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1) Is the website Genuine? Always check that the website you’re using to make an online purchase is genuine. Fraudsters use very sophisticated methods to create look-a-like websites, so be careful when clicking on links provided by a third party as it may not take you to the genuine site. Always find the genuine website yourself so you go to it directly. Look carefully at the web address or URL to make sure there are not extra words which you would not expect. That can be an indication that the site is not genuine.

2) When you’re using eBay it is important to remember that any transaction not completed through the eBay platform is not covered by the eBay guarantee. If a buyer sends money to a bank account via online banking – is not an eBay transaction. Transactions should only take place on eBay, with all messages exchanged via ‘My eBay’.  If you are buying and selling through email, you’re not on eBay and you are not protected. 

3) Remember that eBay does not offer Vehicle Protection to cover a car sale, and does not offer an escrow service – holding funds until parties agree for the transaction to take place.  eBay says  that there are no services like this at all on eBay in the UK and any claim that eBay offers this service is fraudulent. 

4) eBay say they never send buyers an invoice, do not accept bank transfers, and do not accept a payment on behalf of the seller.  If you get a request like this, it’s a scam.

5) Be cautious of sellers who want to move the transaction from one platform to another, for example, from another site to eBay, or from eBay to a private sale. Also, beware of sellers who refuse to meet in person, or refuse to allow the buyer to physically inspect items like cars before they purchase.

6) When using online platforms to purchase vehicles, remember if you buy through a private seller you’re not protected by the Consumer Rights Act as you would be if you purchased a car through a dealership. But you could make a claim under the Misrepresentation Act if the information on the advert, such as the car’s description, turns out not to be true. It’s always best to see a car before buying it so you can check the condition yourself.

Tranquil, idyllic and perfect for families - that’s what residents at Woodland Gardens Estate in Pyle near Porthcawl thought they were getting when they bought their homes built by Persimmon.

Building began in 2014 and buyers were assured that by March 2017, the estate would be picture perfect.

But residents have told us that the roads and pavements on the development are still incomplete. They complain of potholes, missing surfaces and broken kerb stones which have damaged cars and in some cases caused injury.

They say the customer service they have received is poor and they are frustrated by Persimmon repeatedly pushing back the date for completion of the work.

One resident Avril Wills told us: ‘I expected my house to be completed and I expected the roads to be complete, I didn’t expect to be living on a building site.’

When a new estate is built, the building company normally enters into a section 38 agreement - where the local authority ‘adopts’ the roads when the development is finished. However, if the roads are left incomplete the council won’t take them on and the residents are left in limbo.

Another resident, Andrew Llewellyn, said: ‘We feel like we’ve all been forgotten, but I haven’t given up hope. I just want someone to see what’s happening here and make things happen.’

Persimmon told X-ray that the delays were caused by their building contractor Cuddy going into receivership over the summer.  Persimmon has now appointed new contractors who have started work at the site.

The company said in a statement: ‘Every effort is now underway to resolve the issues on Woodland Gardens….We have apologised to residents for the considerable inconvenience but these were exceptional circumstance beyond our control.’