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Weird message from ebay seller

festershinetopfestershinetop
in Chit chat
I bought one of those extendible grabber things (the claw on a stick) off ebay. It was from a legit store that sells disability aids.

I got the message it was dispatched yesterday but today i received this message which is a full c+p of the message sans sellers name.
Good afternoon

Thank you for your order which has been dispatched.

The buy it now price is without VAT so could you please advise the recipients name and reason for disability/illness.

Regards *****

Is it normal to just reach out to a customer and demand this kind of sensitive information.

It said nowhere in the listing i'd need to not only tell them who i was buying it for but also what was medically wrong with them that they needed it the first place.

Comments

  • rich_chandlerrich_chandler
    That's not normal, medical information is confidential and you shouldn't be giving to source you're not 100% certain of.

    Having said that, they've already despatched it so what can they do?
    I wanna tell you a story 'bout a woman I know...
  • andrewvanbeckandrewvanbeck
    Sounds like a misguided attempt to keep themselves in the clear... like keeping a record when not paying VAT, in case anyone asks. It completely disregards data protection, I'd be very surprised if this wasn't just something they decided to do off their own backs.
  • VampyreVampyre
    No way should anyone be giving out any kind of medical information. With GDPR appearing May 2018 the financial penalties of personal data being released without consent are huge that make the Data Protection Act look like chicken feed. The max fine of £500,000 for DPA can now be £20,000,000 or 4% of a companies annual global turn-over (whichever is higher). That's personal data like name, address, email. Medical or sensitive data like credit cards is likely to result in much higher fines.
    ZXSR - Speccy Mags Reviews
  • murtcepsmurtceps
    What did it say in the description ?

    If it is like this one

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/26-GRABBER-REACHER-LITTER-PICKER-HELPING-HAND-26-LONG-HANDY-REACHER-/281518873100?var=&hash=item418bd51a0c:m:mTHWym59D8G37dSxENItIpQ

    Then the item is vat exempt for those that qualify. For others the seller needs to charge vat. And that is clearly stated in the description.

  • colonel32colonel32
    edited October 2017
    I think the VAT-free thing is real. I have purchased some things like that for my mum after she broke her hip, and the savings can be substantial and worth claiming for big items like scooters, stairlifts and walk-in baths. And, of course, the small items add up, because you often need to buy a whole bunch of crap in one go after an accident or an occupational therapist visit.

    I bought things from https://www.careco.co.uk/, for example, and they required you to attest that the items really were for disabled people, as part of the checkout process.

    I agree with @andrewvanbeck, misguided attempt/useless or slapdash seller.

    Post edited by colonel32 on
    Robin Verhagen-Guest
    SevenFFF / Threetwosevensixseven / colonel32
    NXtel • NXTP • ESP Update • ESP Reset • CSpect Plugins
  • colonel32colonel32
    LOL and this is now the reality for us in the Speccy scene. Our parents are starting to need these aids, and we ourselves are getting the first intimations of mortality. Grey pubes (I found three this morning!!) and prostate problems...
    Robin Verhagen-Guest
    SevenFFF / Threetwosevensixseven / colonel32
    NXtel • NXTP • ESP Update • ESP Reset • CSpect Plugins
  • def chrisdef chris
    crap game idea brewing...get rid of grey pubes with extendible claw/grabbber thingy. could play a bit like that 'gold miner' game.
  • murtcepsmurtceps
    colonel32 wrote: »
    LOL and this is now the reality for us in the Speccy scene. Our parents are starting to need these aids, and we ourselves are getting the first intimations of mortality. Grey pubes (I found three this morning!!) and prostate problems...

    Who mentioned parents :) There for us !!

  • rich_chandlerrich_chandler
    murtceps wrote: »
    colonel32 wrote: »
    LOL and this is now the reality for us in the Speccy scene. Our parents are starting to need these aids, and we ourselves are getting the first intimations of mortality. Grey pubes (I found three this morning!!) and prostate problems...

    Who mentioned parents :) There for us !!
    Not saying anything...
    I wanna tell you a story 'bout a woman I know...
  • polomintpolomint
    Old gits :p ;)













    /me runs
    So far, so meh :)
  • zx1zx1
    colonel32 wrote: »
    LOL and this is now the reality for us in the Speccy scene. Our parents are starting to need these aids, and we ourselves are getting the first intimations of mortality. Grey pubes (I found three this morning!!) and prostate problems...

    My head hair (what's left of it) is grey but my body hair is still dark (including my pubes!) :))
    And as far as i know my prostate is fine!
    Was that too much information?
    The trouble with tribbles is.......
  • MatGubbinsMatGubbins
    zx1 wrote: »
    colonel32 wrote: »
    LOL and this is now the reality for us in the Speccy scene. Our parents are starting to need these aids, and we ourselves are getting the first intimations of mortality. Grey pubes (I found three this morning!!) and prostate problems...

    My head hair (what's left of it) is grey but my body hair is still dark (including my pubes!) :))
    And as far as i know my prostate is fine!
    Was that too much information?

    That information will be required on your next census form.

    Bomb Munchies on WOS thread
    Download the latest version of Bomb Munchies Ver2210 4th July 2020
  • polomintpolomint
    MatGubbins wrote: »
    zx1 wrote: »
    colonel32 wrote: »
    LOL and this is now the reality for us in the Speccy scene. Our parents are starting to need these aids, and we ourselves are getting the first intimations of mortality. Grey pubes (I found three this morning!!) and prostate problems...

