Locked
Discussion interactions are currently paused.
Report Fraudulent Buyer
Report Fraudulent Buyer – Username Change from
Dear eBay users,
I am writing to report a serious case of abuse and fraud involving the buyer who previously went by the username and has now changed it to
This individual is clearly using eBay to scam sellers intentionally, as they did with me — receiving a full refund without returning my item (a valuable watch). Despite providing proof and speaking with an eBay agent who confirmed the buyer had the return label, the case was closed in their favor. Now they refuse to return the item and are hiding behind a new username.
This is clearly a pattern of abuse, and yet eBay has taken no action against this user. Changing usernames does not erase misconduct, and this buyer should be banned immediately for violating eBay policies and taking advantage of seller protections.
I urge you to investigate this user and take appropriate action to prevent further abuse on your platform.
I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction with the way my recent appeal was handled regarding a transaction with buyer. The case was incorrectly closed in the buyer’s favor, and I have been left without my item and without any form of protection or resolution.
The buyer is refusing to return the watch, claiming they never received the return label. However, during my phone conversation with an eBay representative on 21.05, I was clearly told that the buyer had received the return label and that I would get my watch back. This has not happened.
Instead of resolving the issue, I received a generic email from your representative (Shweta) effectively telling me to work it out with the buyer — even though this is clearly a case where eBay should intervene and protect the seller, as the buyer has both the refund and my property. That is not just unfair – it's absurd.
I do not need to be given lessons in return procedures. I need my watch returned or to be refunded for its full value. eBay’s current handling of this situation offers no seller protection, and it is completely unreasonable to refund the buyer in full without ensuring the return of the item. It’s beyond belief that your system would allow this to happen – essentially empowering the buyer to keep both the refund and the product.
Due to this serious mishandling and lack of support, I am left with no choice but to consider closing my eBay account. I no longer feel my transactions or property are safe on this platform.
The appeal was dismissed by eBay due to a full refund being processed, which is an illogical and unfair outcome since I have not received my item back.
eBay’s decision to cancel the appeal based on the refund is unjustified and disregards the fact that the buyer still has my property.
Sincerely,
vlad_chirita
vlad_chirita
OP7 months agoAs of today, the situation remains unresolved and deeply unfair. The buyer has received a full refund and continues to retain the watch, while I have been left with neither the item nor the funds.
Despite multiple attempts to resolve this matter politely and in good faith, the buyer has stopped responding and has made no effort to return the item. eBay has closed the case on a technicality, without enforcing the return or providing any meaningful protection, even though all transaction details, buyer information, and communication history are available to them.
This outcome constitutes unjust enrichment and enables fraudulent behavior. The matter remains open in reality, regardless of eBay labeling it as “closed,” as the item has not been returned and the issue has not been resolved.
*vyolla*
Mentor7 months agoSee last paragraph post #53.
*vyolla*
Mentor10 months agoThis has been covered so many times already in this thread, but you refunded your buyer before receiving your item back.
If you do this then eBay consider the transaction over, and that you don't want your item back, so any further action you'd need to take would be outside of eBay.
It may be months later, but nothing is going to change. You can wait another 6 months and the outcome will still be the same. This is now between you and your buyer.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoIt’s quite ironic that the buyer’s username is. In legal terms, a bona fide purchaser (BFP) is someone who acquires an item in good faith, for value, and without notice of fraud — someone who acts honestly and fairly.
But in this case, the name feels contradictory, even misleading. This buyer received a full refund, kept the watch, refused to return it, and ignored further communication — behavior that’s the opposite of what a “bona fide” party represents.
It raises the question: why choose a name that implies integrity and lawful conduct, only to act in a way that clearly defies both?
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoWeeks later, and we're exactly where we started. Disappointing. No accountability. No action. No meaningful response.
*vyolla*
Mentor1 year agoI don't understand what you think is going to happen here, there's nothing that we can say that hasn't already been said.
You refunded your buyer before getting your item back first, so the transaction is now over.
Any further action you take is now outside of eBay.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoit’s true that I refunded the buyer before receiving the item back, something I did only after being assured by an eBay representative over the phone that the return would be handled properly, that does not mean eBay is now absolved of responsibility.
eBay advised me to proceed with the refund based on a promise that the item would be returned. That call, and the guidance I received, is a critical part of this case, and should not be dismissed.
This isn’t just about what I did as a seller; it’s about what eBay told me to do and the trust I placed in that guidance. The platform has the tools, the data, and the authority to investigate, to enforce returns, and to take action against buyers who take advantage of the system.
If eBay refuses to act in situations where their own guidance has led to a financial loss, then it undermines any sense of seller protection or platform accountability. So yes, I still believe eBay should take action, to protect its reputation, its honest users, and the trust that keeps this marketplace alive.
jckl1957
·1 year agoThen you should contact Ebay.
