7 replies to this topic

[PyroJoe]

Hope someone's out there...

 

Due my ending my prolonged procrastination for setting up a workshop and shed (which is ongoing), and in advance of applying for EPP, I decided to do some shopping on ebay of non-EPP items: metals, oxidisers, etc. along with all the other random stuff I buy on a daily basis. Let's just say that ebay flags key items and you get a knock at the door, like I did tonight.

 

Not impressed, at all.

[martyn]

That's interesting. Can you elaborate, what did you buy that was a problem? and where (what seller) from?

It's easy to stay legal, but I believe some materials, although not epp restricted are 'watched' - not certain about that though.

As they are not illegal I imagine as long as you have a legitimate legal use in mind, there shouldn't be a problem.

What was the outcome of the knock?

Re your other question, I don't think anyone is actively running the society so probably not possible to 'join'

Good to have a bit of forum chatter though.

Good luck.

 

PS. I was going to PM this, but I believe many forum members will be interested so as not to do anything to fall foul of the enforcers.

[PyroJoe]

Hi Martyn, yes things really have gone quiet here - good to get a reply.

Basics - it was a very bad combination of items, namely: metals inc magnesium chips; chems inc potassium nitrate; and bbs for the bb gun. Various sellers over the last 3 weeks.

I can think of many combinations of many items that could lead to the conclusion they came to!

Only a complete idiot would one stop shop for all their destructive device parts on Ebay!

So, just bad timing of orders on my part.

So i basically got a good cop / bad cop inquisition on why and what do I need these for (on a loop) - could I find an answer??? I really just said that nothing I bought was illegal, so what was the problem?

They did mention it could have been worse as it could have been a 5am knock on the door by the counter terrorism squad.

Anyhoo, I usually buy things I need in bulk, or when rare, even if I have no immediate need for them. It just happened that that week I decided to stock up on that stuff. Few weeks before was hacksaws, blades, hand files, etc. No flag there though!

They seemed satisfied, parting advice to go small quants and not all at once...but best avoid Ebay. Assume Amazon is in this too, and PayPal if invoices are itemized on their systems.

Best advice I can give is to buy pyro supplies from within the community, users websites and dodge Ebay as much as possible.

I'm only using Ebay now for non-EPP chem/metals that are not available in the UK (eg Germany and china)

[PyroJoe]

Martyn, to clarify "I believe some materials, although not epp restricted are 'watched' - not certain about that though."

Answer is YES, confirmed by them at visit. Could be a wide variety of items from pressure cookers to nails in bulk to God knows what?

Also confirmed was that this flag was raised on items over a short period ie a few weeks to a month, and that they could look further back... assume algorithms are set this way by default.

[BlackCat]

There is indeed a seperate list to the restricted substances that require an EPPP. The list is entitled "Reportable Substances" and it is 3-4 times the length of the list of Restricted Substances especially with regard to poisons. It even contains some everyday chemicals such as sodium hydroxide.

 

Substances on this list can be sold legally to private individuals the purchaser is required to provide an End User Statement stating the purpose for what the substance is required. The vendor has to keep a record of each sale to provide full traceability of the substance.

 

In addition, a vendor is legally obliged to report any such sale that they think is suspicious to a national contact point and send an Email to the police. Due to the administrative burden placed on chemical supply companies, many have adopted the policy of refusing to supply any chemicals to private individuals, as I have found over the last year or two.

 

I would guess that your purchases were reported due to the quantities you ordered.

Edited by BlackCat, 22 July 2019 - 06:05 PM.

[PyroJoe]

Hi Blackcat - thanks for the reply, and I recollect another list, it's just been a while...

to clarify: the vendors didn't report it, it was Ebay themselves who compiled it from basket purchases.

Personally, it's reassuring they monitor sales, and that's great. Though with what I bought, I think the authorities are casting a very wide net on surveillance.

Sounds to me like the gooks have won!

[BlackCat]

It's nice to have a chat with someone around here, it's been too long!

 

Anyway, I should have posted a link to the lists I mentioned so, belatedly, here it is:

 

https://www.gov.uk/g...sors-and-poison

 

Guess I was in too much of a hurry last time!

[NeilB]

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Edited by NeilB, 08 August 2019 - 03:08 AM.