Ebay case opened for iPhone sold in August

Cbe2012

Hi,

Just looking for some advice please.

I sold an iPhone on eBay on the 9th August and hadn't heard anything since until today so assumed all was fine. Have just had a case opened against me, without any previous communication with the buyer, to say that the volume on the phone isn't working properly. The phone isn't ringing and they can barely hear who is on the other end.

They want to return for a refund. Do I have to refund as they have had it for six weeks and I assume it was working fine until now.

I also do not have the money from the phone anymore and don't have any money to refund until pay day the middle of next month.

Please help with what I need to do next.

Thank you for reading

shaun_from_Africa

The chances are that Paypal have allowed the dispute to be opened, but once they see the date that the purchase was made, they should automatically close it it your favour.

Generally, Paypal disputes can only be opened up to 45 days from when the payment was made and this time has long since gone (assuming that the buyer paid around the 9th August)

Cbe2012

Hi, thank you for responding. It was paid for on the 9th, and I posted it on the 9th too. It is an eBay case that has been opened, not a Paypal one. I have spoken to eBay but they weren't very helpful and I'm still not sure if I will have to refund. The problem that they have with it definately didn't exist when I sold it, I wouldn't have sold it as working otherwise. It is just over the 45 days. Thanks again.

plumface

Cbe2012 wrote: »

Hi, thank you for responding. It was paid for on the 9th, and I posted it on the 9th too. It is an eBay case that has been opened, not a Paypal one. I have spoken to eBay but they weren't very helpful and I'm still not sure if I will have to refund. The problem that they have with it definately didn't exist when I sold it, I wouldn't have sold it as working otherwise. It is just over the 45 days. Thanks again.

45 days is right on the cusp, depending when the transaction actually went through.
I dont know when the 45 day limit for claims actually starts, whether it is 45 days from the exact time of purchase, 45 days after the exact time the money was transferred or 45 days from the following day. You are very close!
One thing i will say is,

The problem that they have with it definately didn't exist when I sold it, I wouldn't have sold it as working otherwise

....means nothing in DSR and ebay/paypal law, if it is within the 45 day limit you will have to refund on receipt of the returned item, whatever you may think!ps. they way a dispute works now means that a simple 'query' now has to go thru' as a dispute, it doesn't necassarily mean the buyer is being a !!!!.

makeyourdaddyproud

You might also be a victim in waiting of a buy swap fraud.

This is where an identical (non working on one or more aspects) iPhone is returned to you but will have a different IMEI number.

This phone might also be blocked on all networks.

The price differential for blocked vs working can be several hundred pound.

Even if the returned phone isn't blocked, it may subsequently be if it was subject to a contract that has not been paid or intending not to be. In this case the network will block it.

Please check the imei number when you get it back.

Cbe2012

Thanks for your responses, I guess I'll just have to wait and see what eBay does. Hopefully I'm not going to be the victim of a scam, although looking at the buyer's feedback I don't think this will be the case, they seem to be a good seller.
I really hope I don't have to refund, I just don't have the money, that is why I sold the phone
Anyway, thanks again.

techspec

Pretty sure Ebay or Paypal have sneeked in new terms saying they can allow claims past 45 days at their discretion.

Good old Ebay - always working round the clock to find new ways to shaft sellers.

Hermione_Granger

techspec wrote: »

Pretty sure Ebay or Paypal have sneeked in new terms saying they can allow claims past 45 days at their discretion.

Good old Ebay - always working round the clock to find new ways to shaft sellers.

They will only do this to cover periods such as postal strikes, national disasters etc, and if the 45 day period is being extended, ebay will state this on their announcement pages.

In some limited situations, we may extend the period of time in which a buyer is
eligible for eBay Money Back Guarantee. This extra time allows us to take into
consideration the buyer’s location, the postal service used, national holidays,
eg. Christmas or delays due to circumstances such a natural disaster, national
emergency, labour strike, or governmental act. When we extend timelines for eBay
Money Back Guarantee coverage, in cases where the seller is responsible for
cases opened during such extended timeline, we’ll notify sellers with an announcement on eBay.co.uk.

alykatz

From what i have read on the ebay boards, cases can be opened after the 45 day limit but cannot be escalated.Its to do with the new way of asking a question automatically opening a case.

Cbe2012

Thanks for the responses. Fingers crossed it will be over the 45 days as it doesn't seem fair to have to refund and have a faulty phone back on a problem they could well have caused themselves, in six weeks of usage.

I have to wait eight days to escalate the claim now and find out eBay's decision.

Thanks again for everyone's help and I'll update with eBay's decision.

pinkshoes

I would politely respond to the case stating that the phone was sold in excellent condition, and you are very sorry that they now have an issue with the volume, but as it was sold nearly 7 weeks ago and they've had the phone so long, it would not be fair for you to have to refund. Perhaps then suggest they take it to an apple shop??