By complaining in this member to member forum you are not contacting Ebay.
You are complaining to other members who cannot deal with your complaint but can only advise on Ebay policy.
vlad_chirita
OP11 months agoI understand this is a member-to-member forum, but sharing experiences here matters too. eBay should already be aware of the case — they have all the details, the phone call records, and the messages. The problem is not lack of awareness, it’s lack of action. Posting here highlights how these situations affect sellers, and maybe it will push eBay to take responsibility rather than leaving us to accept the loss.
tobiasd4
Mentor11 months agoI'm glad you have faith ebay will sort this.
Unfortunately I fear it is unlikely to happen.
jckl1957
·1 year agoYou have had advice - mainly saying that choosing to refund before you had your watch back was unwise.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoThanks for your input, but this isn’t about judging who made a “wise” or “unwise” decision , we’re not in school. We’re using a professional platform where users pay fees for security and proper resolution tools.
eBay has access to every user’s verified information addresses, payment details, bank accounts, full messaging history. It has the authority and capability to step in when something goes wrong. That’s what sellers and buyers expect when they use this platform not to be left unprotected.
This situation goes beyond one refund. It highlights a bigger problem: a flawed system where sellers can be left without their item or money, while eBay takes no responsibility, and is biased. That’s the real concern here.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoI have sent the buyer a polite email requesting either the return of the watch or payment for its value, but unfortunately, I have received no response. Despite being fully refunded, the buyer is still in possession of the item and has chosen not to engage in any further communication.
Is there any way to take legal action against the buyer and eBay for what happened?
I fully refunded the buyer, yet he kept my item and refused to return it, despite multiple polite messages — including an email asking him clearly to either return the watch or pay for its value. He never responded.
I followed eBay’s process exactly. I even called support on the 21st of May and was told the buyer had received the return label and that the item would be sent back. That never happened. Now, the buyer is ignoring me, and eBay closed the case in their favor, leaving me with nothing — no item, no refund, no protection.
This isn’t just a bad buyer. It’s a broken system. And I’m wondering if there’s any way to hold both the buyer and eBay accountable for enabling this kind of behaviour.
If anyone has advice on how to take this further, legally or otherwise, I’d appreciate it.
jckl1957
·1 year agoFor legal advice, you will need to consult a solicitor.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoThank you for the suggestion, but I’m not looking to hire a solicitor I’d prefer a less expensive and more accessible route. I’m just trying to recover my item or its value without having to spend more money on legal fees.
If there are any alternative ways to report this like small claims court, consumer rights services, or any legal aid options for cases like this. I’d really appreciate any guidance.
jckl1957
·1 year agoYou may get some free legal advice from Citizens Advice.
We are other Ebay buyers and sellers like you.
I certainly would never offer legal advice in a public forum.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoI understand your point, and I appreciate your response. Seeking advice in a public forum is entirely fair, especially when the platform itself is fully aware of the details of the case and allows this to happen, having the expectation for the ones involved to quietly accept the loss.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoNot just about a bad buyer — it’s about how eBay’s broken process and careless support that can cost me my item.
The buyer first contacted me through Chrono24, asking about a watch I had for sale. Later, he purchased it via eBay.
Once he received it, he messaged me complaining about a issue with the crystal (scratch) — damage that was clearly shown in photos and listed accurately. He also asked for a refund of £2.30 for underpaid postage. He then began negotiating for money to keep the item and repair it himself, even though he had already opened a return case. Saying he was still deciding whether to keep or repair it himself.
Worried that the buyer might alter the item or drag the return process, I decided to give a full refund, after that i called eBay customer support on the 21st of May, worried that i gave the full refund with no return label.
That phone call was the turning point.
The eBay agent assured me that:
The buyer had already received the return label,
And that if I issued the refund, the watch would be returned without any issue.
I explained clearly to the agent that I was issuing the full refund only because I wanted the watch returned immediately and safely, and I was concerned the buyer might tamper with it if things dragged on.
The agent said they understood and told me they would escalate the matter internally and that I should expect a message in the following days confirming the return.
What happened next?
I received one message: the case was closed in the buyer’s favor.
Claiming he never received the return label, obviously, he also stated he would be abroad for two weeks, further postponing any return action.
When I reminded him that he had already been refunded and asked him to return the watch as agreed, he refused, insisted again that I had to provide a prepaid return label, and accused me of being inappropriate in communication. He ended the exchange by saying I was being “harassing,” threatened to block me, and demanded I “stop wasting his time.”, and that the "case is closed".
Sent him a return label again oh the 30th of May, with no answer since then.Let me be very clear:
The buyer got full refunded and has my item .
I followed eBay's instructions to the letter, based on what I was told during that call.
eBay promised me on the phone that the item would be returned — that didn’t happen.
There was no enforcement of the return, despite the case being "officially opened."
