13yo DS selling on ebay.

[LynetteScavo]

DS has just told DH he has listed his phone and scooter on ebay.

I've found the phone, but not the scooter. (He isn't even bloody capable of wrapping up and posting a scooter.)

How do I go about telling ebay and paypal he is only 13?

DH is the calm one and said nothing to DS

I am the ranter and ebayer and have said I will sort it. But how???

[helpyourself]

Has he put it on you a/c?

[LynetteScavo]

No, he has set up his own accounts!

[LynetteScavo]

No advise from the whole of MN??

[Chopstheduck]

Just tell him to log in and end the auctions, you don't then need to contact eBay or PayPal.

[ratbagcatbag]

Can you make him give you account details and then cancel the transactions, it seems a weird thing fir a 13 yo to do, has he given you an explanation as to why he's done it?

[bureni]

How can he set up his own accs if he is only 13, does he have a bank acc and /or a credit card?

[titchy]

Do you hav to be over 18 for eBay and PayPal then? How was he going to access his money? Tbh I'd let it run - he'll have to sort it out, or pay you a commission. To do so

[theredhen]

Get him to give you account details, if he refuses, give him a consequence.

By letting him see you rant and getting frustrated and spending time trying to fix the problem, you are showing him he is all powerful.

[LynetteScavo]

He has a NatWest card, which I have no access to (I signed away all access Anyone reading this - I don't advise it!). It's a debit card he can use to withdraw cash, and (apparently) buy things on line.

I have no idea how old you have to be for ebay/paypal. I'm presuming it's 18.

I think his plan is to buy a new phone with the money he makes from selling his phone and scooter.

[Chopstheduck]

And that is a problem?


My kids sell stuff on eBay all the time to buy new things, but they are a lot younger and I have to list if for them!

[titchy]

If the minimum age isn't 18 (and it may well not be - he might well be running his accounts legitimately) what is the problem?

[bureni]

titchy, the min age for an ebay/paypal acc is 18years old.

[StrawWars]

What does he need the money for?

[noseymcposey]

Why is this a problem? The fact that he is underage aside, I think it's wonderful that he is prepared to sell his old stuff to buy new stuff he wants!

It's what I do and I wish the rest of the family would also do it instead of moaning about wanting things and not doing anything about actually getting them.

[bureni]

The problem is that he has created a fake and fraudulent account by giving a false DOB when creating his account with ebay and paypal, this will show up in his debit card details when he tires to remove or pay money into his acc.

[noseymcposey]

Well yes, that is a problem technically, and he should probably have asked his parents permission.

But, I'd still be inclined to admire his initiative

[fergoose]

the minimum age is 18 - if you report his auctions to eBay they will end them and close his account. Can you access his email, if so you can access his eBay via that and end the items and close his account yourself

[LynetteScavo]

Will it, bureni? Well, that would teach him a lesson! Would it have any further reaching consequences?

[LineRunner]

The PayPal protection won't work because it's a false account.

[LynetteScavo]

So I just report the listing to ebay, direct from the listing? Thank you.

No, I have no access to his email; he keeps changing the password.

[bureni]

Nosey, there is nothing technical about it. I too admire his initiative but since he has already shown that he will commit an illegal and fraudulant act to get his way his acc needs to be closed down right away both to protect himself and his mother. The simple solution is to ask the parents to list his items and buy for him, being honest is also a good initiative for a 13 year old.

[LynetteScavo]

I have no problem with him selling either items. I would quite happily list, wrap and post them for him.



(DH and I have made negative noises about him selling his scooter though. It's was an expensive scooter, he was really into his scooter....the whole family got sucked into his hobby.Wwe spent every weekend hanging out at skate parks, and driving to indoor ones far away. Then: Puff!....he looses interest. Apparently normal aspergers behavior, but I am left feeling I have difficulty dealing with transitions when he suddenly discards his previous passion. - Sorry, ranting now)

I will calmly discuss it with him tomorrow, and explain it is best if I list it for him.

[bureni]

Lynette, sorry if my comments may have sounded harsh but they were made with the best intentions both towards your son and yourself, hope you get everything sorted out and it is a good thing that you discovered what was going on so soon.

[LynetteScavo]

No, bureni, you didn't sound harsh at all!

I was in quite a panic, and you gave me some facts and calmed me down.

I now know what the best cause of action is. (I will report to ebay tomorrow after I have spoken to DS, rather than go behind his back)

[noseymcposey]

Ok fair enough, I agree that not speaking to his parents about it is perhaps the problem.

Also OP, if you are the seller you are able to end the listings early. Will he agree that he shouldn't list them on his account and end them early?

Please be aware that if he is banned from selling then it may impact on any other accounts that are registered at the same address and list using the same IP address. This is usually the case when a seller is banned, but it may be different if it is because the seller is under age because of obvious reasons. By impact on other accounts I mean that they may place selling restrictions on them.