Repeated age verification requests

[brumski]

Hi,

I have verified my age many times on ebay using a credit card, and I even have added it as a persisted card on my payment options.

But still, even now, trying to make offers on some items is making me put in the same credit card details again. Its absolutely infuriating. I understand the law, and the rules, but there is no way this persistent age checking needs to happen, I can only assume it is a glitch at this point?

[kat@ebay]

Hi @brumski ,

Thank you for your post.

I understand it is frustrating and a bit repetitive to have to input the details each time but in order for eBay to stay compliant with regulations the age verification check has to be done on each order.

Thank you,

Kat

[brumski]

Thank you for your reply.

I understand the need for compliance, however I’d like to clarify something. I have a long-established, fully verified eBay account and have already completed age verification multiple times using valid payment methods and identification.

As I understand it, the legal basis for age-restricted blade purchases in the UK comes primarily from Section 141A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, as amended by later legislation, and reinforced by provisions within the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. These laws prohibit the sale of bladed articles to under-18s, but do not appear to mandate repeated age verification on every transaction for already-verified account holders.

Could you please confirm which specific regulation requires age verification to be repeated for every purchase, rather than relying on an already verified adult account?

[sml192]

It isn't specifically mandated in the legislation but is stated in the government’s statutory guidance to the Offensive Weapons Act 2019:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-offensive-weapons-act-2019/statutory-guidance-offensi...

• Remote age verification:

There are a range of age verification processes or systems available, and the government was clear during the passage of the legislation that it did not want to issue standards for systems for electronic age verification as decisions on which systems to procure and use are a matter for the seller and for them to determine whether they meet the requirements of the Act. It is for the seller to decide what system works best for their business model and will allow them to demonstrate that they took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence.

The courts will be the final arbiter as to whether the seller has put in place an adequate system, taking into account the particular facts in individual cases. However, it is the government’s view that the following examples used by remote sellers would not be sufficient to demonstrate that the seller had an adequate system and that robust age verification has taken place:

• relying on the person purchasing the item to tick a box confirming they are over 18

• relying in any other way on information provided by the buyer (other than a valid form of identification) that they are over 18 without conducting additional checks

• using payment systems that may require the customer to be over 18 but which do not verify age at point of purchase