Seller asking for my gmail password to remove google account off returned cell phone

[nowbook!]

Bought phone from seller. Didnt work properly sold I returned it. The offered free returns. Seller emails me and says when I factory reset the phone before I returned it, the reset didnt completely remove my goole account and the seller wants my gmail password so he can access my email account to remove the google account. I though  factory reset removed everything? I have private stuff on my email account and I'm uncomfortable giving my password. If I dont he will charge me a re stock fee.  Any advice forum?

[maltzhu]

Do you do anything with your Google account like shop, bank, etc.?  I don't think it you should give out the password.  I'd suggest they take the phone back to the carrier and let them unlock/wipe it.  Call me a TInfoil Hat but I'm suspicious.

I'm sure others will respond and if I'm wrong, I apologize.  It just doesn't sound right AT ALL and I don't buy it.

[trfi_7560]

You could suggest the seller send it back to you so you can fix the issue

[arun7500]

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@nowbook! wrote:

Bought phone from seller. Didnt work properly sold I returned it. The offered free returns. Seller emails me and says when I factory reset the phone before I returned it, the reset didnt completely remove my goole account and the seller wants my gmail password so he can access my email account to remove the google account. I though  factory reset removed everything? I have private stuff on my email account and I'm uncomfortable giving my password. If I dont he will charge me a re stock fee.  Any advice forum?

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Send the seller your SS number, bank cards and friends list to boot, it will make it easier for them. Sorry, I just cant believe in this day and age that someone would even consider such a thing.

[nowbook!]

He gave me 24 hrs to comply or he close the case and charge me..

[em9219]

Factory reset clears everythng on an Android phone. If you paid either directly or through PayPal/Mangled Payments with a credit card, file a chargeback with the reason "Goods returned, Credit not received". Provide the tracking number as proof of return.

Your seller will lose eBay FVF, PayPal etc fees, and on top of the full refund, pay an additional chargeback settlement fee.

[myangelandmyprincess]

Even if it didn't remove it you don't need a password to delete an email account.  Just did that on my phone the other day.  Had an old email address I couldn't remember the password for all I had to do was go into settings and the account from the phone.  Of course this was an iPhone I don't know about android but based on Google search about how to do it it's basically the same process and no mention of needing a password.  No way would I do that 

[no_zero369]

Sorry for so many "details" - there are many nuances and without all of the details, advice can only be general in nature.

First - Do Not give out your password to anybody for any reason.  Period.  er, unless you want identity theft stuff started. This scenario makes little sense.

Second - Sellers can no longer charge a restocking fee.  eBay no longer allows this.  The only thing the seller "could" do is give you a partial refund, claiming with eBay that you damaged the phone and returned it in damaged condition.  I believe the max "discount" a seller can take in such a case is 50%. 

If seller is claiming he is going to extract a "restocking fee", then the seller is misinformed or is bluffing you.  Make sure all of your correspondence with the seller is through eBay messages, NOT your gmail account!  {IF you have been corresponding with the seller through gmail, then copy and past that string of conversations over to an ebay message and respond to the seller on eBay messages}   Then if the seller does take a "fee" one can appeal to eBay with the proof that he wanted a "restocking fee", which is not permitted.  eBay can "see" messages on their system, they WILL NOT take as "evidence" forwarded 3rd party email messages.

Third -  Did you use tracking to prove item was received by the seller?  If you have that you have proof that you returned it and if and only if eBay efforts fail, THEN you file a case with PayPal as OP instructed.  (assuming you used papal in the transaction)

Fourth - Did you file a return through the eBay resolution center?  Or are you doing this through emails with the seller? 

Fifth - read & understand eBay's policies on returns.  One needs to follow their steps exactly for the Money Back Guarantee to stay in effect. {including time frames}  Do not guess, do not act until you are sure.  If you "think" you know what is going on but aren't exactly certain - STOP - and come back here and ask questions.  We see many buyers who do what they "think" is right and mess them selves up.  Better safe than sorry.

Here is the  eBay page on returns - read all of it and follow any links that are appropriate.

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/returns-refunds/return-item-refund?id=4041&st=7

Good luck!

[myangelandmyprincess]

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@no_zero369 wrote:

Sorry for so many "details" - there are many nuances and without all of the details, advice can only be general in nature.

First - Do Not give out your password to anybody for any reason.  Period.  er, unless you want identity theft stuff started. This scenario makes little sense.

Second - Sellers can no longer charge a restocking fee.  eBay no longer allows this.  The only thing the seller "could" do is give you a partial refund, claiming with eBay that you damaged the phone and returned it in damaged condition.  I believe the max "discount" a seller can take in such a case is 50%. 

If seller is claiming he is going to extract a "restocking fee", then the seller is misinformed or is bluffing you.  Make sure all of your correspondence with the seller is through eBay messages, NOT your gmail account!  {IF you have been corresponding with the seller through gmail, then copy and past that string of conversations over to an ebay message and respond to the seller on eBay messages}   Then if the seller does take a "fee" one can appeal to eBay with the proof that he wanted a "restocking fee", which is not permitted.  eBay can "see" messages on their system, they WILL NOT take as "evidence" forwarded 3rd party email messages.

Third -  Did you use tracking to prove item was received by the seller?  If you have that you have proof that you returned it and if and only if eBay efforts fail, THEN you file a case with PayPal as OP instructed.  (assuming you used papal in the transaction)

Fourth - Did you file a return through the eBay resolution center?  Or are you doing this through emails with the seller? 

Fifth - read & understand eBay's policies on returns.  One needs to follow their steps exactly for the Money Back Guarantee to stay in effect. {including time frames}  Do not guess, do not act until you are sure.  If you "think" you know what is going on but aren't exactly certain - STOP - and come back here and ask questions.  We see many buyers who do what they "think" is right and mess them selves up.  Better safe than sorry.

Here is the  eBay page on returns - read all of it and follow any links that are appropriate.

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/returns-refunds/return-item-refund?id=4041&st=7

Good luck!

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I think the seller Is trying to use the email situation as a reason to issue a partial refund allowed under free returns of the item is returned in a different condition...  However if the seller does this the buyer can appeal to eBay 

[joem4stuff]

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@nowbook! wrote:

Seller emails me and says when I factory reset the phone before I returned it, the reset didnt completely remove my goole account

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That's ridiculous, a factory reset removes everything!

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@nowbook! wrote:

The reset didnt completely remove my goole account and the seller wants my gmail password so he can access my email account to remove the google account.

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Even if something wen't wrong in your attempt to reset the phone, he can do a factory reset by starting in recovery mode. He doesn't need your password.

You should always make sure you have completely reset a phone before returning it and never give anyone a password.

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[interestingness]

Factory reset clears all accounts; that is what it is for. That seller is looking to make trouble.

[remote_controls_and_more]

I think there is something called "Factory Reset Protection"

Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is a security method that was designed to make sure someone can't just wipe and factory reset your phone if you've lost it or it was stolen.

More info

https://swappa.com/faq/answer/android-factory-reset-protection

[joem4stuff]

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@remote_controls_and_more wrote:

I think there is something called "Factory Reset Protection"

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Good point, some phones after Android 5 may have that but there are many ways to bypass it.  Just search the internet. In any case giving out your password is a bad idea. If it's someone that sells cell phones, they should know how to bypass FRP.

In a worse case scenario: If the seller knows nothing about cell phones, they should send the seller a label to ship it back, remove the account themself and ship it back. Don't give out the password.