eBay Forcing User ID

theoretica

I agree that if ebay do not point out what level of contact details are available to other users then this is a failure on their part and should be made clear so those like the OP wish to be anonymous, but are perhaps less alert to spotting ways of accessing data, can go elsewhere.

However, I do not see that ebay must allow anonymous accounts if they don't want to. It is their business.

mrs_sparrow

You misunderstand. Yes, I agree, a name and address is of course 'useful' but those details are not known until someone actually purchases something from you. A username is something that gives you anonymity until that happens.

If someone is looking for you they are not going to be looking for a user name, they will look for your real name.

As a seller I have often posted things to 'JB' or 'Sarah' or even 'eBay Account', a lot of people will use their partner/friends Paypal account to pay too so you may never know who the buyer actually is.

The OP said she tried for ages to choose a name - in my experience this includes not using the name of your kids, mum, road, house, pets, car make, etc.... anything at all that could link it to you. It sounds far fetched and stupid but these are the mental scars that abuse leaves behind. They do not just go because you have got out. It takes years for these to go away, if they do.

Likewise, when she realised that her real name was there for everyone to see she did what I probably would have done. Panic big time. And try and get it removed. Yes you can change your name but you then worry that someone might be able to type your name in and find an old ID and then trace you to your real name. Again, mental scars abuse leaves behind.

While trying to get on with your 'normal' life you spend years looking over your shoulder, it is worse in the early days though and you do what you can to protect yourself, however, she wants to sell some stuff on eBay, there is nothing wrong with that. She just doesn't want her real name displayed on the screen for anyone to see.

Some abusers cannot and will not move on, they cannot see you happy, nor will they see you with someone else. They are mentally ill. Escaping from them is just the first step, protecting yourself is the next.

I realise that this may not be the reason why the OP was so upset and it might be another completely different reason, however, this is the view from someone who was abused and the abuser would not leave me alone for many, many years - I actually had to leave the area and move elsewhere, however, back then the internet did not exist so it was easier to 'disappear' and not be found. I would be sick to the stomach with fear of having my name in such a public place to be 'found'. It was so much easier to live a quite life in hiding before the internet came along.

Those of you that was saying she was over reacting, crazy or being TSFE (yes, that does mean Too Stupid For Ebay for those of you that do not know) have no idea to know what it is like to live in an abusive environment. Thank your lucky stars. The OP has her reasons for not wanting to have her name displayed and I think it is disrespectful of everyone to abuse her in the way they did because there are obviously reasons for this.

mrs_sparrow

George_Michael wrote: »

When you sign up to ebay, it doesn't show your real name on screen.
What it shows is a user id that is loosely based on your real name.
I have just set up an ebay account giving my name as George Michael, and the use id given to me is ukgeorg-8alr4i

The OP stated that her realname_uk2014 was used.

That wasn't a loose ID. Maybe there are already too many George Michaels. Which does make me smile just a little, LOL.

Andrew_Ridgeley

mrs_sparrow wrote: »

Maybe there are already too many George Michaels. Which does make me smile just a little, LOL.

There is only one George Michael!

TKPeters

Anybody the makes a bid on one of your items or an item you bid on from, are able to get your details from the contact information page

soolin

TKPeters wrote: »

Anybody the makes a bid on one of your items or an item you bid on from, are able to get your details from the contact information page

And of course run any sort of business, even a small one like me from my spare room- and I display my full name and geographic address on all my listings. Spoils a good worry though ......

Flyonthewall

unreal2014 wrote: »

I am more concerned that specifically I have a unique name, so specifically the eBay system did not create a random mixed up user ID, but instead simply created a username and used my full name, with no numbers or even "_2014" (not that this would make any difference in this case), just my name, which though it may be a unique situation, I believe is completely unmoral to say the least and whilst trying to ask politely that they remove it, they have not, and read straight from their eBay handbook with the usual jargon about what you can do and how they claim it is impossible for them to change, you can close your account and it will be gone in 30 days etc

They lack any kind of personal approach and their best advice is similar to that of "try turning it off and back on again".

First of all, have to say, turn it off and back on again usually works. That is good advice.

Anyway, if you change it right away does it still remember that one? I know this has been said at some point, can't say I've see an answer.

Either way, I imagine a lot don't know of this username thing happening. Even with a unique name most people might assume it's a name you thought of/like to just use online. Only the people you deal with would know it's your name but they'd find out your name anyhow regardless of username.

I know I said before about the ID history and not noticing that. I'm going to add that I can't say I take that much notice of usernames anyway. I glance at the username but I only really pay attention to the feedback they have and the listing. I don't look to buy from or avoid any specific sellers.

Whilst I have closed the account, 30 days is still a long time to have to wait to use eBay again (if indeed I do decide to after this), the lesson in this experience is if you are to join eBay, do not enter your first name and surname in the registration page if you are somebody who likes their privacy and have a unique name.

30 days really isn't that long. May feel like a while but think about how many days you've already lived through. 30 days is nothing. You don't need ebay, it's perfectly possible to live without the site and never use it again, nevermind for 30 days. Even for a business there are other options.

Highly useful, why would you comment at all if you have nothing useful to say.

It's the internet, that's what happens lol

This_Year

Flyonthewall wrote: »

Anyway, if you change it right away does it still remember that one? I know this has been said at some point, can't say I've see an answer.

RFW wrote: »

Do you know if the Ebay generated id stays in your id history? It used to be that you could only change id after 30 days, so perhaps this never appears if changed within the first 30 days.

This_Year wrote: »

Yes, it does. Being nosey I created a new account and under ID history it shows the 4 letters of my name it chose interspersed with 4 other letters and a number.

LOL I now have a brand spanking new ID with 0 feedback. Maybe if I use it there'll be posts from people saying "someone who registered yesterday and has 0 feedback has bought my item - help!" :rotfl:

Flyonthewall

This_Year wrote: »

LOL I now have a brand spanking new ID with 0 feedback. Maybe if I use it there'll be posts from people saying "someone who registered yesterday and has 0 feedback has bought my item - help!" :rotfl:

Fair enough. I skipped a few messages so obviously missed that lol.

lol

harveybobbles

What about your bank card when you use it in the shop? What if the cashire spots it and then looks you up on Facebook? Or got forbid 192.com..