Ebay and benefits.

real1314

Elle83 has come to the right conclusion, but not quite got the reasoning accurate.

You buy something for £10, then after 2 years you sell it for £5. You're not making "cashback", you're losing money. Or making a loss. £5 loss in fact.

This is not earning, nor unearned income. What it really is, is selling assets, which is not taken into account as income, but can be as savings, however with a £6,000 allowance most people should be fine.

As for quidco, most of that is just a form of discount on something you buy, so again is not earned or even unearned income it's just a lower price paid by a circuitous route.

lilac_lady

You say that your family have used your ebay account to buy and sell things. Why don't they have their own accounts even if they have to use your PC? I wouldn't take the chance that you'll be asked to explain your paypal earnings so I would use it only for myself if I was in your position benefits wise, especially if you've already had an interview under caution.

cookingmama31

My parents and brothers use has been minimal but i'm guessing from the advice thats been given i'm ok! As I said it's kids clothes, video games and books and it's basically selling them on to buy others with. The money stays in PayPal and I am just registered as a personal seller not a business one. My PayPal account over the last 2 years wouldn't even come near to the maximum savings amount.

I was just genuinely unsure of where the BA stands with Ebay. Thanks to everyone for their replies. x

:A

pipkin71

Interesting topic, as I sell majority of our unwanted stuff on ebay.

Pipkin xxxx

Lazy_Ike

cookingmama31 wrote: »

My parents and brothers use has been minimal but i'm guessing from the advice thats been given i'm ok! As I said it's kids clothes, video games and books and it's basically selling them on to buy others with. The money stays in PayPal and I am just registered as a personal seller not a business one. My PayPal account over the last 2 years wouldn't even come near to the maximum savings amount.

I was just genuinely unsure of where the BA stands with Ebay. Thanks to everyone for their replies. x

:A

Lilac_Lady's advise is good, and in your situation I would follow it. Although from your description of your own activities you are a personal seller, the fact that this is how you registered yourself does not make it so. It is how you use Ebay that will be used by authorities to judge whether or not it is personal or business. One of the criteria used by Ebay as directed by HMRC for a business seller is one who sells as an agent for others. Whilst you assert you are not doing this, with the resultant money stays in YOUR Paypal account, you will be hard pressed if challenged by BA to refute this. All very minor I know, but you have experienced how picky BA can be (I have read your other thread). It is no great hardship to set up individual accounts.

Elle00

Lol, cookingmama please don't worry. There are always people who take things too seriously.

The bottom line is that selling used items on ebay is not cheating the system (regardless of whether you want to argue it's cashback or depreciation lololol). If you've been selling for other people occasionally and have passed on the money then that too is not a problem - they'll just be asked to confirm that they had the money from you and you might or might not be asked not to let them use it in future.

I have now read your other thread. I can understand why you've been highlighted as a possible benefit cheat. People in similar situations HAVE been cheating system and that's why these investigations have to happen. But from what you say, you've done nothing wrong and aren't one of those cheats. So sit tight, answer the questions you're asked and provide any documents that are asked for. It'll all be over soon enough.

lexa34

You could contact the community legal service which will provide free legal (aid)advice to people on benefits just to be totally clear so you don't have to worry about it. It is also confidential.

http://www.clsdirect.org.uk/
or 0845 345 4 345

I hear they are very good.