eBay offers buyers and sellers special programmes and services to help make buying and selling safer. Here’s an overview of the protection and support you can use to resolve your issue.

The following information and tips can help you prevent problems:

• Communicating with Your Trading Partner – Learn tips about how you can work things out with your buyer or seller.

• Contacting eBay Members – Learn how to obtain the User ID and telephone numbers of your trading partner.

For Buyers - transaction tips, protection programmes, and services

If you have problems with a seller, eBay has the following information that can help you.

• Knowing Your Seller – Find out ways to learn about your seller and tips to make your buying experience go smoothly.

• Avoiding Transaction Problems – Tips for Buyers – Learn about how to help ensure a successful trading experience before you bid or buy.

• Item Not Received or Significantly Not as Described Process – Learn about the process for resolving a dispute about an item you have purchased.

• Appealing Unpaid Item Strikes – Learn about requirements of removing an Unpaid Item strike or suspension on your buyer’s account.

In addition, PayPal offers Buyer Protection Programme that covers most eBay purchases paid with PayPal. Learn more  .

For Sellers - transaction tips, protection programmes, and services

If you have problems with a buyer, eBay has the following information, programmes and services that can help.

• Knowing Your Buyer – Find out ways to learn about your buyer and tips to make your selling experience go more smoothly.

• Avoiding Transaction Problems – Tips for Sellers – Learn about how to help ensure a successful trading experience before you list your item, including how to reduce the risk of an Unpaid Item.

• Buyer Activity Limits – Learn what activity limits are and how eBay uses them.

• Unpaid Item Process – Learn what an Unpaid Item dispute is and how to start the claim process.

What eBay can do

eBay provides programmes to help protect intellectual property and resolve disputes. Here are some highlights:

• Understanding eBay’s Role – Review what eBay does and does not do when transaction problems occur.

• About Transactions Outside eBay – Learn about transactions that occur outside of eBay and what you should do if this happens.

• Guidelines for Creating Legally Compliant Listings – Review the guidelines for listing items properly on eBay.

• Protecting Intellectual Property (VeRO) – Review how eBay works with sellers to protect their intellectual property.

• Dispute Resolutions – Learn about eBay’s processes for dispute resolutions.

• Why eBay May End Your Listing – Learn about when and why eBay may remove a listing.

• Reporting Inappropriate Trading Behaviour – Review what eBay does and does not do about inappropriate trading and how to report problems to eBay.

If you can't find the answer to a trading problem in eBay's online Help section or on the Community help boards, email eBay using the links found on most Help pages. You'll usually get a response within 48 hours.

To report listing violations or problems with another eBay member, first make sure there is a policy violation by using the Help system to find the appropriate policy. Then use the report links in the appropriate policy page to report the member to eBay.