Ebay doesn't honour promise

[c*1234]

I have a very good 100% positive feedback account. I had one recent bad sale - buyer bought item to use it then return it. I asked ebay for advice. They appeared to sympathise and offered to pay the refund plus return postage for me. But they broke promise and took this money from me. This was more than two months ago. They have written several times that they are processing a refund to me, it but they never do. I now realise ebay policy must be to offer something to appease me, but hope i will forget and not chase them. Not me - i won't stop until they behave decently and refund.

[tsmgmd]

The times we read "I contacted ebay and they promised".

Believe me when I say as soon as you put the phone down they forget about you. 

[rusticrye]

I have no idea why you were told that as it will never happen. Read on to find out why:

Ebay can have no idea what you actually sent, or what condition it was in when sent or received, as they were not present when sent or received, so have no choice but to accept a buyer's word for it when they claim Not As Described, as per their Money Back Guarantee.  They cannot get into disputes between you and a buyer.  Only a judge can decide if a buyer is a liar or scammer.

You agreed to comply with the MBG when you registered your account (read it now - it's on every listing and in various other places across the site). If you dig your heels in and refuse to offer refund on return, Ebay will either force you to pay for a returns label, or they will force the refund without the need for return. You will also have a damaging defect slapped on your account for failing to comply.

This may sound unfair, but it's the fairest it can possibly be.  The MBG is a very good thing (although you may not think that at present) as it gives buyers the confidence to shop with you and every other Ebay seller.  Without it, you'd be lucky to sell anything at all. In fact, without it, Ebay would no longer exist.

You have to refund on receipt, and then report the buyer to Ebay for abusing the MBG by fraudulently claiming Not As Described (via the 'report' button on your ‘leave feedback’ page) if that is indeed what they've done. A few of those from different sellers, and their account will soon be toast. And add their Ebay ID and PayPal email address to your Blocked Bidders List so they can’t darken your doorway again.

You can then deal with the buyer outside of Ebay as follows:

Send them a PayPal invoice to cover your losses, giving them 7 days to send cleared payment or you will be taking legal action and reporting them to Action Fraud (the police's online fraud unit).

If payment is not received within that timeframe, send them a 'before action' letter by Signed For post, giving them 7 days from receipt to make full and cleared payment, or you will report them to Action Fraud, and take them to Small Claims court to recover your money and all court and other costs.

If payment is still not received (unlikely, as this is generally enough to put the fear of god into small-time fraudsters), take them to Small Claims court if you wish.  Very easy to do, and the process can be started online.

@c*1234 

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

Ebay will tell you what you want to hear.I doubt if you will ever receive any refund as it seems like a clear cut case of a buyer winning a claim for return and that's about all it is.