GumTree www.gumtree.com

Hi,

I posted an ad a week ago to sell a kitten of my own, and my ad has been removed straight away with no explanation and no refund.

I tried for days to get some information but only had robotic answers that I breached the rules, with no more explanation of what rules I was not following. Also I was informed I couldn't get a refund as I didn't comply to the Gumtree policy, but at that still didn't know what was my "supposed" mistake !

It took 5 days of patience to finally have a human answer through the live chat (by the way it's not really a chat, because you cannot "chat" with anyone, you are sent an automatic answer and disconnected straight away), and I was vaguely told that I've already posted 2 ads for pets in the last 12 months with another account, which is completely wrong and I wonder where they got that from ?

I offered to send my ID to prove that I'm a legal individual person, or talk on the phone or on video to someone to show I am not usurping anybody identity, but no answer and no possibility to talk to anyone.

I have the right, like any other person to sell kittens and if they don't accept my application with no reasonable reason and evidence that I did wrong 

Nobody to talk to, no investigation from their side, I want my rights back and sell my kitten before I have to drop him in a shelter instead of him having a loving family. As a woman, I feel discriminated and isolated.

The initial part is not Gumtree's fault, but their lack of action is. My ad for item selling for £350 just attracted time wasters. Not one genuine buyer.

The person in question told me they had cancer, upon searching Google it's a known scam. I feel strongly about someone lying about that in order to scam another... but on Gumtree you cannot leave any written feedback, so i'll do it here and try selling my item elsewhere now.

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22-Mar-21

Thanks for the reply Gumtree

I am well aware of how to keep safe on the internet. Some of the issue here is that despite the person having lots of negative feedback, in no way can you inform others that this account is run by a scammer, there is no free text option to do so. Their account remains active on your platform.

Giving your customers the ability to feedback on such an experience in an appropriate manner would be good, along with the ability to easily report and block such an account. Something Gumtree should consider to 'clean up' its market place

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5-April-21

So despite an email to me from Gumtree stating "I've escalated all info I'm happy to confirm that appropriate action has been taken on this user's account. on the 22nd March" people are still falling foul of this scammer.

As of today, I can see that 6 sellers have fallen foul of this account 5 days ago, with 12 more 6 days ago. So on the the 31st March & 1st April, some 9 & 10 days after Gumtree stated the above. From what I see, the account is still active. How can anyone ever have any faith in Gumtree security ?

I have had the same mobile number since 2008. Since then I have only had ONE marketing call (if you exclude the flood from my previous network provider which made me switch away from them when they didn't stop when instructed).

Two days ago I posted an ad up on Gumtree for the first time. In the two days since I have had FIVE calls on my mobile used on the ad - all from jerks who want to offer me support for "my accident I have suffered in the last 5 years."

Maybe a coincidence, but I strongly doubt it - enough so as to Post this Review online so as to warn others to think carefully before allowing anyone (especially Gumtree) to have your PRIVATE mobile number.

Gumtree have a system whereby you only get to see the full number if you login to the site (even as a buyer). Clearly - in my opinion - wasters who 'ambulance chase' either create login IDs to allow them to harvest mobile numbers, OR, Gumtree don't obfuscate private telephone numbers as well as they would have you believe.

I had a quick peek online regarding the wisdom of placing an ad on Gumtree, including one's mobile phone number. I wish I'd done that BEFORE uploading mine on that ad!!! Clearly I am not alone.

Apparently the wise way is to list the ad with ONLY a contact email address - and one that is dedicated to Gumtree as opposed to one's main email address.

Hopefully this review will help anyone considering Gumtree as a place to sell something.

I tried for months to sell my car - reduced price of car over that time by 30%. I got ZERO calls or emails from buyers. But as soon as I posted my first advert, for the next month, I got call centres phoning me about an accident I never had. Gumtree is a useless waste of money. Put my car on a (expensive) 'auto' sales website & sold within 24hrs.

I've been trying to sell items that I no longer need, the got taken off the site within a day. I emailed their customer service and the response I got was that my account had suspicious behaviour, which I was a bit baffled by, all I was trying to sell was a BMX. After half a week I was told that my account was under review and that all restrictions was removed, so I tried posting my BMX again, and it went straight into the removed ads part of the site. Very disappointed and I would discourage anyone to use gumtree.

To all gumtree users!

This is my Story!

