What are my rights?

Sarahf

Hello, I sold a piece of hifi on eBay and now buyer is selling that it is faulty. I know for sure that it was in perfect working order when it left here and I know the buyer has connected it incorrectly and caused a fault in the circuit. Thing is he has requested a refund due to it being faulty and eBay have taken the money on hold, it is going to cost us a couple hundred quid to get it repaired which I don't think I should have to pay, just after any general advice please. Thanks in advance.

martindow

Sarahf wrote: »

Hello, I sold a piece of hifi on eBay and now buyer is selling that it is faulty. I know for sure that it was in perfect working order when it left here and I know the buyer has connected it incorrectly and caused a fault in the circuit. Thing is he has requested a refund due to it being faulty and eBay have taken the money on hold, it is going to cost us a couple hundred quid to get it repaired which I don't think I should have to pay, just after any general advice please. Thanks in advance.

How do you know all of this? Are you assuming this is what has happened or do you have messages from the buyer.

I must admit that if I bought a hi-fi item, plugged it in and it didn't work I would also be telling the seller that I wanted to return it for a refund.

motorguy

Sarahf wrote: »

Hello, I sold a piece of hifi on eBay and now buyer is selling that it is faulty. I know for sure that it was in perfect working order when it left here and I know the buyer has connected it incorrectly and caused a fault in the circuit. Thing is he has requested a refund due to it being faulty and eBay have taken the money on hold, it is going to cost us a couple hundred quid to get it repaired which I don't think I should have to pay, just after any general advice please. Thanks in advance.

As above.

You're going to be obliged to fully refund.

Mistral001

I suggest that you refund the money. When you get it back and connect it up it will probably work

shaun_from_Africa

Sarahf wrote: »

. I know for sure that it was in perfect working order when it left here and I know the buyer has connected it incorrectly and caused a fault in the circuit.

How did the buyer get the item? Did they collect it or was is couriered?
Knowing that it was working when it left you doesn't mean that it was working when delivered, especially if it has been through the hands of a courier company.

campdave

Ebay will insist on a refund.

If you are able to prove the damage was caused by your buyer, you will need to pursue them through small claims for the loss their damage has caused.

paddyrg

Ebay hate sellers and will no matter what else side with the buyer.

mrcol1000

Its your word against the buyer. How do we really know it was not faulty when you sent it? Its as easy to claim it was working fine as claiming it isn't working when you received it. May also have been damaged during transit. You are just going to have to accept it back. You may be able to sell it for parts if you can't or don't want to fix it.

Brooker_Dave

Sarahf wrote: »

Hello, I sold a piece of hifi on eBay and now buyer is selling that it is faulty. I know for sure that it was in perfect working order when it left here and I know the buyer has connected it incorrectly and caused a fault in the circuit. Thing is he has requested a refund due to it being faulty and eBay have taken the money on hold, it is going to cost us a couple hundred quid to get it repaired which I don't think I should have to pay, just after any general advice please. Thanks in advance.

The rights you have under UK law are ignored by Ebay, they will force a refund, but still make you pay their fees.

Sooner or later the way Ebay treats its customers will lead to another PPI style scandal, perhaps why Paypal want to bail?

RFW

paddyrg wrote: »

Ebay hate sellers and will no matter what else side with the buyer.

What do you want them to do? Invest in lie detector equipment and hook up every buyer and seller in a dispute?
Why blame Ebay when (if the OP's assessment is accurate) it is the buyer who is lying?

At the present time there are only assumptions. If a buyer buys an item in working order and it isn't then they have to return it for a refund or replacement. The seller can only have redress after they have received it back and examined it.

d123

Brooker_Dave wrote: »

The rights you have under UK law are ignored by Ebay, they will force a refund, but still make you pay their fees.

Sooner or later the way Ebay treats its customers will lead to another PPI style scandal, perhaps why Paypal want to bail?

What rights are ignored?

If anything eBay is ensuring the consumers rights are being protected, no matter what retailer is involved, if an electrical item arrives via distance selling and is defective the seller/retailer is obliged to refund and take the item back at their expense.

eBay isn't changing the law in any way I can see.