How to Report a Non-Paying Bidder on eBay

Selling on eBay is a good way to start a home business or to expand a brick and mortar one. However, there are some pitfalls in an eBay business. Sometimes a seller will run into a non-paying bidder. The site does have a system in place to take care of non-payers, but it can be a lengthy process. By going through the entire process, a deadbeat bidder will get a strike or be suspended.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. File an Unpaid Item report when enough time has passed that you don't expect to be paid. File one week or more after the eBay listing has ended.
2. File faster if the buyer is no longer a member of the site. Look for an icon next to the user ID that says the buyer is no longer a registered user.
3. Give eBay one week to contact the buyer and ask them to pay. Non paying bidders are given one week to respond to the complaint.
4. Go back to the dispute console after the week has ended, if you have not received a response from the buyer, or if they have contacted you and refused to pay. Choose to end the dispute instead of waiting for communication from the buyer.
5. Receive your final value fee back from eBay in the form of a credit on your account. Allow eBay to give the non-paying bidder a strike on their buying record.

Tips & Warnings

• Non paying bidders who get three unpaid item strikes will have their account suspended.
• Be sure to choose the correct reason when you end the dispute. Choosing the wrong reason can let the bidder off the hook for the purchase.