proof of age

[doggyshannon]

Why do we even need proof of age?

I assume all ebay members will live in a household where they will have very easy access to multiple types of weapons that they can conceal about their person and cause damage to unsuspecting persons.

I am not encouraging such action, but, this continued proof of age is a total waiste of our time and prevents nothing. Those that brought this about are deluded.

With the proof of age they are wanting me to go through the process to prove I am over 18. I have been a member on ebay for 24 years. Even more ill perceived idea.

PLEASE REVIEW your procedures both in evaluation and execution.

[plpmr]

proof of age is a requirement by law to prove the actual purchaser is over 18.

[doggyshannon]

Does "the Law" say it must be done using a credit card? What does "the Law" say about which items? What does "the Law" say about those without a credit card? Does "the Law" say those persons cannot buy such items? There are so many questions. The ability to read this "Law" would help make it clear how badly it has been interpreted by Ebay.

[tressygirl]

I believe it may just come down to cost,  time and resources.

If passport / driving licences,  birth certificates etc.,  were allowed as proof this would cost in having them verified and cost for extra staff doing that verification. 

A credit card needs no further proof, as you have to be 18 years or over, to own one.

Just a thought,  might not be the reason ?  🤔

@doggyshannon 

[plpmr]

of course being 'online' the purchase is through the credit card whereas the purchase could not be made through [say] a passport - which could be produced in [say] a shop.

[doggyshannon]

Aren't time and resources the cost?

[tressygirl]

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@doggyshannon wrote:
Aren't time and resources the cost?

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Correct,  so more of the above would be needed to check documents such as passports / driving licence, etc.

[doggyshannon]

So if you are paying by credit card you are not put through the proof of age process on Ebay. Is that correct?

[tressygirl]

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@plpmr wrote:

of course being 'online' the purchase is through the credit card whereas the purchase could not be made through [say] a passport - which could be produced in [say] a shop.

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Sorry maybe I wasn't clear.  A passport given to eBay as proof of age, for those not in possession of a credit card,  would need more staff , time and money to check that the passport is not ' fake'.

A credit card is given to peeps 18 years plus,  who have passed that card company's  verification procedure to grant that card.

Sorry, was not suggesting using a passport to buy items.

[doggyshannon]

Yawn, yawn, yawn.
I think you missed the original point.

[doggyshannon]

But "the Law" can trust Credit card companies to be honest, not corrupt, not subject to fraud, not subject to hackers of any kind and free of error. All to an acceptable level. When did financial institutions become those most trusted by "the Law"?

[tobiasd4]

Other sites may use different methods to prove age.

Ebay has chosen credit card as the only way.

You wouldn't want a delay when trying to buy an item on ebay so they decided it is quickest way.

[doggyshannon]

Nice to see Ebay paying due respect for "the Law". The cheapest way they can get away with and sod integrity.

[*vyolla*]

It's not eBay's choice. Here's 'the Law':

In the UK, it is illegal to sell bladed items to anyone under 18, with stricter online regulations under

Ronan's Law and the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. Online sellers must implement an age verification system at both the poi...

As you have to be over 18 to own a credit card, and the card provider has already carried out a verification check on you, credit cards are used for age verification for online purchases.

[doggyshannon]

Who said it was ebay's choice?

[*vyolla*]

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@doggyshannon wrote:
Who said it was ebay's choice?

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Not sure what you mean by that.

To clarify, the online sites (including eBay) have no choice but to have an age verification programme for the sale of bladed items. It's a legal requirement, not their choice.

[doggyshannon]

Now you have gone totally off topic.

As nobody seems to have taken the original communication in more than one small part and has only gone to trivialise the matter by simply trying to defend, unsuccessfully, ebay's position on the matter.

The comms are now taking a very challenging manner and I am beginning to feel biulied simply for raising concerns over what proof of age is being used for. Nobody has even addressed concerns about how the proof of age might be used for marketing or am I as sure that sellers or auction sites would be beyond that

[*vyolla*]

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@doggyshannon wrote:
Now you have gone totally off topic.

