would be a Federal charge. Do not be guilty yourself of harassment and have as much evidence as you can when you approach the postmaster in a CALM manner. Nobody wants to listen to someone that is going ballistic.
Good luck,
Bruce

Hey you don't need to use that sort of attitude with me. i know you are upset about this and i would be too. I was suggesting you need to calm down a little and let this guy have a say and put his point across. I never said you should just forget about it. you need to pay more attention to the red text at the top of the screen when replying to a message.
we can't and should not call him a federal criminal as we do not know all the facts. maybe he did send a money order to you and you just have not received it yet.

thaks bruce, you have much wisdom.

i took a walk to calm my self. ok, he said he sent me an email that said that he was send the refund, but I did not get this email(its possible the electronic contraptions did loose that email. but he states when he did send it. if I haven't goten it by later this week Im shure he didn't send it. he states that "i sent you that email telling you about the money order last week" he even tells me what collor envalope it is. I should have it by wednesday or thursday by my reconing.

on the 13th of jan. he says its going to fedex. no contact till I initiate contact on the 23rd of Jan. on the 24th he states that he sent a email prevouse to that but i did all i could to recover the mystery email. he says its coming because he sent it off before the "mystery email" so should I have not gotten it allrealdy??

Sarges_heroes2003 I agree, You may be going the wrong way on this by
voicing all here in this manner.. In your post above dated 1-24-2005
it says he sent you a money order... Email him and ask him to call on it
to see if it's been cashed.. Not sure when/if he set it, because on the post
dated 1-23-05 it says he said: ok i will take it to ups and fedex and we
will go from there.... If the dates and replies are correct, you have to give
it more time for it to get to you...
Based on the 1-24-05 reply and if all other replies and dates are correct...
I would send him a simple email saying I'll wait until the money order gets
here, But please hang on to your M.O.receipt so if I do not receive in a few
more days you can cancel and resend
And another thing,... If all dates are correct.... I would "STOP" posting here
and talk to him in a calm manner as bruce88123 have said
....

Ok, ill give it a while and let him have his say. it is fair and all, but I remind every one that his money has had 2 weeks to get here. and the money has not arived. thats 2 weeks. last time it took 5 days to get my jr radio system here, that was all the way accros the country and this guy is closser than he was. my point is I don't see how I can give this guy any more leway. It should have been here, but as a famouse some one once said, "lack of evidence is not evidence at all" i will pm fun2flyguy.

I hear ya and i do understand your frustration.
I hope you get this resolved soon
paul

One more minor thing. PLEASE use Spell Check.

Bruce

will do brucey!!!!

Hello, If the guy is saying he sent your money back you need to contact the place where you bought the money order and they can tell you if the guy has cashed the money order or not. If he hasn't cashed it yet you can stop payment on it so that nobody else can cash it and if it does come to you then you can take it back and get your money back. NEVER PAY WITH A MONEY ORDER AGAIN you can sign up at paypal for free and they try to help get your money back when you use their services should anything go wrong. You also need to contact RCU with his user name and file a complaint against him so it will show up in his feedback an alert other buyers. That way maybe no one else will be screwed.
Thank you,
Mike Lawrence

He's already said he checked and the check has been cashed. READ.

still waiting....[:@] I want either my money, or airplane.