When buyers do not pay for items they have bought or won, they have violated eBay’s Unpaid Item Policy, and and eBay may issue a strike on the buyer’s account. However, sometimes a buyer may receive a strike despite having paid for the item.

An Unpaid Item strike can be removed if:

• eBay is provided an accepted proof of payment by email, fax or postal mail or

• eBay is provided with proof that the seller excused the buyer from their obligation or

• The seller removes the strike themselves

Note: If you are a seller and would like to remove an Unpaid Item Strike from a buyer’s account, see Removing an Unpaid Item strike.

• Providing proof of payment to eBay

• Examples of Unpaid Item strike removals

Accepted proof of payment

eBay accepts any of the following as proof of payment:

• Copy of a check or money order – Send photocopies of the front and back of your check or money order (or money order receipt). Include the item number and your User ID.

• Email communication between you and the seller – Send eBay copies of email that you sent to the seller. Please include the email headers.

• Copy of payment confirmation from PayPal or other payment service – Send or email a copy of your payment confirmation email from PayPal or a confirmation email from another payment service. Please include the email headers.

• Proof that the seller left you positive feedback for the transaction – If the seller left you positive feedback, send eBay an email including the item number so that we can verify the feedback.

• Proof that the seller excused you from the transaction – Send a copy of the email showing that the seller excused you from the transaction. Please include the email headers.

Providing proof of payment to eBay

• Email – You can submit your appeal with email evidence through the online Unpaid Item Bidder Appeal form.

• Fax – Include the following on the documentation you submit to eBay:

  • Item number

  • Your User ID

  • Write "Bidder Appeal" on the fax cover page

  • Fax your appeal to: 1-888-379-6251

Note: Hard copy appeals often take up to 10 business days to process.

Examples of Unpaid Item strike removals

Example 1 – Mary buys a lamp from Steve and mails him a check for the item. Unfortunately, the check is delayed in the mail for over 2 weeks. Concerned about non-payment, Steve files an Unpaid Item claim against Mary which results in Mary receiving a strike. The next day, Steve receives Mary’s check for payment and ships her lamp with an apology note. Mary can now appeal the unpaid item strike by sending a photocopy of the note and cashed check.

Example 2 – Sarah is purchasing designer glass beads from Colin. She wishes to buy 10 beads and places a multi-quantity bid for 10. She later finds out that she has bid on 10 lots and each lot contains 10 beads. Not knowing what to do with so many beads, Sarah only pays for one lot but offers her apology to the seller. Satisfied with the apology, Colin excuses Sarah from purchasing the remaining 9 lots and files an Unpaid Item claim to recover Final Value Fee credits. Sarah received an Unpaid Item strike, but she can now appeal that strike by sending the email communication excusing her from the transaction to eBay with the appeal.