Address changed after 'Signed For' update - what do you guys think happened

[the_you_52]

So I sold an item on ebay using Royal Mail 1st Class Signed for postage. 

 I updated tracking etc.. as normal and paid no more attention. I checked the tracking y-day and it had updated to say 'Delivered' and I saw the 'Signed For' was completed. 

 The buyer messaged me on ebay this morning with two quite angry messages 'I've not had my item even though it says delivered' etc... He said he called Royal Mail and they said I posted to a differtent area to what he stated (apparently they couldnt give him the address due to Data Protection).

 Now I am 100% positive that I posted to the address he originally had listed after payment was made. I never checked his paypal because I tend to just post to the one ebay tells me to. I hand write all my envelopes and I distinctly remember his address as I double checked it against RM post code finder as I thought the 'town' had a funny name so wanted to double check it was correct (it was). 

 Anyway, I told him there was nothing I could do, I have the proof of postage and signed for so told him to open a case with eBay and we shall see what they say. 

 I gave him the address I sent it to and he instantly came back saying that was his mother's address and that he would just go and get it. He sent me a screen shot of his address (as per on ebay) and he was still adamant that his details had never changed. 

 In my opinion he must know he's done something incorrectly becasue what are the odds of me incorrectly guessing his Mother's address and sending it there? 

So what do you think happened here? All he details are now 'his address' when I check the info on the Sold Items and his 'Mother's' address can be found nowhere. 

Are buyers able to change their address details after dispatch and if so, how can ANYONE combat this? What's stopping people doing this all the time and just claiming refunds?

So I ask you, was this a genuine accident (he typed a different address at check out)? Or was he trying to pull a fast one? or... did eBay's system mess up somehow and give me an old address of his?

[geosacha007]

You must have looked at his address on ebay before he paid. If so you see their registered address.  When they pay they give their delivery address which may, or may not, be the same as their registered address. Though why that would be their mother's address is weird.  Maybe that was the last place they had anything sent to.

Ebay overwrites the address you see on ebay with the delivery address when they pay, so you would see the same address now on ebay and paypal.

if the address you sent to is not the one you see on paypal and ebay now, then he will win an INR case.  A buyer cannot change the delivery address after they have paid.

[the_you_52]

Well it’s a lesson for the future I guess but it just seems really ‘off’ that if that is the case... I get penalised for a different address that eBay TELL ME TO SEND TO and it’s not even the right address.

The more I read about selling, the it seems like it’s just not worth it. Everything is stacked against you

[rusticrye]

No, buyers are not able to change their address after dispatch. They are unable to change it at any point after payment has been made.

You must always post to the address on the PayPal payment confirmation email, as that is the shipping address.  The address on Ebay's order confirmation is the buyer's Ebay-registered address, and not necessarily where the buyer wants it to go. Ebay's order confirmation actually tells you that that is not the shipping address - have a look the next time you receive one.

So if you sent to an address that does not match the one on the PayPal payment confirmation email, you have lost seller protection and will have to refund in full if the buyer opens an Item Not Received case. 

If you did send to the correct address (the one on the PayPal payment confirmation), and tracking proves delivery to that address, the case will close in your favour.  It is the buyer's responsibility to ensure that the address they provide at checkout is correct.

@the_you_52 

[the_you_52]

While I appreciate your comments and will bear the PayPal address point in mind for the future, how can the change of address be explained on eBays side?

When the item sold, I posted to the address that was displayed on eBay but that address is now different... this is what I find really strange.