How to know what to report What we'll investigate Some examples of what we won't investigate Results of the investigations

We'll investigate and try to resolve cases of inappropriate buying or selling. If you encounter something that breaches our policies, we'd like to know about it.

How to know what to report

We understand that it can be difficult to know when to report a potential offence. If you see a suspicious listing or if a member's behaviour appears to breach our policies, review our rules and policies  to make sure the issue is something we'll investigate.

You can also look at:

• Rules for sellers

• Rules for buyers

• Rules for everyone

• Prohibited and restricted items

• A-Z index of policies
  

If you find a listing you think breaches a policy, go to that listing. Then click the Report item link on the right side of the page. We'll review your report and take appropriate action.

If you find another type of violation, you can follow the directions on the policy page that describes that policy.

What we'll investigate

Here's a quick overview of the types of policy breaches that we'll investigate. To see the full policy, click the link to the left of the description.

	Feedback Feedback extortion: Members aren't allowed to demand goods, services or specific Feedback by abusing the Feedback system Feedback manipulation: Members can't artificially inflate their Feedback or the Feedback of others Feedback abuse: Feedback can't include profanities, abusive language or other text that violates our policies Feedback removal: We won't remove Feedback except under exceptional circumstances
	Buying Transaction interference: Members can't interfere with another member's transaction Offers to buy or sell outside of eBay: Members can't offer to purchase or sell a listed item outside of eBay Invalid bid retraction: Members can't retract or cancel bids, except in a few circumstances Unpaid items: Members must pay for items that they purchase. If you're a seller and haven't been paid for an item, follow the process for unpaid items Shill bidding: Members can't use bidding techniques to artificially increase an item's price or desirability
	Selling Seller performance standards: Sellers are expected to complete their sales and offer a consistently high level of buyer satisfaction. If you're a buyer, find out what to do if you don't receive an item or it's not as described Listing breaches: Sellers can't list prohibited or restricted items and must follow our rules for listings. Offers to buy or sell outside of eBay: Members can't offer to buy or sell a listed item outside of eBay Avoiding eBay fees: Members can't use systems or techniques to avoid paying eBay fees Shill bidding: Members can't use bidding techniques to artificially increase an item's price or desirability
	Contact information and identity Misrepresentation of identity: Members can't misrepresent themselves as other eBay members or eBay employees. While members can have multiple user IDs, those user IDs can't interact with one another. For example, members can't bid on or buy their own items or leave comments on their own Feedback profile False or missing contact information: Members can't falsify or leave out contact information Invalid and dead email addresses: Members must always have a valid, working email address associated with their account Underage users: Members must be 18 years of age or older
	Other Interfering with eBay's site or operations: Members can't interfere with the eBay site and can only add or change content in areas specifically designated for member use Sending spam: Members can't send unsolicited or commercial messages to other members Email threats: Members can't send threatening messages to other members Publishing contact information: Members can't publish the contact information of another member Use of profanity or patently vulgar language: Members can't use profanity or vulgar language

Some examples of what we won't investigate

We don't investigate simple misunderstandings, members who won't communicate, and personal disputes between members. Here are some examples:

• Someone outbid me at the last minute. Placing a high bid in the closing seconds of an auction-style listing is called "sniping" within the eBay community. Sniping is part of the eBay experience, and all bids placed before a listing ends are valid, even if they're placed one second before the listing ends. Learn how to avoid being outbid

• The seller refuses to answer my emails, won't acknowledge my valid payment or has already sold the item. If you don't receive your item, you can open a case in the Resolution Centre. If your purchase is eligible for eBay Buyer Protection, you can get a refund for the purchase price plus original postage & packaging (P&P). You should also leave appropriate Feedback for the reluctant seller to warn other buyers of his or her past history.

• The buyer insists that I send the item COD, accept a third-party post-dated cheque or box each item separately. Make sure you clearly state your P&P and payment terms in your listings. We encourage you to communicate with your buyer to see if you can reach a solution that you're both satisfied with. However, if the buyer won't pay, you can open an unpaid case in the Resolution Centre. Then, you'll be able to offer the item to another buyer, or relist it and request final value fee credit.

• I have a technical or billing question. To get your questions answered, contact Customer Support.

• The buyer left negative Feedback for me even after I left positive Feedback for the buyer. As per our user agreement, we won't remove these comments. eBay will only remove Feedback in certain situations.

Results of the investigation

Because we respect the privacy of our members, we won't discuss the results of an investigation in detail. However, we may contact you to tell you that the investigation has been completed.

Before taking action against a member, we'll consider the circumstances of the breach and the member's buying and selling record. Our actions may include removing listings, limiting buying and selling privileges and account suspension. Out of fairness to our members, if a complaint can't be proven, we won't take action.