How do I get a refund from eBay (UK)?

There are several reasons why you may want a refund from eBay UK. The goods you ordered may arrive in a faulty state or it may be completely damaged. The goods you receive may also slightly or completely different from the goods' description in their original listing. In any of the above cases, you should be happy to know that you are covered under eBay's Money Back Guarantee.

Money Back Guarantee

eBay's Money Back Guarantee ensures that you can return an item even if the seller's return policy explicitly states that they do not accept returns. You can review the seller's return policy by selecting the item in your 'Purchase History.' Once you initiate an item return for a refund, the merchant has 8 days to resolve the issue after which if the problem still persists, you can ask eBay to step in and mediate.

Initiate the Return Process

The first step in initiating a refund is starting the item's return process which is done through the steps below:

1. Locate the item in your 'Purchase History'
2. Select it and click the option 'Return this item'
3. Choose your reason for returning the item. If the item arrived faulty or damaged, you can upload up to 10 pictures proving the state of the defective product
4. After uploading the photos simply click 'Send.'

As stated earlier, the merchant has up to 8 calendar days to respond to your return request. You can review the state of your return request by clicking 'Check your return status' in your 'Purchase History.' The seller's response to your request will depend on the reason for the return. The seller can accept your return request and offer a full refund or offer you a partial refund and let you keep the item. The seller can also send you a message asking for more details about the return request or if a replacement will do instead of a refund.

Once the seller accepts your return, you will receive an email in your messages with the subject 'Send the item back.' Send the item back within a fortnight of receiving the email. Additional tracking information about your package will help protect you against issues that may arise in the refund process. An eBay return label is advised as it will be automatically uploaded to eBay.

When sending back the item, ensure the packaging is in order as the state in which the seller receives the item will be a crucial determinant of receiving the refund.

Receiving your refund

Once the seller receives the item and agrees to a refund, they only have two days to release the refund. The amount of the refund will depend on your agreement with the seller. It could be a partial or a full refund.

A refund made through PayPal typically takes three to five days to arrive. However, it may take as long as 30 days to receive a refund made through a credit card. You can check on the state of your refund in your 'Purchase History.'

If you do not receive the refund

The seller should be able to handle the request for a refund with no trouble. On the contrary, some sellers are stubborn and the 8 days may elapse without you hearing a word from them. Once the 8 calendar days have passed, you should request eBay to step in and help with the issue. The problem should be resolved within 21 business days of sending the request.

The best way to contact eBay UK is though their customer service phone number. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can obtain the number from GetHuman.