Withholding Funds

[jonnythundercat]

Utterly disgusted with eBay and their apparent disregard for fairness. 

I've been a loyal customer for 25 years, always maintained a 100% rating as both buyer and seller. I recently sold an item for £150 and sent the same day via Royal Mail Special Delivery (at my own cost). The delivery failed the following day as the buyer wasn't at home. RM attempted a delivery the following day and, again, he wasn't at home. They therefore returned the item to the sorting office with a card for him to contact to either redeliver or collect. He's not bothered doing either..

I used the online chat and was reassured that "in the eyes of Ebay, an attempt delivery is classed as delivered"..

A week later, still no funds. So I called them this morning and spoke to the most unhelpful man ever. Kept saying no funds till delivered. I explained my previous correspondence and he said that was incorrect information and there's nothing anyone can do other than wait for the chap to collect. My funds will be released automatically anyway in 10 days, but I fail to see why, as a seller, who's done nothing wrong, has to wait. 

Screenshot of the transcript conversation attached.

Ebay are shocking nowadays. 

[papso22]

I believe attempted delivery counts for seller protection against an item not received claim,  but not for the release of funds where the buyer protection fee applies.

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

"in the eyes of Ebay, an attempt delivery is classed as delivered"

I'm not sure that's correct.I think that applies to buyers returning items and sellers trying to avoid refunding thinking if there is no proof the item was delivered back to them they won't have to refund.

Hopefully the buyer isn't going to open a non receipt claim,wait 4 days,get a refund and then collect from sorting office.

[the-nutwood-collection]

For an INR, attempted delivery counts as delivered, and the buyer cannot escalate for a refund (unless eBay's systems screw up).

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

It seems buyer can possibly still do a chargeback if buyer cannot actually prove delivery.

From ebays pages

"If a buyer opens an "item not received" case on eBay UK and the tracking shows an attempted delivery, eBay generally considers this as a successful delivery, protecting the seller from a refund obligation. However, if the buyer paid via PayPal or a credit/debit card, they might still be able to file a dispute and potentially win, requiring the seller to provide evidence of actual delivery"