You have sold an item but the deal falls through.

This could be for a number of reasons;

Buyer changes their mind

Buyer bought by mistake

Buyer no longer requires the item

Fraudulent use of a members account

OR THE MOST ANNOYING- Drunken bidding after the pub at a weekend!

The buyer e mails & says that they are sorry, or you begin an unpaid item dispute after 7 days and they answer via the consol saying that they no longer require the item.

We have made the mistake several times of instigating a mutual agreement cancellation (we have both agreed not to proceed, or buyer is returning the item for a refund).

Once you initiate this agreement, an e mail is sent to the buyer asking them if they agree.

Despite assurances that they will agree, they tell ebay that they intend to pay or did not agree with not proceeding. I even think that sometimes the new members don't understand the e mail that Ebay send!

Ebay then CANCEL the unpaid item dispute and WILL NOT CREDIT YOUR FVF. The non-paying bidder can now leave you NEGATIVE FEEDBACK and still doesn't pay. You CAN NOT re-open the unpaid item dispute and end up paying listing fees & final valuation fees without receiving a penny.

Ebay know that this loophole exists, but refuse to do anything about it. Even if you send them copies of the emails from the non-paying bidder, they will not take any action. All they say is "that is the policy"

Just be warned before you agree to a mutual cancellation-it could cost you money!

Ebay e mailed us & told us that we should only do a mutual agreement if you are SURE that the bidder will agree-CAN YOU EVER TRUST ANYONE YOU DON'T KNOW & HAVE NEVER MET, THAT MUCH?

This has happened to us several times and other members have also been caught out this way so be very wary.

Just to clarify - a mutual agreement cancellation ONLY allows refund of Final Valuation fees - NOT listing fees. The final valuation fee is the % charged by ebay for the money that they expect you to receive from your sold item. If the buyer doesn't pay or if the money is refunded IN FULL then the seller doesn't receive this money. The seller ALWAYS bears the cost of the listing fees. If the refund is due to a false description then they will pay the consequences by losing the listing fee.

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