How to report inappropriate buying and selling

	How to know what to report How to report a policy breach What we investigate Some examples of what we won't investigate Results of the investigations

We'll investigate and try to resolve instances of inappropriate buying or selling. If you encounter something that breaches our policies, want to know about it.

How to know what to report

If you see a suspicious listing or if a member's behaviour appears to breach our policies, first review our rules and policies to make sure the issue is something we'll investigate.

You can also look at:

• Rules for sellers

• Rules for buyers

• Rules for everyone

• Rules about Feedback

• Prohibited and restricted items

• A-Z index of policies

How to report a policy breach

If you see a listing you think breaches a policy, click the Report item link on the right side of the listing page. We'll review your report and take appropriate action.

For other types of policy breaches, follow the directions on the page that describes the relevant policy.

What we'll investigate

	Feedback Feedback extortion: Members aren't allowed to demand goods, services or positive Feedback by abusing the Feedback system. Feedback manipulation: Members can't artificially inflate their Feedback or sabotage the Feedback of others.
	Buying Buying practices: We don't allow unfair or unsafe behaviour from buyers - such as making unreasonable demands of sellers, or taking advantage of our protection systems. Transaction interference: Members can't interfere with another member's transaction. Offers to buy outside of eBay: Members can't offer to buy or sell a listed item outside of eBay. Invalid bid retraction: Members can't retract or cancel bids, except in a few circumstances. Unpaid items: Members must pay for items that they purchase. If you're a seller and haven't been paid for an item, report the unpaid item. Shill bidding: Members can't use bidding techniques to artificially increase an item's price or desirability.
	Selling Seller performance standards: Sellers are expected to complete their sales and offer a consistently high level of buyer satisfaction. If you're a buyer, find out what to do if you don't receive an item or it's not as described. Listing breaches: Sellers can't list prohibited or restricted items and must follow our rules for listings. Offers to buy or sell outside of eBay: Members can't offer to buy or sell a listed item outside of eBay. Avoiding eBay fees: Members can't use systems or techniques to avoid paying eBay fees. Shill bidding: Members can't use bidding techniques to artificially increase an item's price or desirability.
	Contact information and identity Misrepresentation of identity: Members can't pretend to be as other eBay members or eBay employees. While members can have multiple user IDs, those user IDs can't interact with one another. For example, members can't bid on or buy their own items or leave comments on their own Feedback profile. False or missing contact information: Members can't falsify or not include contact information. Invalid and dead email addresses: Members must always have a valid, working email address associated with their account. Underage users: Members must be 18 years of age or older.
	Other Interfering with eBay's site or operations: Members can't interfere with the eBay site and can only add or change content in areas specifically designated for member use. Sending spam: Members can't send unsolicited or commercial messages to other members. Email threats: Members can't send threatening messages to other members. Publishing contact information: Members can't publish the contact information of another member. Use of profanity or patently vulgar language: Members can't use profanity or vulgar language.

What we won't investigate

We don't investigate simple misunderstandings, members who won't communicate, and personal disputes between members.

Here are some examples of behaviour we won't investigate:

• Someone outbid me at the last minute. Placing a high bid in the closing seconds of an auction-style listing is called 'sniping' within the eBay community. Sniping is part of the eBay experience, and all bids placed before a listing ends are valid, even if they're placed one second before the listing ends. Learn how to avoid being outbid.

• The seller refuses to answer my emails, won't acknowledge my valid payment or has already sold the item. If you don't receive your item, or if the item arrived but it isn't as it was described in the listing, you may be covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee. If your purchase is eligible for eBay Money Back Guarantee, you can get a refund for the purchase price plus original postage & packaging (P&P).

• The buyer insists that I send the item COD, accept a third-party post-dated cheque or box each item separately. Make sure you clearly state your P&P and payment terms in your listings. We encourage you to communicate with your buyer to see if you can reach a solution that works for both of you.

• The buyer left negative Feedback for me even after I left positive Feedback for the buyer. eBay will only remove transaction defects and Feedback related to defects in certain situations. Learn more about the defect removal policy.

Results of an investigation

Because we respect the privacy of our members, we don't discuss the results of an investigation in detail. However, we may contact you to tell you that the investigation has been completed.

Before taking action against a member, we'll consider the circumstances of the breach and the member's buying and selling record. Our actions may include removing listings, sending a warning notice, limiting buying and selling privileges and account suspension. Bear in mind that not all of our actions will be obvious to other members.

Out of fairness to our members, we won't take action if a complaint can't be proven.