Paul looks for a grill on eBay and places a bid. After winning the item, he realises that postage of the item will cost him more than he is willing to spend. He decides not to send payment and simply ignores the invoices that he receives. Paul has violated the Unpaid Item policy.

Sarah is new to eBay and is just browsing. Excited by all the great deals that she is finding, she starts placing bids and using Buy It Now on every item that catches her eye. She doesn’t realise that she’s just purchased many of those items and is obligated to pay for them. If she chooses not to pay for the items, she is in violation of eBay’s Unpaid Item policy.

Colin is looking for a new boat. He finds many models that he would be very happy with and places a bid on over a dozen boats in hopes that he’ll stay the winning bidder and win a boat. Colin ends up winning two boats and pays for the one that he really likes. By not paying for the second boat, Colin is violating the Unpaid Item policy.

Sellers with Unpaid Items are 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.

Note: Sellers who falsely report Unpaid Items may have all credits for the time 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 user'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.

 For transactions involving an Unpaid Item, Feedback left by buyers may be removed when:

• A buyer fails to respond to the Unpaid Item process

• When the communication and comments left by the buyer within the Unpaid Item Dispute Console undermine the integrity of both the Unpaid Item process and the eBay Feedback system.

When a buyer does not pay for an item the buyer has 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 and helps to facilitate successful trading on the site.