Unpaid Item Policy

Buyers automatically enter into a legally binding contract to purchase the item from the seller if they win the online auction-style listing or use the Buy It Now feature. eBay's Unpaid Item policy requires buyers to pay the seller for the items that they commit to purchase.

Sellers can file an Unpaid Item dispute with eBay for each of their items that were bought but not paid for. eBay will issue a strike on the account of the buyer who does not honour their obligation to pay (unless the buyer and seller mutually agree not to complete the transaction).

If a buyer gets too many strikes within a short period, their account will be suspended indefinitely. In some cases, limits may be placed on the buyer’s account in advance of suspension.

Some Examples

You place a bid on an item. After winning it you realise that the postage costs are more than you were expecting to pay. You ignore the invoice requests and don’t send any payment. This is a breach of eBay’s Unpaid Item policy.

You’re new to eBay and start placing bids and using Buy It Now on every item that interests you. You’ve just committed to buying all those items and are obliged to pay for them all if you’re the winning bidder. Failure to pay would be a breach of eBay’s Unpaid Item policy.

You place a bid on two similar items to ensure you don’t get outbid as you really want it. You end up winning both items, but only pay for one. This is a breach of eBay’s Unpaid Item policy. You are obliged to pay for both items if you’re the winning bidder.

Additional Information

Sellers with Unpaid Items are still eligible for Final Value Fee credits. Also, if the item is relisted and sells the second time, eBay will refund the Insertion Fee for the relisting. Learn more about how the Free Relist Policy works.

Note: Sellers who falsely report Unpaid Items may have all credits for the period in question reversed, lose the right to use the Final Value Fee Credit system for a period of time and/or be subject to suspension.

eBay provides an online Unpaid Item process through which the buyer and seller can communicate with each other to resolve Unpaid Item disputes. The seller's eligibility for a Final Value Fee credit depends on the outcome of this process.

About Unpaid Item strikes and suspensions

Unpaid Item strikes are issued and tracked by eBay.
Unpaid Item strikes are separate from feedback, and do not affect a member's feedback score or member profile.
If a buyer is issued an Unpaid Item strike it will automatically be assigned to their account when the seller receives their Final Value Fee credit.
Buyers have the option of appealing an Unpaid Item strike if they believe it was undeserved.

Why does eBay have this policy?

When a buyer doesn’t pay for an item they have won or purchased, it costs the seller time and money. eBay’s Unpaid Item policy is necessary to enforce the contractual obligations entered into between buyer and seller by placing a bid or using Buy It Now. It also helps to facilitate successful trading on the site.

Related Help topics

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