Last year I have posted few items on Ricardo for sale. As the items did not sell, I stopped using their side. Now months later I have a received a bill from the collection agency for the unpaid fees.
What 86.95CHF has taught me is that Ricardo charges you for posts regardless on whether you actually make the sale. The actual fees were in pennies but if you add late fees and the collection agency fee of 60CHF, you end up learning a really expensive lesson.
They do not mail invoices, so you either need to check their website for the outstanding invoices or make sure you use an email that you actually check.
What else is this country going to teach me the hard way!
What are your experiences, please do share so I can avoid making your mistakes
eBay also charge you if you don't sell, in fact any paid advertising site charges whether you sell or not, this is not a Swiss problem. In future maybe you should use an email address that you do check
To be fair, they inform you of the costs before you select your choice of advertising and you have to click through it so you should be aware of which one you've chosen and that there are charges attached.
Ricardo also informs you of your account on the site and sends you an email with the charges.
If you neither check the site nor use the email address you have tethered to the site, it's hardly their fault, is it?
I think a Mod should change the title - Ricardo do not have hidden fees - or maybe they do, but in this instance the OP is talking about standard sales fees.
The usual crap applying about reading what you sign-up for etc. etc. applies here.
If you want to sell something, surely it is a good idea to use an email that you check regularly? That way potential buyers can ask you questions about what you're selling?
it is strange that they would resort to debt collection agencies before sending a paper invoice. did they really not send a letter to remind you? or was not ignoring invoices another lesson?
You've answered your own question - read the T&Cs. Most people can manage it regardless of how busy they are. If you struggle with the language ask someone to help you out.
There are no secrets or magic tricks to not getting stiffed online or in real life, you just have to make an effort to be informed.
Since when did the EF turn into a clairvoyant advice service?
But let me get my crystal ball out...
Did you get a CHF1.- mobile phone upgrade and after 6 months you are going to leave the country? Well you have to pay CHF800.- but noone told you about that because it's in the T&Cs
Did you get on the train without stamping your Nachtzuschlag ticket? Well you have to pay CHF90.- + CHF5.- but noone told you that because it's in the SBB T&Cs
I had no reason to use Ricardo again after the listing expired. I will stick to using English Forum or Tutti from now on.
Other than occasional no show or lack of response from interested parties, I am happy with their services (unless there is a fine print I missed somewhere )