Proof of age. Neither my husband nor I own a credit card

[thewizlings]

Neither my husband nor I own a credit card and I want to bid on some cutlery, but as that includes a knife I have been asked to prove my age using a credit card. Is there another way to prove my age? 

Thanks, Liz

[hettsville]

Sorry no there isn't.

[ruby*tuesday]

Ebay insits on a Credit Card as that does prove that you are 18 or over.  Can you not buy Cutlery locally?

[naughty_neena]

Or has a friend got a credit card and willing to put a bid in for you

[thewizlings]

Thank you, yes I can, and I have bought cutlery from eBay ( including knives) recently without a problem, but some sellers seem to have extra security.

Sent from my iPad

[bennotbill]

For myself this goes back to a question I asked ages ago that none of the reps answered. Which was, if I'm buying something using my seller account, that's set up with photo id and a raft of other checks, why do I still need the credit card proof to buy cutlery?

[papso22]

Nothing I have provided to ebay as ID proves my age, apart from the credit card I have on my account. 

But if you have provided something that proves your age, perhaps they simply don't link the stuff you provided in order to sell with the stuff you need to buy cutlery?  Two seperate systems. 

[bennotbill]

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@papso22 wrote:

Nothing I have provided to ebay as ID proves my age, apart from the credit card I have on my account. 

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The obvious one is my passport which clearly shows date of birth, and that's not the only one they have which does.

But yes I agree they are a pretty much disjointed organisation company. And as we hear all the time on these forums even their own employees often don't seem to know what's going on.

[elitegiftsltd]

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@thewizlings wrote:
Thank you, yes I can, and I have bought cutlery from eBay ( including knives) recently without a problem, but some sellers seem to have extra security.

Sent from my iPad

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A number of sites and retailers signed up to a voluntary age verification requirement for knives. Part of the method to reduce knife crime, does not seem to have reduced household knives much though perhaps more relevant for non household knife crime. Don't think I've ever seen detailed reports investigating the solution impact.

Ultimately you can use an in person retailer or one that isn't part of the voluntary scheme. Personally when buying knives I've used other ID rather than credit card, driving licence or other ID. Though I also look in my 70s which may help convince I'm over 18. 

[guru-banana]

Not everybody has supplied either a driving licence, passport or credit card or anything else other than a bank account number and sort code. So far anyway and I've been on MP since conscription started both business and private.

I guess I would have to supply a credit card if I wanted to buy a knife then in that case.

[*knight-rider*]

Seems crazy to me that you have to be over 18 to register on Ebay in the first place, but then have to prove your over 18 to buy something, mad!

[elitegiftsltd]

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@*knight-rider* wrote:

Seems crazy to me that you have to be over 18 to register on Ebay in the first place, but then have to prove your over 18 to buy something, mad!

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Think the nightclubs, social media companies, pubs etc have proved over the years that just because someone says they are over an age doesn't mean they are.

The knife age verification by retailers was voluntary when it started, made no end of problems for sellers as most couriers at the time were not offering age verification service cheap. 

[*knight-rider*]

`Think the nightclubs, social media companies, pubs etc have proved over the years that just because someone says they are over an age doesn't mean they are.`

Couldn`t agree more, but just sticking with Ebay for a minute, why not go through this `proof of age` process at the beginning when they join Ebay, not let them join on the `off chance` they are over 18 and make buying stuff a pain later on. People should be 18 to join this site, but don`t let them join and take what they say as gospel, then question what they say later on when they want to buy some cutlery, you didn`t care that much 10 years ago when they registered!

[tommystrezures]

I suspect (but could be very wrong!) that whilst many of us have had to provide ID eg passport, Drivers Licence etc, it was for a different reason and whilst it shows our age, I would imagine there are data protection/security issues in using that across the board to buy say a cutlery set @bennotbill . Annoying a little, however I would rather have any information that has been submitted here (or any other site for any reason) kept securely.

[elitegiftsltd]

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@*knight-rider* wrote:

`Think the nightclubs, social media companies, pubs etc have proved over the years that just because someone says they are over an age doesn't mean they are.`

Couldn`t agree more, but just sticking with Ebay for a minute, why not go through this `proof of age` process at the beginning when they join Ebay, not let them join on the `off chance` they are over 18 and make buying stuff a pain later on. People should be 18 to join this site, but don`t let them join and take what they say as gospel, then question what they say later on when they want to buy some cutlery, you didn`t care that much 10 years ago when they registered!

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I could post a link to a porn site age verification service. But would probably get banned for it.

Seriously considering the howls of protest when people are asked to provide verification of who they are - like driving license or passport - do you really want ebay (and every other site out there that sells certain products) to verify people before they can use the site? 

I've no problem proving who I am. Old enough to grin when age checked at the supermarket checkout - what with my resemblance to santa. 

But could imagine it would put some buyers off from buying online at all. 

[*knight-rider*]

`I could post a link to a porn site age verification service. But would probably get banned for it.`

Just the site will do 😁😁

[bankhaunter]

The difference is that members of Ebay needing to be 18 or over, is a matter of forming a legal contract, whereas having to confirm the age of a person buying a knife, is a matter of criminal law.

[ksselk0]

I had a same issue today. Had to contact the eBay customer service who advised me to contact the seller to ask change their setting and replace CUTLERY to an KITCHENWARE.  So it worked. Im 44 years old , had to get damm permission to buy a cutlery set while  under age children taking theirs knives from own kitchens and walking in the street. Se no logic at all in this law. 

[masw_1661]

That sounds dodgy. Everyone on eBay should be over 18 years old according to the TOS. I wouldn't trust this seller.

[barry.110]

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@elitegiftsltd wrote:

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I could post a link to a porn site age verification service. But would probably get banned for it.

Seriously considering the howls of protest when people are asked to provide verification of who they are - like driving license or passport - do you really want ebay (and every other site out there that sells certain products) to verify people before they can use the site? 

I've no problem proving who I am. Old enough to grin when age checked at the supermarket checkout - what with my resemblance to santa. 

But could imagine it would put some buyers off from buying online at all. 

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I only wish at the supermarket that they would pause a minute as if giving it serious consideration as to whether I am over 18 or not rather than the quick glance and then approve, it would make me feel younger. Lol