How to take legal action through the Small Claims Court against Ebay seller?

AFC999

I recently purchased a Bristan Shower Valve on Ebay that was sold to fit a certain size of existing pipework but when it was received the wrong size had been quoted in the seller's description. I asked for a refund but the seller refused and when I enquired with Bristan they confirmed that it was not their product. I raised a complaint with Ebay but they would not help so how can I take the seller to the Small Claims Court if I don't have the seller's name and address? Thanks

born_again

AFC999 said:

I recently purchased a Bristan Shower Valve on Ebay that was sold to fit a certain size of existing pipework but when it was received the wrong size had been quoted in the seller's description. I asked for a refund but the seller refused and when I enquired with Bristan they confirmed that it was not their product. I raised a complaint with Ebay but they would not help so how can I take the seller to the Small Claims Court if I don't have the seller's name and address? Thanks

You can't.
You need their name & address.

AFC999

I note that some people have taken Ebay to the Small Claims Court and won - how would that work?

soolin

AFC999 said:

I recently purchased a Bristan Shower Valve on Ebay that was sold to fit a certain size of existing pipework but when it was received the wrong size had been quoted in the seller's description. I asked for a refund but the seller refused and when I enquired with Bristan they confirmed that it was not their product. I raised a complaint with Ebay but they would not help so how can I take the seller to the Small Claims Court if I don't have the seller's name and address? Thanks

Since buyers are completely covered by the eBay buyer guarantee, what happened exactly when you opened an SNAD (significantly not as described) case? 

Also, you say that you don’t have sellers address, so was this from a private seller rather than a business seller?  That makes no difference to the SNAD situation, but might affect how you proceed. 

RFW

soolin said:

AFC999 said:

I recently purchased a Bristan Shower Valve on Ebay that was sold to fit a certain size of existing pipework but when it was received the wrong size had been quoted in the seller's description. I asked for a refund but the seller refused and when I enquired with Bristan they confirmed that it was not their product. I raised a complaint with Ebay but they would not help so how can I take the seller to the Small Claims Court if I don't have the seller's name and address? Thanks

Since buyers are completely covered by the eBay buyer guarantee, what happened exactly when you opened an SNAD (significantly not as described) case? 

Also, you say that you don’t have sellers address, so was this from a private seller rather than a business seller?  That makes no difference to the SNAD situation, but might affect how you proceed. 

I can only think it was out of time. It doesn't really make much sense.
There are usually plenty of options to get a refund before even considering going to court.

soolin

RFW said:

soolin said:

AFC999 said:

I recently purchased a Bristan Shower Valve on Ebay that was sold to fit a certain size of existing pipework but when it was received the wrong size had been quoted in the seller's description. I asked for a refund but the seller refused and when I enquired with Bristan they confirmed that it was not their product. I raised a complaint with Ebay but they would not help so how can I take the seller to the Small Claims Court if I don't have the seller's name and address? Thanks

Since buyers are completely covered by the eBay buyer guarantee, what happened exactly when you opened an SNAD (significantly not as described) case? 

Also, you say that you don’t have sellers address, so was this from a private seller rather than a business seller?  That makes no difference to the SNAD situation, but might affect how you proceed. 

I can only think it was out of time. It doesn't really make much sense.
There are usually plenty of options to get a refund before even considering going to court.

My first thought was that it was past the 30 days, but I read the OP to mean that it was noticed that it was the wrong part on receipt.

I think we may need OP to clarify the time line and confirm what case they opened especially as the part may or may not be fake (that bit I wasn't clear about) 

AFC999

The item was purchased on the 16th of January 2025 and it was received on the 18th January and it was then that I found that it would not fit the 110mm centre that it was advertised for so I asked the seller for a return due to this problem and the seller refused. I have since found out that Ebay classed this as a change of mind rather than not as described and it was sometime later after speaking to the manufacturer that the product was not one that they manufacture. So I am left with an item that does not fit and is clearly not as described.

AFC999

RFW said:

soolin said:

AFC999 said:

I recently purchased a Bristan Shower Valve on Ebay that was sold to fit a certain size of existing pipework but when it was received the wrong size had been quoted in the seller's description. I asked for a refund but the seller refused and when I enquired with Bristan they confirmed that it was not their product. I raised a complaint with Ebay but they would not help so how can I take the seller to the Small Claims Court if I don't have the seller's name and address? Thanks

Since buyers are completely covered by the eBay buyer guarantee, what happened exactly when you opened an SNAD (significantly not as described) case? 

Also, you say that you don’t have sellers address, so was this from a private seller rather than a business seller?  That makes no difference to the SNAD situation, but might affect how you proceed. 

I can only think it was out of time. It doesn't really make much sense.
There are usually plenty of options to get a refund before even considering going to court.

RFW said:

soolin said:

AFC999 said:

I recently purchased a Bristan Shower Valve on Ebay that was sold to fit a certain size of existing pipework but when it was received the wrong size had been quoted in the seller's description. I asked for a refund but the seller refused and when I enquired with Bristan they confirmed that it was not their product. I raised a complaint with Ebay but they would not help so how can I take the seller to the Small Claims Court if I don't have the seller's name and address? Thanks

Since buyers are completely covered by the eBay buyer guarantee, what happened exactly when you opened an SNAD (significantly not as described) case? 

Also, you say that you don’t have sellers address, so was this from a private seller rather than a business seller?  That makes no difference to the SNAD situation, but might affect how you proceed. 

I can only think it was out of time. It doesn't really make much sense.
There are usually plenty of options to get a refund before even considering going to court.

