Reporting a business registered as individual

[matt_hooks1979]

I bought an item.which turned out to be the incorrect item. I tried to return it using my 14 days cancellation rights, but the seller rejected the return. On checking, I noticed they were registered as an individual seller, even though they had shop in their username and currently had 44 items for sale and over 140 items sold in the last couple of months.

How do I report this to eBay? They are obviously gaming the system and getting away with not honouring consumer rights. I've tried every way to get in touch with eBay but it's basically impossible, and there is no option in any of the reporting selections to report this. I tried to report as inappropriate content, but it was turned down because to be fair the content itself wasn't inappropriate, but it seemed like the closest choice and I thought someone might see it and decide to take action anyway. Apparently they just use AI for the reviews though... 

Anyone have any suggestions? The item was £60 so not inconsiderable amount. I can't really afford to chuck that amount away on something that isn't the right item.

[jckl1957]

If you received the incorrect item, you needed to start a return choosing the reason 'item not as described'. Private sellers can not refuse those returns.

If you chose a 'change of mind' reason, such as 'wrong size/doesn't fit', a seller registered as a private seller could refuse the refund.

Obviously I can't see who the seller is, but having a shop, 44 items for sale, and a healthy selling record don't necessarily indicate a business seller.

Ebay don't have a specific, easy way to report your suspicions about an account and they tend not to act on such reports anyway.

(I don't think this is defensible, but it is the reality here.)

Try your payment provider for a chargeback. You have bought an item online which was 'not as described' so you do have consumer rights and that is the best route for you.

All accounts have to display if they are private or business.

I always check and I would not buy anything new from a private seller, especially if they clearly have large stocks of different items, hundreds of clothing items in different sizes, brand new cosmetics, health supplements etc.

Doing your own 'due diligence is more effective than trying to get Ebay to act on this issue.

[red_magpie]

I presume the seller's returns policy stated in the listing was that they did not accept returns? If so, I'm afraid you accepted this when bidding.

Despite the steps that eBay has taken with HMRC there is a continuing problem of businesses passing themselves off as private sellers on eBay. There isn't even a specific option to report sellers as unregistered businesses.

This isn't surprising, as eBay is not a law enforcing authority. It can only enforce its own  terms and conditions - and these don't give buyers a right to cancel. The law does, when buying onine from UK business sellers, but enforcement of the law is a matter for statutory enforcing authorities.

As always, if you wish to buy in a properly regulated environment, consider this before buying from unknown sellers on eBay. The user agreement specifically warns buyers that eBay doesn't guarantee the quality of items sold here, or that they will be safe, legal or truthfully described. So this defines the level of trust you can place in many eBay sellers! Buying here isn't like buying from the shops. eBay is a jungle.