The outcome was the exact opposite of what I was promised by the agent.
This isn't just a misunderstanding. It's a failure of eBay’s process. The platform told me I was protected, and I wasn’t.
Honestly, with how unclear and unbalanced these return/refund rules are, and how fast eBay sides with buyers no matter what — I don’t feel safe selling anymore.tobiasd4
Mentor1 year agoEbay cases are clear,
If buyer claims item not as described, seller issues returns label and only refunds when item returned.
If you refund 1st,ebay assume you don't want item back, case closes and label not available.
This is now between you and buyer.
If item is valuable, get legal advice to sue buyer.
red_magpie
Mentor1 year agoIt's clear that for some reason the returns procedure was not correctly followed.
The normal sequence is:
You say that an eBay agent told you that if you issued the refund the watch would be returned. If so, this was untrue and contrary to eBay's stated procedure. If the seller has sent a return label no refund is issued until the item had been returned.
Whether you can prove you were given this advice I don't know, but I doubt it. For whatever reason it appears you didn't follow eBay's procedure correctly and they will probably wash their hands of it.
It's very hard to bring a complaint against eBay. They don't have a complaints procedure; or to be more exact, they do, but an eBay rep. told us that "it cannot be used for appeals of suspensions, restrictions, eBay cases or a lot of other things." In other words, any of the things users want to complain about.
Good luck. You can consider the legal route, but it won't be easy. Remember that transactions here are governed by eBay's legal agreement, which complicates things. Take legal advice first.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoAt this point, it’s deeply disappointing that eBay continues to ignore the phone conversation I had with customer support, where I was explicitly advised that the issue would be resolved. I was told that eBay would ensure I was not left at a loss.
And despite all the case evidence, eBay is now choosing to step back and “wash its hands” of the situation.
This isn’t just a case of poor buyer behavior it’s a failure of eBay’s process. The platform has all the tools at its disposal to resolve this properly:
eBay can reverse the refund;
eBay can charge the buyer for the item;
Or, eBay can compensate me from its own funds and take up the dispute with the buyer directly.
Instead, eBay is choosing to do none of those things. That sends a very clear message: that the platform is unwilling to protect sellers even when they follow instructions provided by eBay’s own staff. This is not neutrality; it’s bias, and it shows a dangerous precedent that encourages dishonest behavior.
If eBay refuses to honor what was promised to me during that call and fails to either recover the watch or reimburse me for its value, I will close my account. I will not remain on a platform that disregards its own word, punishes sellers for trusting it, and enables loss through inaction.
red_magpie
Mentor1 year agoI'm afraid that even if eBay wished to do so, they can't reverse the buyer's refund or charge the buyer for it. eBay can only act within their powers under the user agreement, and this does not empower them to take money from buyers' accounts or charge them for refunds received.
The classic example is where eBay requires a seller to refund for an item that was even one day overdue, but takes no action if the buyer then keeps the item as well when it arrives - even with proof of delivery. eBay could easily amend the user agreement so that it could require buyers to return either the item or the refund. But eBay has never seemed to care much when buyers cheat sellers. To me, it's almost tantamount to turning a blind eye to dishonesty.
eBay has become a very risky place to sell things, especially anything of value.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoeBay knows exactly what happened, has all the tools to do more, yet chooses not to act. The platform’s inaction, despite clear evidence and a phone conversation promising resolution, feels less like a limitation and more like a willingness to tolerate abuse of the system. eBay could easily amend its user agreement to require accountability from buyers who receive refunds yet fail to return the item. The fact that they haven’t, and show no urgency to do so, does come across as turning a blind eye to seller losses.
At this point, it’s not just about the money. It’s about principle and trust. If sellers can’t rely on eBay to enforce even the most basic level of fairness, then how is this still a safe marketplace?
I’m still holding out hope for a meaningful resolution, but if none comes, I’ll have no choice but to walk away from the platform, this level of imbalance and disregard simply isn’t acceptable.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoNot the first time eBay allows this kind of fraudulent attitude from certain buyers. Right before this back-and-forth with, not naming names, starts with bona and ends with fidequod, I had another case — a buyer who told me "not to worry" after the watch left the authentication guarantee, only to disappear.
I’m seriously starting to wonder: why are these types of buyers being drawn to the items I sell? I follow all the rules, offer legit products, ship on time — and still, I get targeted. Meanwhile, eBay does little or nothing to stop repeat abuse.
ebay does not protect me.
jckl1957
·1 year agoRepeatedly complaining in here will not get your watch returned.
As advised earlier, Ebay do not expect you to refund UNTIL you get your property back.
This is between you and the buyer, Ebay will not intervene.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agothis transaction took place on ebay platform. what is the reason behind full refund option? if i can have a legal answer from ebay please.
jckl1957
·1 year agoYou will have to speak to Ebay.
This is a members' forum.