RFW said:

soolin said:

AFC999 said:

I recently purchased a Bristan Shower Valve on Ebay that was sold to fit a certain size of existing pipework but when it was received the wrong size had been quoted in the seller's description. I asked for a refund but the seller refused and when I enquired with Bristan they confirmed that it was not their product. I raised a complaint with Ebay but they would not help so how can I take the seller to the Small Claims Court if I don't have the seller's name and address? Thanks

Since buyers are completely covered by the eBay buyer guarantee, what happened exactly when you opened an SNAD (significantly not as described) case? 

Also, you say that you don’t have sellers address, so was this from a private seller rather than a business seller?  That makes no difference to the SNAD situation, but might affect how you proceed. 

I can only think it was out of time. It doesn't really make much sense.
There are usually plenty of options to get a refund before even considering going to court.

I assume that this was a private seller but I don't really know.

soolin

AFC999 said:

The item was purchased on the 16th of January 2025 and it was received on the 18th January and it was then that I found that it would not fit the 110mm centre that it was advertised for so I asked the seller for a return due to this problem and the seller refused. I have since found out that Ebay classed this as a change of mind rather than not as described and it was sometime later after speaking to the manufacturer that the product was not one that they manufacture. So I am left with an item that does not fit and is clearly not as described.

Oh bother, if you opened the wrong case then that might hinder your chances of doing anything else. I don't think it is possible, but it might be worth a try phoning ebay and explaining your error and asking if they would allow a SNAD case to be opened now - it might not work but it is worth a try if you are quick. You would be fully covered then with a return label issued.

Is this item worth going to small claims for , assuming you can get the sellers details? It's going to cost you a registration fee (which is reclaimed if you win the case) - but my concern is now that there is a chance the seller could defend it by suggesting you initially changed your mind, and when that didn't work you went for the SNAD as a last resort.

If it's fake then again a call to ebay might be worth a chance before you decide what to do.

soolin

AFC999 said:

RFW said:

soolin said:

AFC999 said:

I recently purchased a Bristan Shower Valve on Ebay that was sold to fit a certain size of existing pipework but when it was received the wrong size had been quoted in the seller's description. I asked for a refund but the seller refused and when I enquired with Bristan they confirmed that it was not their product. I raised a complaint with Ebay but they would not help so how can I take the seller to the Small Claims Court if I don't have the seller's name and address? Thanks

Since buyers are completely covered by the eBay buyer guarantee, what happened exactly when you opened an SNAD (significantly not as described) case? 

Also, you say that you don’t have sellers address, so was this from a private seller rather than a business seller?  That makes no difference to the SNAD situation, but might affect how you proceed. 

I can only think it was out of time. It doesn't really make much sense.
There are usually plenty of options to get a refund before even considering going to court.

RFW said:

soolin said:

AFC999 said:

I recently purchased a Bristan Shower Valve on Ebay that was sold to fit a certain size of existing pipework but when it was received the wrong size had been quoted in the seller's description. I asked for a refund but the seller refused and when I enquired with Bristan they confirmed that it was not their product. I raised a complaint with Ebay but they would not help so how can I take the seller to the Small Claims Court if I don't have the seller's name and address? Thanks

Since buyers are completely covered by the eBay buyer guarantee, what happened exactly when you opened an SNAD (significantly not as described) case? 

Also, you say that you don’t have sellers address, so was this from a private seller rather than a business seller?  That makes no difference to the SNAD situation, but might affect how you proceed. 

I can only think it was out of time. It doesn't really make much sense.
There are usually plenty of options to get a refund before even considering going to court.

RFW said:

soolin said:

AFC999 said:

I recently purchased a Bristan Shower Valve on Ebay that was sold to fit a certain size of existing pipework but when it was received the wrong size had been quoted in the seller's description. I asked for a refund but the seller refused and when I enquired with Bristan they confirmed that it was not their product. I raised a complaint with Ebay but they would not help so how can I take the seller to the Small Claims Court if I don't have the seller's name and address? Thanks

Since buyers are completely covered by the eBay buyer guarantee, what happened exactly when you opened an SNAD (significantly not as described) case? 

Also, you say that you don’t have sellers address, so was this from a private seller rather than a business seller?  That makes no difference to the SNAD situation, but might affect how you proceed. 

I can only think it was out of time. It doesn't really make much sense.
There are usually plenty of options to get a refund before even considering going to court.

I assume that this was a private seller but I don't really know.

Look at any current or closed listing from the seller - scroll down a little from the top Right hand side and in the box it shows something like (this is a random one from a seller I was looking at recently) 

• (71503)
• Business Registered as business seller

• 98.5% positive
• Seller's other itemsSeller's other items
• Contact seller

It shows there whether seller is a business or private seller. If they are a business then their details must be shown towards the bottom of the listing like this

Seller business information

I certify that all my selling activities will comply with all EU laws and regulations.

VAT number: xxxxxx

then a clickable link -

Seller contact information  - geographic address listed. 

Personally I would not be buying parts or equipment that has a failure potential from a private seller- and would suggest that in future you always check how a seller is registered before buying. 

AFC999

I can’t see that he is a business seller but he does have 129 items for sale and has sold over 200 items so not what I would call a private seller.
I don’t usually sell items on EBay so not really up to speed on the ins and outs of selling but I have been with EBay for over 24 years as a buyer and never really had a problem before and when I did it was sorted very quickly.
i was wondering when I saw all of the items for sale if Ebay decided that he was a better income source.
I have sent another letter to EBay detailing the sale and my actions together with a copy to Trading Standards.Has anyone had any luck with Trading Standards in this area?