    My head hair (what's left of it) is grey but my body hair is still dark (including my pubes!) :))
    And as far as i know my prostate is fine!
    Was that too much information?

    That information will be required on your next census form.

    You may not need to disclose your sex though...
    So far, so meh :)
  • rich_chandlerrich_chandler
    polomint wrote: »
    MatGubbins wrote: »
    zx1 wrote: »
    colonel32 wrote: »
    LOL and this is now the reality for us in the Speccy scene. Our parents are starting to need these aids, and we ourselves are getting the first intimations of mortality. Grey pubes (I found three this morning!!) and prostate problems...

    My head hair (what's left of it) is grey but my body hair is still dark (including my pubes!) :))
    And as far as i know my prostate is fine!
    Was that too much information?

    That information will be required on your next census form.

    You may not need to disclose your sex though...
    At his age sex is no longer an option...
    I wanna tell you a story 'bout a woman I know...
  • polomintpolomint
    rich_chandler wrote: »
    polomint wrote: »
    MatGubbins wrote: »
    zx1 wrote: »
    colonel32 wrote: »
    LOL and this is now the reality for us in the Speccy scene. Our parents are starting to need these aids, and we ourselves are getting the first intimations of mortality. Grey pubes (I found three this morning!!) and prostate problems...

    My head hair (what's left of it) is grey but my body hair is still dark (including my pubes!) :))
    And as far as i know my prostate is fine!
    Was that too much information?

    That information will be required on your next census form.

    You may not need to disclose your sex though...
    At his age sex is no longer an option...

    An expense then ;)
    So far, so meh :)
  • dm_boozefreekdm_boozefreek
    I don't have any grey rubix cubes yet, but then again I'm younger than most of you coffin dodgers :p
    Every night is curry night!
  • Scottie_ukScottie_uk
    edited October 2017
    I have grey beard hairs and an appointment with a cardiologist next week. I tried to work like a young man and it damn near killed me. Thankfully no grey rubix, and a full head of colored (not dyed) hair, and yes sex is still an option, my WOS Wag is still as fit as a fiddle.
    Post edited by Scottie_uk on
    Calling all ASCII Art Architects Visit the WOS Wall of Text and contribute: https://www.yourworldoftext.com/wos
  • zx1zx1
    polomint wrote: »
    Old gits :p ;)













    /me runs

    Should you be out on some post apocalyptic wasteland killing people?
    The trouble with tribbles is.......
  • MorkinMorkin
    def chris wrote: »
    crap game idea brewing...get rid of grey pubes with extendible claw/grabbber thingy. could play a bit like that 'gold miner' game.

    Heh. Yeah, make it a BASIC effort with lots of agonisingly slow plot/draw commands to draw the (ahem) surrounding organs and spindly hairs.
  • Scottie_ukScottie_uk
    What are you going to call this game 'Just for Men?'

    Calling all ASCII Art Architects Visit the WOS Wall of Text and contribute: https://www.yourworldoftext.com/wos
  • robert@fmrobert@fm
    edited October 2017
    I can confirm that the VAT thing is real (and normal, contrary to the first two posts), and not just an incompetent seller. Some medical appliances are VAT-exempt for those with qualifying disabilities, so those who sell them are required by law to allow the VAT exemption (otherwise they would be discriminating, which is a crime), and hence to require proof of the qualification (because if they didn't, and just assumed that everyone qualifies for the exemption, and it turned out that one buyer didn't, they would be committing fraud, which is another crime).

    I myself have purchased mobility aids, from Amazon (don't ask :-O), and have been happy to give the reason for purchase (e.g. mobility problems) and thereby claim the VAT exemption (worth £25 off in one case :-O).
    Post edited by robert@fm on
    I never make misteaks mistrakes misyales errurs — oh, sod it.
  • rich_chandlerrich_chandler
    Surely they should declare all that in the description rather wait until the transaction has been completed and the item despatched.
    I wanna tell you a story 'bout a woman I know...
  • colonel32colonel32
    edited October 2017
    Yep, the incompetancy relates to the seller not having declared that upfront, rather than to them applying VAT-exemption.
    Post edited by colonel32 on
    Robin Verhagen-Guest
    SevenFFF / Threetwosevensixseven / colonel32
    NXtel • NXTP • ESP Update • ESP Reset • CSpect Plugins
  • colonel32colonel32
    Can I get VAT-exemption on my Just For Merkin, though...?
    Robin Verhagen-Guest
    SevenFFF / Threetwosevensixseven / colonel32
    NXtel • NXTP • ESP Update • ESP Reset • CSpect Plugins
  • ZoffyZoffy
    rich_chandler wrote: »
    Surely they should declare all that in the description rather wait until the transaction has been completed and the item despatched.

    Indeed. Dodgy business practices. They wouldn't get any of my money.
    General Malthadius Zoff
    Magenta icon
  • rich_chandlerrich_chandler
    Zoffy wrote: »
    rich_chandler wrote: »
    Surely they should declare all that in the description rather wait until the transaction has been completed and the item despatched.

    Indeed. Dodgy business practices. They wouldn't get any of my money.
    Damn right, I wouldn't even acknowledge his emails. The seller has made the mistake of sending out the goods, his fault.

    I wanna tell you a story 'bout a woman I know...
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