Unwanted calls via Ebay.

[fliptheswitch]

I returned home half an hour ago to find eighteen missed calls on my answer phone. All from the same unknown mobile number and no message left. I rang it straight back, thinking it must be an emergency and the gentleman on the other end said he was calling about my item I was selling on Ebay. He started asking about it and said he would like to buy it outside of Ebay. I stopped him mid-conversation and asked him how on earth he had obtained my telephone number. He started going on, saying how if you place a bid then search for a username and then go to their details, you are able to do something which then sends you an email with the users contact details on, and then you can retract the bid. I lost him halfway and didn't have a clue what he was on about. I was more interested in getting him off the phone so I could go and collect my child from school. I told him I had to go and that I would discuss it with him via Ebay or via my Ebay email. I have returned home from the school to find another three missed call from this same person. He said he is going away tomorrow and so he is keen to get this sorted out a.s.a.p.
I have just sent him a reply to one of his many emails and said that I am not interested in selling this outside of Ebay and that if he wants the item he should bid, as everyone else has to do. I also asked him not to phone again.
I am just wondering if anyone knows how this has happened? I have never had this before and am quite unhappy with a stranger calling my home number and so many times.
I would like to know what this 'feature' is and if I can remove my number from this. Thank-you.

[woofgang]

scroll down to "request a member's contact information". If he has been asking you to sell outside of ebay, report him as ebay may ban him.

[hc4361]

You can't remove your number from the system but it is not very often abused.
It works exactly as he said - place a bid and the bidder is allowed to request seller contact details, which arrive via email.

Report him to eBay, both for trying to trade off eBay and for misusing the 'request seller details' function.

[boxtops]

I would be very peeved if anyone got my phone number from eBay - where is that screen, woofgang? I know my phone number showed when I raised an invoice on PayPal - not with any connection with eBay - and that surprised me. Even the invoices which I raise for my PayPal sales don't show my phone number.

I don't know how you'd report him to eBay without knowing his eBay user name?

We are always exhorted to report any contact from people offering to buy something off eBay, which is against the principle of eBay - so do report him if you can.

[woofgang]

sorry, forgot the link
http://pages.ebay.co....y/contact-member.html

[fliptheswitch]

Thank-you for your answers. He has called a further three times since placing this question. I will definitely report him. Thanks.

[DrFilth]

boxtops when you ask for a persons contact details regarding a sale on ebay they send you an email with the details of the person.
they also send an email to the seller with your contact details.

it can come in very handy when someone puts in false bids on your items.

[AlBags]

Yes ... Check your emails Flippo.
You will have one from eBay called 'contact details requested' or similar.

[AlBags]

Further .. go into Account and BLOCK his bids.
Post his email on the web somewhere if you want to get grubby. He will soon have to change it because of spam (like he does to you)