eBay Signs Small Business Payments Fairness & Transparency Pledge

[valueaddedresource]

I thought some around here might be interested that eBay UK joined PayPal, Temu, OnBuy, Stripe and others in signing the Office of the Small Business Commissioner's 10 point payments fairness and transparency pledge.

https://www.smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk/major-online-marketplaces-and-payment-providers-lead-th...

I suspect a fair number of business sellers who have had their payouts delayed until after delivery recently would say eBay is not living up to most of those points - and for those who are experiencing those issues, it might not be a bad idea to let OSBC know about it.

[typo_lee]

Thats my point. Unless the Office Commisioner takes action against ebay as well as the Ombudsman

[rockertron-toys]

Although I have it in writing from one of their cs agents which stated that my account would be back to normal after 30 days nothing happened. They just lied and lied until I gave up. Their final response was that my situation was not appealable which is why I went to the ombudsman. If this isn't overturned I'll will use another platform-I've told them that but they don't care. I was on for 250k this year which they'll lose next year but trust me that amount to them is nothing and will be recouped in other ways such as holding funds for interest purposes and lending money. If every business seller with these issues left the platform or they get fined via the ombudsman for unfair practise then they might, just might take notice. It's David and Goliath here hopefully.

[typo_lee]

I have just wrote to the small business commissioner so I hope many other eBay businesses will complain as well

[custom-giftsuk]

I have just spent a very unfruitful and unhappy few days talking to a great many ebay CS from all over the world, about a payments hold (for spurious reasons) which I have posted about today in the forums, I can say two things without issue.

1 - no one has heard of Eve Williams, despite her being VP / General Manager. I've had to explain who she is a few times to even members of the leadership teams. 
2 - not a single member of the CS staff had heard or even believed in the existence of this "pledge". To which ebay have breached 9 out of the 10 (one doesnt count yet) pledges made not 3 weeks ago to UKGov. They just wouldnt even listen to any of it or take on board what ebay agreed to. Staff from the Philippines even said it doesnt apply to ebay in the UK even if it existed. 

[typo_lee]

Yep and I have it in writing from the small business officer it doesn't mean toffee. Said the payment terms are a contract between ebay and the seller only. So basically ebay can do what the hell they want with regards to holding payouts.

[moonlight-rhapsody]

If the OSBC is washing their hands of it, complain to your MP about the uselessness of the OSBC and the cynical hypocrisy of the the pledge.  Not all MPs are useless - AFAIK it was an MP who took up the cause of one of the Horizon victims and wouldn't let go until the victim had been exonorated.

[custom-giftsuk]

So it was a PR stunt to make everyone signing up to look good and responsible?

[4_bathrooms]

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@typo_lee wrote:

Yep and I have it in writing from the small business officer it doesn't mean toffee. Said the payment terms are a contract between ebay and the seller only. So basically ebay can do what the hell they want with regards to holding payouts.

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So they're yet another toothless quango with no real power to actually do anything.

[4_bathrooms]

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@moonlight-rhapsody wrote:

If the OSBC is washing their hands of it, complain to your MP about the uselessness of the OSBC and the cynical hypocrisy of the the pledge.  

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The "Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Services, Small Business and Exports" is the MP directly responsible for overseeing the OSBC. However, it appears the position is currently vacant following the departure of Gareth Thomas in September so there's presumably nobody holding them to account for anything right now. 

[custom-giftsuk]

Ah that explains a lot.... so the position is vacant so nothing can be done or enforced. Weirdly enough there was no one in the role when the document was signed (he left in Sept 25 and the pledge was signed Oct 25). 

I really hate politics ...... 

[rockertron-toys]

The ombudsman is the way to go. They have taken up my case up so must mean something. I'll be very disappointed if nothing comes of this mainly due to the practise of ebay holding considerable funds to then offer loans! Since inception with me this May they have offered me loans every month of up to 30k! Well they can get stuffed if they think I'm going to borrow MY OWN money back at my expense from them! Shocking! 

[rockertron-toys]

But look at the pathetic excuse of a government we have!  

[custom-giftsuk]

Please keep me (and probably everyone) updated on how the ombudsman goes - it's very interesting to see how it pans out

Also ... doesnt matter which flavour of government, it'd be the same or worse with someone else

[typo_lee]

Re the government Im sorry but I disagree. Just look at the economic situation all of their own doing. Funding public sector with billions wasted and nothing at all for the private sector or helping businesses.

[custom-giftsuk]

As I said... same as others, maybe worse with someone else.
Anyhow I'm north of the border so we have our own politics 🙂

[rockertron-toys]

Will do, very much David and Goliath here but look who won that one!

BTW this government is atrocious on many levels but lets not start a debate on that just now as the ebay situation is the bigger fish to fry for us sellers rather than politics.  

[4_bathrooms]

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@rockertron-toys wrote:

The ombudsman is the way to go. 

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It seems complaining to the OSBC is a complete waste of time as they direct any complaints about financial service providers (i.e. eBay) to the FOS anyway. Whilst that is what the FOS is there for it makes me wonder what the whole point of the "pledge" eBay made to the OSBC was; the OSBC isn't going to hold eBay to it and neither is the FOS.

[custom-giftsuk]

Could it be a PR stunt?

[the-layer-laboratory]

Unfortunately, this is how the world operates in 2025:

1) Make lots of promises without any intention to keep any of them.

2) Shout about it in order to benefit from the political capital (public relations).

3) Stick two fingers up to your base while you systematically break every prior promise made.

4) Profit!

[4_bathrooms]

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@custom-giftsuk wrote:

Could it be a PR stunt?

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It sounds like the OSBC was responsible for putting the pledge together following complaints from business customers of online marketplaces and online payment providers. They also published guidance for SME's here (PDF file) with some case studies but to what end I have no idea; it isn't as though they're going to hold any of the signatories to their pledge.