Why am I being being threatened by ebay

[r12gas]

Ebay has just threatened me because I've included a phone number when replying to a seller with whom I've agreed a price and need to communicate with to arrange collection and payment method.

I don't like being threatened when I am conducting an entirely honorable transaction.

Tom Swain

[red_magpie]

EBay now prohibits users from providing contact details to prevent private deals being made to evade paying eBay's fees.

All messages between members are now scanned. Warnings are sent automatically. Contact details can only be exchanged when the listing has been sold through eBay.

[plpmr]

Quite simply as far as eBay are concerned there's no reason to exchange contact details before actually buying.

[r12gas]

Does anyone have the contact number for ebay please?

[r12gas]

anyone???

[r12gas]

Seriously? No one has a contact number for ebay?

[nightnursekitten]

Use 'help and contact' top of this page

[r12gas]

Thanks, I tried that, couldn't find a number or email.
Ideally I'd like ebay's full contact details please if anyone can find them

[papso22]

The address is in the user agreement, otherwise it's help and contact as already advised. Ebay don't do emails unless you are hard of hearing.

[corred]

@r12gas

You cannot exchange any contact details unless the buyer has committed to buy through eBay

There is no way to accept an offer.....it would not have been honourable as you would have been defrauding eBay of their fees !!

We ALL receivbed a message from eBay in September warning us of the consequences of exchanging contact details

There ia a notice on the messaging page saying you cannot exchange any contact details

[r12gas]

Now you are accusing me of defrauding ebay. What's your name?

[temperate_porcine]

"Now you are accusing me of defrauding ebay. What's your name?"

You're shooting the messenger, corred is telling you how eBay see it, not judging you.

[r12gas]

Exchanging a contact number is not defrauding a company

[ruby*tuesday]

It could be though for all Ebay know. Once your Buyer has won the Item tell them not to pay. You can then send them your details. They can inspect the Item and pay Cash if they are happy. If not they walk away and you do a Mutual Cancellation.

[corred]

@r12gas

Exchanging contact details where a purchase has not been made either by the "buyer" winning an auction or clicking "buy now" is a breach of eBay T&C......you (as we all) were told on September 22 2017 that this was not allowed....you cannot make deals through eBay messaging.....that is considered doing an off eBay deal

How would you pay eBay fees if you did not complete the transaction as outlined above ?? Simple answer you cannot & therefore you have breached your agreement with eBay.....they see that as defrauding them of their fees...what any of us think is irrelevant

There is no way to make a legitimate transaction through eBay any other way

Using normal eBay auction or buy now formats you cannot even exchange details with a potential buyer to view an item....even where that item is something you would never purchase without viewing first like a car

[r12gas]

Sorry corred, that's not correct, lots of sellers (particularly business sellers) have contact details and phone numbers on their listings and I regularly have to phone sellers about technical issues before buying. You seem to be too keen to accuse me, a customer of trying to defraud ebay simply because communication is requested prior to exchange of money, that's unjustified.
Ebay have created this atmosphere of threats, it's not polite, it's not good customer service.
Thank you everyone for the replies, I appreciate the time and help. Good luck to you all.
Kind regards, Tom Swain

[corred]

Business sellers are different as they are legally obliged to show their trading details & have to pay to advertise on eBay

They still cannot supply the details by eBay message or include in the body of their listings

Anyone actually including the details in the body of the listings faces a ban as it is a serious policy breach...just look at the reporting options for each advert

Unjustified or otherwise we have simply advised you of eBay policy & your including a phone number will also have aerned your "buyer" a defect on their account too

Or within messages the warning at the bottom

[r12gas]

Fascinating corred!
You seem to know ebay law by wrote!
And yet you don't know their contact number or email address.
How very loyal your are
Let's hope they treat you better than they treat their customers

[corred]

@r12gas

They do not communicate by email unless they initiate the contact & while I do indeed know the contact number I would be risking a violation myself by providing it as it is a breach of forum rules to supply any such information

You get the phone number by using the help & contact link & asking questions until the option to phone is given......you are then given an 0345 number to ring & possibly a single use PIN

You will probably be unable to phone at this hour but if you try later this morning...around 9am, you may get the Dublin staff....otherwise you will most likely get the call centre in Manilla (Philippines)

I only know the policies because I have been buying & selling on here for 20 years & we have had dozens of other members in your position since eBay tightened their policies last year

As pointed out nobody here is judging you, we can only advise on what eBay have been saying & doing to others

Oh & I am one of their customers & have been buying & selling on here since 1998.....nobody on here is anything to do with eBay....we are not employees & every one of us gives our advice on the forums entirely voluntarily with absolutely no remuneration of any kind from eBay.....we have all at some time probably been treated what we might consider badly.......that is why we try helping other members to avoid the wrath of eBay