EBay Sellers Beware, Billing Stole My Money, Ripoff San Jose California

SELLERS TAKE NOTICE... DO NOT CARRY A CREDIT BALANCE IN YOUR EBAY ACCOUNT.

eBay stole $224.35 from my eBay account and customer service says only a lawyer can get information from their billing department!

In February 2003, as was the normal encouragement by eBay at the time, I deposited a credit balance of $250 into my seller's account via my credit card to cover upcoming fees for products I had already purchased and would be selling. However, for personal reasons, I stopped selling for more than 2 years but not before there were fees deducted from my credit balance for items I had sold. That credit balance was in my account until September of 2004 when eBay decided it was theirs!!

I admit, I hadn't checked my account often during the 2 years but the last statement I looked at in August 2004 still showed the credit. Then when I was ready to start again in May 2005, I find my money gone and a $0 balance in my account. eBay had debited my account in Sept. 2004. I received no notification of any kind either before or after.

I opened an online inquiry on May 25, 2005 requesting an explanation as to what happened to my money. After months of emails, letters and phone calls with eBay and my VISA company, eBay still hasn't provided a viable explanation as to why it stole the money from my seller's account.

The progression of this issue is as follows:

1.) eBay's initial reason given was that they never charged my VISA account and therefore had the right to withdraw the funds. That idea changed when I provided a copy of my Visa statement showing the charge by eBay.

2.) eBay now said they were never able to collect so the funds were never deposited. That changed when confirmation was given by VISA and I asked why eBay would deduct seller's fees ($25.35) from $250 that never existed in my account.

3.) After more "research", the reason becomes that there was a "chargeback" by VISA. Once again confirmation came that not only was there NO chargebacks made but that my VISA account had been closed so there could be no further transactions of any kind after August 2003 (a whole year before the supposed "reversal" of funds).

4.) I once again ask for documented proof from eBay to support their claim and were sent the following quoted final email reply from customer service.

"It is possible to obtain those documents from eBay, however since the event occurred over two years ago, further researches of our stored records regarding this situation will need to be done by our Billing & Processing Operation center, which I do not have the direct ability to influence, regrettably.

However, you can have your attorney, who would have a direct influence of this request, to contact eBay's legal department to request this document. If your attorney wish to contact our legal department, please send your correspondence to:

eBay Inc.
Attn: Corporate Counsel
2145 Hamilton Avenue
San Jose, CA 95125 "

Like any big business, eBay knows it will cost more than $224.35 to hire an attorney to settle this issue.

Shouldn't eBay, Inc be subject to financial accountability for sellers funds in their control without me having to run the legal gambit after jumping through all their hoops for 4 months????

Martha
Niverville, New York
U.S.A.