As nobody seems to have taken the original communication in more than one small part and has only gone to trivialise the matter by simply trying to defend, unsuccessfully, ebay's position on the matter.

The comms are now taking a very challenging manner and I am beginning to feel biulied simply for raising concerns over what proof of age is being used for. Nobody has even addressed concerns about how the proof of age might be used for marketing or am I as sure that sellers or auction sites would be beyond that

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No, I am spot on topic.

Your opening post asked 'Why do we even need proof of age?' and we've explained why and even linked to the relevant UK laws .

Why would eBay use your proof of age for marketing? Date of birth is added to an eBay account when opened, so they have it anyway. There is absolutely no way that eBay can abuse this process, but I can appreciate that some people do worry about giving information to online sites, in which case it may be better to stick to the high street stores.

[doggyshannon]

As you have twice in one correspondence confirmed you can only pick one topic from a communication. I do not wish to correspond further.

Except to say that, if ebay as one who decides to apply "the Law" on this topic you are simply confirming we should comply with the stupidity of "the Law".
I am not a rebel by nature but I do not approve of Government riding on a popularity band wagon whipped up by the media in the interest of getting support from the general population that might follow the media who themselves are only trying to sell vopy or earn money from associated advertising.

I do not wish to trivialise the actual harm done by the few people in this union of England and Wales who have been under the age of 18. However, in this instance "the Law" is not fit for purpose and the principle of being able to control the actions by this method is misunderstood.

Full stop. I shall buy my buffing pads and 50m saw blades from somewhere else.

[tobiasd4]

No matter where you buy from, you still need to prove you are 18+.

Most physical shops use common sense and if you look old enough they won't ask for proof.

[*vyolla*]

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@doggyshannon wrote:
As you have twice in one correspondence confirmed you can only pick one topic from a communication. I do not wish to correspond further.

That's fine, but I can't find any other topics that you've asked questions about in any of your posts. You've made a few statements, but I can see no questions there. Looks like nobody else can find any, either.

Except to say that, if ebay as one who decides to apply "the Law" on this topic you are simply confirming we should comply with the stupidity of "the Law".

No, eBay does not 'decide' to comply with 'the Law', there is no decision to make, eBay has to comply with 'the Law'. All online selling sites do, it's not an option for eBay. That's why it's called a law and not an optional choice. 

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[doggyshannon]

What has that got to do with anything. Please keep such words to yourself.

The item was exactly the same. The selection of when "the Law" is to be applied is different.

I suspect the ebay method includes something very elementary e.g any item including "blade" where the other well known site probably doesn't see kids running down the road with a 50mm oscillating hacksaw blade to cause harm to his or her friends or enemies - how sensible. I am sure "the Law" does not expect such restrictions.

[doggyshannon]

Don't be silly. It is a matter of when to apply "the Law" and how to do it.

Ebay is clearly wrong and if you are a sample of the people deciding when to do what there is little wonder it is wrong.

I'm too tired to take this further. Please leave the matter.

I appologise for appearing rude at times but I am just trying to get you to think.

[papso22]

You were actually rude, not just appearing to be.

[red_magpie]

This question is asked so often, but the fact is that it's eBay's site and their decision to require payment by credit card as proof of age.

There are plenty of other ways they could do this, but these would involve eBay staff having to check documents. Possession of a credit card is age-restricted to 18 years and provides a no-cost way to comply with the law. 

Most complaints, like yours, involve small bladed items for DIY etc. My guess is that eBay isn't worried about losing these sales to buyers without a credit card. The cost of verifying ages would probably be more than they receive in fees. 

[*vyolla*]

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@doggyshannon wrote:


I appologise for appearing rude at times but I am just trying to get you to think.

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We've been trying to do the same, but minus the rudeness.