All the details about handling a return request as a seller are available from the link below.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/handling-return-requests?id=4115
papso22
Mentor1 year agoYou won't get an answer from ebay on here.
The refund option is there because some sellers decide they don't want to pay to get an item back, particularly if it's damaged.
It gives sellers a choice.
Where are your screenshots from? Without context they don't prove anything.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoOne of the biggest problems with eBay is how unclear and inconsistent the rules are, especially when it comes to returns and seller protection. Situations like mine happen because the platform’s policies leave too much room for misinterpretation and loopholes, and buyers take advantage of that.
When rules aren’t transparent or fairly enforced, it leads to errors in case decisions, unfair refunds, and ultimately, the loss of the item. This isn’t just frustrating it’s unacceptable.
eBay needs to take responsibility for these gaps in policy and provide clear, consistent protection for everyone using the platform, not just buyers.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoand eBay’s full refund policy which is absurd, especially when it's applied before the item is actually returned. How can a buyer be refunded in full and still be allowed to keep the item? That’s not a refund — that’s a giveaway at the seller’s expense.
This kind of policy creates a perfect ambiguity for abuse. It encourages dishonest buyers to exploit, knowing they can claim a refund and never bother to return the product. Meanwhile, sellers are left with zero protection, out of pocket, and without their goods.
Is completely unfair and invites fraud.
*vyolla*
Mentor1 year agoeBay have a clear and comprehensive guidance page for returns:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/handling-return-requests?id=4115
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agothanks but, ebay and that particular buyer/user are very confused, cannot make distiction between Full refund/send the watch back pls/dont keep it, not a gift AND Full refund/keep my watch, doing some charity for you/im so rich i can affort to lose things thru this ebay platform.
*guinevere*
Mentor1 year agoI've read all the responses here and nowhere can I see that the buyer has opebed a return case.
If you have both done this in a DIY manner then ebay cannot help you.
You have to follow ebay's basic rules for them to be able to help you.
Without a case being opened by the buyer you have zero chance of getting your watch back.
I suggest you try legal steps now to get your money back.
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoplease. thanks for replying
papso22
Mentor1 year agoDid you provide the return label through the case?
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoAs ive said, i was told on the phone by ebay's agent that the buyer has a return label, call that i had on the same day i did the full refund to the buyer. Also the buyer used a drop off address , a sainsbury's, not his home address.
papso22
Mentor1 year agoBut you haven't answered the question.
tressygirl
Mentor1 year agoYou are ' naming and shaming' a fellow seller, this is not allowed and a moderator will be along later to remove the seller's username.
It's difficult to see how the case was closed when the return label was not used to send your item back, but once closed it cannot be reopened, and I'm presuming you contacted Customer Services again and they refused your appeal?
One more thing to try, contact eBay Customer Services again, but only very first thing on a weekday at 8 a.m. as there's more chance of Dublin answering. Lines open at 9 a.m. on weekends but Only speak to Dublin, it's a call back so you'll hear the dulcet tones of the Emerald Isles. Explain the return label was never used the watch never returned.
If that fails, and this was a valuable watch, you may need to take a legal route to get the watch back.
@vlad_chirita
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoHello, thanks for your replying. Spoke on the phone with ebay agent right on the day of full refund, was guaranteed that buyer has the return label, and that i should be patient and will receive a email from them. And this is the outcome. Kind regards.
tressygirl
Mentor1 year agoThink there must have been some miscommunication here.
When the buyer receives that return label, you do Not refund, Before the item is back with you. There is no email for you to receive, just your item and as said, only then, do you refund.
If you refunded Before the item came back to you, this tells eBay you do not want the item back and happy to refund now.
Is this what happened? You refunded before the item was sent back?
@vlad_chirita
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoi dont want the item back? happy with the refund? theyre must be confused, ebay and the buyer. no, i want the item back, as per my previous messages. buyer messaged me that will intervine in the watch aspect, didnt wanted that, ive sent him a full refund right on the day he received it and complaint about it, so he can send the watch back to me asap. you should see the messages between me and this con user.
ebay does not protect the sellers, at least does not protect me.
tressygirl
Mentor1 year agoThis looks like you handled this outside an eBay case.
In a case opened by the buyer, you the seller pays for the return tracked label.
Buyer Has to first use the label provided in the case, to send the item back.
You do not refund Before you receive the item.
You do not refund outside a case that the buyer has to open.
Where in the above were the steps not followed?
@vlad_chirita
vlad_chirita
OP1 year agoebay allows this kind of actions, with their full refund option. ebay is biased.
tressygirl
Mentor1 year agoNope, sorry to disagree they are not biased, but cases have to be followed exactly, if you refund BEFORE the buyer sends your item back , there is no way to then enforce the buyer to send the item.
Never refund before receiving your item, those are the rules to follow.
@vlad_chirita