Hi Wiseajak, I bought the phone in that state, and I sold it in that state (without knowing about the short circuit - thats only since ive received it back and decided to get it checked out). My problem with ebay is that: 1. They refunded the buyer when they shouldnt have as I did mention everything I knew about it in the auction including the defect (as much as I knew about it at the time) 2. They want the sellers fee even though I have no longer sold anything. I will repay the refund they gave to the buyer (very reluctantly) but the sellers fee... i really dont see why I should.

Hi, Just an update - I did receive phone back, and ebay simply closed the case in there favour with no appeal button (even though they told me it would be there). I have since had the phone properly checked out and found that the board has been short circuited by someone who had changed the screen before I got hold of it. My ebay account is now in arrears not only for the amount of the phone that they refunded but they are also trying to get 10% sellers fees out of me as well even though they are the ones that refunded the buyer!! Unbelievable. I have just sent a letter of complaint to the ireland offices but i doubt i'm going to get anywhere. I will reluctantly pay for the refund to the buyer but no chance am I paying the 10% sellers fee. Am I in the right on this one?? Thanks

This is exactly what I'm finding. So when they do start threatening you with debt collection you say you know what to do.. I don't, could you elaborate? Thanks

So you didn't pay eBay back when they put your balance in to negative? What happened with this? Did they try and chase you for payment or send over any debt collectors?

Thanks Scotgal68, that seems more about a fradulant buyer, this one I dont think the buyer is being fraudulant, but instead are playing the ebay system to get a refund of there money. I don't really doubt I will get the phone returned to me, the problem is that they have returned it on a defect that was already listed and ebay don't seem to listen one bit. I did just read in that last thread however that PP automatically transferred negative balance after 4 days and I did notice that my paypal balance was at £0 when I closed my account.... i have also checked my bank account however and there is no funds coming out for paypal whatsoever so not sure how it was empty. From this, it seems that paypal won't be able to launch anything on me as when I cancelled my balance it said £0, if ebay do.. then I have a lot of emails that have been backwards and forwards between us, but I have spoken on the phone to them quite a bit as well. I am just hoping now that paypal haven't somehow get the money back from me and will refund the buyer and ebay will just close - if this does happen I then have a couple of options. 1. Relist - but there is nothing saying this won't happen again 2. Do a dispute against the person I bought it from and use the ebay system as this buyer did I am a lot happier if ebay put my balance in negative and start trying to get money from me as I have numerous emails from them which are poor and are clearly templated emails that in some cases they haven't fully filled in. Has anyone actually been successful when appealing a refund after ebay have returned a refund to the buyer as ebay do say you can do this.

Im sorry im in the same position as this, and my paypal account is actually closed right now. Apparently my item is in the post to me now and "I will have the ability to appeal" once I receive the item. Ebays own buyers protection policy does state that they WILL NOT rule in buyers favour if the defect or whatever reason they are refunding it for is clearly listed. So surely they are breaching there own contract with the seller and are liable for a small claims court?

Hi, I recently sold a mobile phone on ebay for £200, I listed in the article twice that the phone had a defect and I had numerous emails from buyers asking about it which I gave full information on, some of them bidded. It was then sold and the money paid - i sent the item out, a few days later the buyer puts in a dispute saying that the item doesnt match description as it has a defect (yes the same one i listed in the article). After a few back and forward emails ebay stepped in and yesterday I got an email saying they have decided in buyers favour - immediately i contacted ebay who informed me this wasn't the case and it was an automated email but they have asked buyer to send item back and i should check it when it comes back for any faults. Now if they would of read his complaint to me they would of realised it was the same thing i mentioned in the article and looking at ebays OWN terms and conditions it does state that they will not decide the buyer is right if the defect is mentioned fully in the article... but obviously it seems they have ignored this and are trying to push for a refund anyways... as far i'm concerned they are now in breach of there own contractual agreements with me and anyone else who has a similar issue. I am pushing the complaints every day and seeing if I can get anywhere but keep getting conflicting emails off different members of ebay staff all the time. Some saying when I get item then I should appeal and say it does match description, others saying it will auto refund when it is returned. I have closed my paypal account (can they still push a refund?) and will be closing my ebay account after this, I am totally unwilling to give a refund based on what the buyer has said (he has simply changed his mind). Does anyone know where I stand on this as I am totally willing to push a small claim against ebay for breaching the contract and going against there own buyers/sellers protection guidelines. As you can imagine, this locked my paypal account for like 2 weeks and caused loads of issues with shops I use paypal to pay - and it looks like this is going to continue for a while yet. Thanks for any help Kevin