Rediculously banning an add with no phone number!

[Feline Rescue]

I think it is pathetic that gumtree bans an add that I place in the pet catagory as I did not include a "private" phone number, anyone who has contact me has always been given my phone number if suitable to provide a safe home for a rescue cat.
It is plan right stupid to openly advertise your private phone number to the public, why doesnt Gumtree have a private section where I can privatly provide my phone number for gumtree to verify if required.

I rehome kittens that have been neglected or abused and the last thing you need is for the X owner to see the picture, search my phone number and match it to my private address and come an cause trouble.
Gumtree needs to review this requirement!

[SirLancelot2008]

Mate, there's been scams on other pet postings on gumtree where people send money by direct debit for pets and that's the last they ever see the cash. That's why at least a phone number leads to a voice. Sorry if you feel offended but other people have been burnt before.

[Feline Rescue]

Thanks mate but thats not the case when cats are desexed, vaccinated, wormed, flea treated chipped and saved from death row and given away for free.
We list our kittens and cats, we ask for a donation if the person can afford to give one however most of our cats are sent to their new homes with no charge to the new owner, they leave here with their carers out of pocket.
There is no security in asking someone to post their private phone number if they wish to keep it private, gumtree should incorperate a system where the phone number is hidden (kept on gumtree records for verification) or shown, just as other secure sites do.

[SirLancelot2008]

yeah you're probably right mate, but at the end of the day Gumtree is free so don't expect something like verification like Ebay/Paypal technology. Anyway have a good day

[vipar]

i think its because gumtree likes to help the phone scammers as well as the internet ones,,