Implications of doing my father-in-law a 'favour'

comeandgo

Are you absolutely sure the items are not fakes as you could end up with a criminal record just by allowing him to trade using your account.

PasturesNew

eBay would be very quick to spot it and to ban you FOR LIFE. People get bans like this even when they're innocent. They'd be "onto you" PDQ and that'd be it. You'd NEVER be able to open/operate any ebay account ever again, whatsoever, for life.

It's not worth it.

He needs to find other ways to shift his gear under his own name.

makeyourdaddyproud

dacouch wrote: »

Ebay log the IP addresses of banned customers, if the OP allows the FiL to use her account and he inevitably logs into her account from his home address. Ebay will shortly after shut her account down

Dynamic IPs?

SeanG79

Can he not open a limited company and trade from that? perhaps using dynamic IP's?

KiKi

It's one thing having an Ebay account in your name (which will be against Ebay's T&Cs, by the way) - but it's a whole other thing opening a Paypal account in your name.

1. Paypal, I'm sure, will have something that says you can't give your password to anyone. He would need it to operate the account.
2. The account would need to link to his bank accounts, and so in effect you are now linked to these accounts, and any problems would come back on you as the owner of the Paypal account
3. If he didn't conduct his business properly, and someone claimed through Paypal, you'd be the named person, and responsible
4. If he uses the account for other things (which he could) then again, you're opening yourself up to so many issues and legalities, it's not worth it

He could try opening a new Paypal account with a different email address, linked to a different Bank Account - lots of people have the same name, after all. I agree, Ebay is far too quick to side with the buyer and even I as an occasional seller have been in trouble with Ebay for doing nothing wrong. However, I just had to suck it up.

Don't do it!

Topcat1982

psychic_kitten wrote: »

This is probably a stupid question but presumably it is fraud because he would be selling something in my name (although would it be me/him/both that would be done for allowing that?).

I think he meant if these are fakes and being passed off as the real thing.

Andy_L

psychic_kitten wrote: »

This is probably a stupid question but presumably it is fraud because he would be selling something in my name (although would it be me/him/both that would be done for allowing that?).

fraud because he might actually be flogging fake goods

DKLS

So whats the FIL going to do when your eBay account is banned for flogging "designer goods"?

Perhaps he ought to try Facebook as a sales channel, I see all sorts on my local sales group which would suit his business.

Flyonthewall

psychic_kitten wrote: »

My father-in-law has been selling designer goods on eBay as his sole source of income since losing his previous job. He was banned after a buyer claimed his stock was fake, although he insists it isn't and that eBay are notorious for taking the side of the buyer without conducting a proper investigation first (don't quote me on that, I've never sold anything on eBay so I don't know), and so now has no income.

He has asked to use an eBay and PayPal account in my name to start selling again. I am very reluctant to do this as I work myself although I do feel guilty as he is relying on the income.

Could someone please give me some advice on this as I don't fully know what would be involved/my responsibility and if I do decline, at least want to have a reasonable explanation.

Thank you

He has no income through his own fault. Ebay are known for taking the buyers side but it's highly unlikely they banned him for life based on one buyer claiming an item is fake.

If they weren't fake and the buyer opened a case stating it then they would have to have gained proof of it being fake. Even if one buyer proved it ebay wouldn't necessarily just ban him.

If enough people report a listing or buyer ebay may take action, but usually they remove the listing(s) so he'd have had to keep relisting the items after being told not to list them to end up being banned.

Either way, he's not a good seller and possibly breaking the law and that's before you consider he may be avoiding paying tax.

If you sold the items under your own account you are liable. You will be breaking the law in doing so.

Not only that but ebay will ban you. It could be days, weeks, months, but at some point you will be banned. You will never be able to use ebay again. They may also limit or even ban the accounts of family members and anyone who has ever accessed their ebay account using your internet.

If he wanted to sell his items legally there are many ways he could do so. Amazon, gumtree, facebook, carboot, market stall etc.

Just tell him you don't wish to have an ebay account in your name and that what he's suggesting is a massive risk to you. Point out his other options. If he's running a legit business and cares at all about his family at all he won't ask you to open up an account.

Don't feel guilty. What he's asking of you is wrong. If he has no income he can sell stock in other ways or get a job.

makeyourdaddyproud

If anyone is making a huge profit out of VERO protected brands then there is a good chance that either the items are inferior grade (reject) stock that couldn't be sold at original rrps. These inferior items could have minor marks, faults or "attributes" that could signal a buyer to cry foul even if they are real.