I'm writing this to try and make people aware of this company (gumtree)!

I have posted an ad today on the services section and was charged £14.99! The ad was not posted, so I contacted them via the “chat option” to find out why the ad wasn't posted. A person (not very helpful), said that I had breached the posting rules and instantly blocked my account (which I had for many years) and ended up the chat session, giving me no chance to contest – he said he was going to email me the conversation, but never did. I then tried to open another chat session, although I could no longer contact them! I found a customer service phone number on google and called them, the person who I spoke to was very helpful and read through my ad; she said she didn't know why my account had been blocked and that she couldn't see anything on the ad that breached their Terms and Conditions. She then said to me that there was nothing she could do, once the account’s been blocked – that’s it! I asked about the fee of £14.99 and she said that GUMTREE doesn't refund any fees for ads even when they haven’t been posted!

Gumtree then sent me two identical derogatory automated emails saying that “MY ACCOUNT HAD BEEN RESTRICTED BECAUSE I DIDN’T COMPLY WITH THEIR RULES, TO THE LEVEL WHERE THEY THINK IT’S BETTER THAT I NO LONGER USE THEIR WEBSITE” !!!

Also: “WE KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO QUESTION THIS BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT WITH THE DECISION SO WE WON’T REPLY TO ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE”.

I think this is outrageous! I have been a client for so many years and have been posting personal as well as commercial ads for my company, which costs over £45 each. On this occasion, they were happy to take my money, and then block my account without giving me an honest reason why they did it, and gave me no chance to contest!

“GUMTREE USERS; BE AWARE OF THIS ACTION BY GUMTREE AS IT APPARENTLY HAPPENS A LOT”.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IF THAT HAPPENS TO YOU, YOU CAN CALL YOUR BANK AND THEY WILL STOP THE PAYMENT!

To all gumtree users!

This is my Story!

I'm writing this to try and make people aware of this company (gumtree)!

I have posted an ad today on the services section and was charged £14.99! The ad was not posted, so I contacted them via the “chat option” to find out why the ad wasn't posted. A person (not very helpful), said that I had breached the posting rules and instantly blocked my account (which I had for many years) and ended up the chat session, giving me no chance to contest – he said he was going to email me the conversation, but never did. I then tried to open another chat session, although I could no longer contact them! I found a customer service phone number on google and called them, the person who I spoke to was very helpful and read through my ad; she said she didn't know why my account had been blocked and that she couldn't see anything on the ad that breached their Terms and Conditions. She then said to me that there was nothing she could do, once the account’s been blocked – that’s it! I asked about the fee of £14.99 and she said that GUMTREE doesn't refund any fees for ads even when they haven’t been posted!

Gumtree then sent me two identical derogatory automated emails saying that “MY ACCOUNT HAD BEEN RESTRICTED BECAUSE I DIDN’T COMPLY WITH THEIR RULES, TO THE LEVEL WHERE THEY THINK IT’S BETTER THAT I NO LONGER USE THEIR WEBSITE” !!!

Also: “WE KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO QUESTION THIS BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT WITH THE DECISION SO WE WON’T REPLY TO ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE”.

I think this is outrageous! I have been a client for so many years and have been posting personal as well as commercial ads for my company, which costs over £45 each. On this occasion, they were happy to take my money, and then block my account without giving me an honest reason why they did it, and gave me no chance to contest!

“GUMTREE USERS; BE AWARE OF THESE ACTIONS BY GUMTREE AS IT APPARENTLY HAPPENS A LOT”.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IF THAT HAPPENS TO YOU, YOU CAN CALL YOUR BANK AND THEY WILL STOP THE PAYMENT!

Posted an ad for my car. Gumtree asked for my phone number. I gave it and my ad was activated. Moments after I had never had so many calls re car accidents! They were queuing up!! It was like Heathrow airport on my mobile.... Overseas calls about the car accident I had had (But didn't have!)

All contact numbers are premium rate , watch out!!!! 0737 0792 0759 0751 and more and more...”

I tried to advertise cocker spaniel pups on gumtree but they blocked my advert.When I tried to find out why ,via email, the reply just said we make the decisions and no further correspondence will be entered into.I am not involved in puppy farming ,have never advertised pups on line before.In fact it is 14 years since I last bred a litter of pups.I think this is a very high handed and arrogant way to run any business and customers should be treated with a little more respect.