EBay asking for national insurance number

[raik1performance]

Hi everyone, I recently joined for like 1 month and I start selling as a private seller , and now eBay is asking me to provide national insurance number.

"New UK digital sales reporting legislation requires sellers with 30 or more sales, or who have sales exceeding £1740 in a calendar year, to register this information"

[jonatjonatjonat]

IS EBAY ASKING FOR NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBERS AN INFRNGEMENT OF THE DATA
PROTECTION ACT?

No - it isn't

I put that link in full, because SO MUCH OF IT applies to the use case of ebay request for National Insurance numbers - which, once again, is being requested because as a digital platform - ebay must do due diligence

You still seem to be applying rules and advice that is no longer up to date as the basis for your thoughts.

[specialk1937]

Oh Dear, some people don't seem to want to grasp the point!
I was not in contact with HMRC on a theoretical point, it was a factual
situation, personal to me,that was openly discussed, and I ended up getting
the answer I was seeking!
This is nothing to do with petty semantics either. Surely anyone with an
enquiring mind would want to ask questions, so it is not unreasonable or
inappropriate to query whether eBay are in breach of the DATA Protection
act in asking for our NI Numbers, rather than blindly accepting everything
that eBay want, especially when I have never been asked by anyone else in
my whole 88 years of life for my National Insurance Number! HMRC has
always had it, and so have my employers, and I was always told that this
was as far as it should go! So, when eBay pop up and ask for it, it is a
first, so, pardon me, but I want to know what is going on and whether they
can be trusted especially in an age where identity theft and fraud are
rampant!
So please, if you answer this, stick to the point and stop muddying the
waters with snide remarks!

[moonlight-rhapsody]

"So, when eBay pop up and ask for it, it is a first, so, pardon me, but I want to know what is going on"

How can you not know "what is going on" when links to the government web site explaining everything have been posted so many times?  Have you really not looked at the links?

"whether they can be trusted especially in an age where identity theft and fraud are rampant!"

No organisation can be 100% secure against hackers.  It's a judgement call that every individual has to make when it comes to sharing personal data on digital selling platforms - you either share it and take the risk, or  you decide that you are happier not to share and to be prevented from selling once you reach the threshold.

[jonatjonatjonat]

"so it is not unreasonable or inappropriate to query whether eBay are in breach of the DATA Protection
act in asking for our NI Numbers"

You can question and query anything. In terms of if its in breach, I've shown how this is not the case. Perhaps you can find evidence to show they are.

Whats your opinion on cigarettes? Doctors promoted them in the 30s and 40s. So they must still be safe?

[moonlight-rhapsody]

"especially when I have never been asked by anyone else in my whole 88 years of life for my National Insurance Number!"

You've obviously never opened an ISA then, because - as has been posted numerous times - banks or building societies require your NINO when you open an ISA.  Other people have mentioned other organisations which require you to give your NINO.

"it is not unreasonable or inappropriate to query whether eBay are in breach of the DATA Protection act in asking for our NI Numbers"

Considering it's the government/HMRC that have instructed ebay to supply the NINOs, with possible penalities if they don't, do you expect ebay not to comply?

You could use some of taxpayers' money to ask the Data Protection Registrar for their opinion though.

[jckl1957]

It is a bit strange - I had to provide mine to the DWP in order to get my state pension and, when that money is paid into my bank account the identifying code is ... can you guess? ... my NI number.

[specialk1937]

Well, I am learning something all the time. Someone else said that had to
provide an NI Number when taking out an ISA, but I don't remember having to
do this! Must be my age!

[to_996886]

Love how they are withholding funds instead of sales

EBay will win either way, either give them your details or your money is theirs

meanwhile, they are still charging your fees for your sale 

[ett1954]

"EBay will win either way, either give them your details or your money is theirs" - The money is not theirs, it is yours.  It will be released when you provide your NINO or after 180 days, whichever is the sooner........ unless of course HMRC determine they have a claim on it in the meantime.

[specialk1937]

aBay will only win if you allow them to! Whether it's about supplying NI
Numbers, imposing a Buyers Protection Fee, or Messing around with Postage
details, many people are leaving the site in exasperation, so in the long
run eBay will be the loser!

[theelench]

"unless of course HMRC determine they have a claim on it in the meantime."

Fear mongering at its finest !

[gjalp]

---

@specialk1937 wrote:
Well, I am learning something all the time. Someone else said that had to
provide an NI Number when taking out an ISA, but I don't remember having to
do this! Must be my age!

---

Its definitely your age 🤣 my kids had to provide their NI number to open ISAs

[sponge-face]

just give hmrc etc your info privately.

"ebay usa" are no longer  credible as business partners,theyve been compromised several times now,and they have refused all of europes attempts to get  usa to protect our data and so no one in their right mind would trust them with business details etc.

would suggest comunicating all these concerns with your mp.

even better get all your private and company details,put them in a parcel and mail it to mr D,Trump.,,,youll be safe as houses then... 

[to_996886]

Exactly what I am concerned about

it's not like eBay is well known for their security and my NI number is one of the most sensitive personal info 

EBay won't have to deal with the consequences of a data breach, I do

The safest option: do not provide NI = no breach

[ett1954]

"The safest option: do not provide NI = no breach" - That is certainly a choice you have the right to make; however if you do then you will have to stop your online selling activities with the online platforms.

[specialk1937]

Have now stopped with ebay! What with this, a Buyers Protection Fee and
messing with postal arrangements I have had enough!
As for other online platforms, when I last checked 'ebid' have not asked
for NI Numbers!

[to_996886]

nah, I will just sell on Vinted and FB market place

easy

[jonatjonatjonat]

Vinted…will ask for your National Insurance No in the same capacity eBay will!

facebook won’t because they don’t actually handle the transactions.

[jonatjonatjonat]

Of course ebid could be wrong in their approach….