Ebay - Final Value Fee???? Advice Please.

jwebber

Hi,

Any advice on this matter would be appreciated even if it is just to pay up and that i don't have a leg to stand on.

I recently sold a very expensive item on ebay so the final value fee was quite high - I don't sell a lot of stuff but it seemed high to me.
However the person who won the item changed their mind refusing to pay.
I put in a non-paying dispute and thought it was all sorted.
However, at the end of the month on checking the statement I noticed the final value fee for the item had initially been cancelled and then reinstated.
I queried this and was told that it was because I had ended the dispute. I am pretty sure I did not end the dispute (why would i have done) but may have done accidently (don't think I did).
Again I queried this and was told I would have to pay the final value fee because once a dispute has been closed it cannot be reopened.
I offered to send recent photographs of the item and emails for the buyer stating he no longer wanted the item but they still won't budge and are still trying to bill me the final value fee.

Firstly, what difference does it make that the dispute was ended - ebay do not claim final value fees from non-payers so what has this got to do with it?

Secondly, why should I pay this fee if I have not sold the item? - I have effectively paid for something (ebays services) and not recieved them (as item was not sold) and should I not therefore be due a refund?

Do/are ebay's final value fees come under goods and services?

Should I just pay up and put it down to experience?

Thanks in advance.

frivolous_fay

jwebber wrote: »

Firstly, what difference does it make that the dispute was ended - ebay do not claim final value fees from non-payers so what has this got to do with it?

You have to go through the unpaid item process, which gives the buyer adequate time (8 days) to pay up. It's only at this point that the dispute should be closed, and you will be told they have been given a strike.

Did you open a mutual dispute by mistake? (ie. the buyer and seller agreed not to complete the sale)

jwebber wrote: »

Secondly, why should I pay this fee if I have not sold the item?

If the NPB process above has not been completed correctly, ebay don't know that you haven't completed the sale. They assume you have.

jwebber wrote: »

I have effectively paid for something (ebays services) and not recieved them (as item was not sold) and should I not therefore be due a refund?

If you can tell us any more about the dispute you opened, any emails you received about the dispute, etc, we will be able to advise further.

jwebber

FAY thanks for the quick reply:

In the dispute console it says the following:
An Unpaid Item dispute has been opened for the following item: Reason given for Unpaid Item: We have both agreed not to complete the transaction. Buyer actions reported by seller: Other reason.Does this mean it was a mutual dispute? I only put what i did because i did not want negative feedback (fingers having been burn in the past).

I have never recieved any emails from ebay to say that the dispute has been opened or closed. It still says that it has been granted in the dispute console. Nowhere can i find any reference to it being cancelled until the recent emails. I have emails from the customer e.g.

i feel bad because of all the aggrovation that i have caused, but the truth is that i have no need for the item and you are to far for me to travel to get it in time as i do not drive, im sorry to if it seems that i have messes you about as this was not intensional. i will leave you 100% feed back as you a top ebayer
regards mike

If the NPB process above has not been completed correctly, ebay don't know that you haven't completed the sale. They assume you have.

I agree but my point is that I can prove I still have the item and have asked if ebay want this proof they say it doesn't make any difference.

frivolous_fay

Yes, that was a mutual dispute. The problem with mutuals is that the buyer has to respond to them... they can either say 'I don't want it', or 'I do want it'. If they say they do still want the item, the dispute is cancelled and the transaction is considered concluded. If they say they don't, you get your fees back. See the very dodgy ground you're on with a mutual?

I suggest you email your buyer and ask him to pay your fees. He's mucked up your dispute and cost you money.