Ebay seller requires my phone number to buy a small lightbulb

squack

Thanks for all the replies folks.

I solved the problem by putting a long-dead mobile phone number in.

To me it is the principle of not having to provide more information than is necessary, plus I only found out a phone number was required after I committed to buy.

I have never had this on another ebay buy it now item.

Even when I have bought individual items from China that cost several hundred pounds.

i had ordered an identical item from the same seller a few months ago and no phone number was demanded then.

i like my ebay buying experience for a small item to be a few clicks then I know it's on its way.

Having to provide unnecessary extra data is intrusive and irritating

:T

techspec

I always give a false number when dealing with insurance quotes - cos they never leave you alone after. If you don't buy from comparison sites within a set time after the quote - they sell your number to firms like Swinton.

I just hope no-one really has the number 654321 where i live

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Not sure where you buy from because I have only rarely been asked for a phone number. never given one to Amazon, John Lewis or any other major seller.

When you add a new address to Amazon they won't let you continue without adding a phone number. John Lewis have the day time phone number field as mandatory so your comment is incorrect.

Its only a small item that will arrive by RM so no courier will need that number. You can be sarcastic all you like, but personally I wouldn't want my phone number given to some Random Chinese company.

Fair enough but in that case don't buy from Chinese companies, as mention above any eBay seller you buy from has access to your phone number regardless of whether you enter it during Checkout. Regarding the Data Protection Act, do you really think the average small seller on eBay has a clue what this details and if a seller deliberately wanted to abuse your phone number there is very little you can do to stop that.

The OP has very real concerns that their data could be passed on.

Then they should pay more and buy from a UK seller.

On my main buying account I have not had the correct phone number for 8 years (never updated it when I moved I only updated my selling accounts). The ebay police havent yet kicked my doors in and dragged me away for this terrible piece of rule breaking. To put your scaremongering into perspective the chances of ebay finding out your phone number is incorrect is pretty near zero. As ebay staff have more useful things to do than check everyones phone number

eBay don't check numbers but if you are reported eBay will call the number and then issue a warning if it's not correct, if it isn't updated the account will be suspended. Should I need to contact a customer regarding an important issue (for example a bank reversal, or a customer who has their parcel waiting at the local SO but doesn't answer their emails) I will pull their contact details, if then number is invalid the ID will be reported. There are valid issues where a seller may need direct contact with a customer. The software I use to extact orders details shows the phone number along side the other details and any entered as a string of zeros is reported as a matter of principle.

eBay's policy states:

Falsifying or omitting contact information such as your name, address or telephone number when registering on eBay is not permitted. It is also not permitted to use fax or disconnected numbers as a telephone number.

I fail to see why you adhering to that policy is different to any other policy, you have agreed to the UA and should should stick to it.