EBay and PayPal users warned about new payment rules starting this month UK News

Millions of eBay users have been notified of the new rules coming to the platform this month.

New rules from May 31 will see changes to its payment system and new restrictions on controversial lists.

Costs and fees deducted at the point of sale. Previously, these charges were deducted in a monthly billing statement.

The remaining balance will then be transferred directly to the seller’s bank account, rather than their PayPal account, meaning that sellers will need to use a wire transfer to claim their winnings.

The changes mean that buyers will have more options to purchase items with, including; Google Pay, Apple Pay and PayPal.

More power for regulators

The Silicon Valley giant is also giving regulators more power, due to problems with lists that violate consumer rights.

According to Ebay, regulators will be able to remove the listings “when there is evidence of a risk to consumer safety”.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards, an internet regulator, OfCom, will be given partial control over listings in the UK.

It is hoped the move will speed up the removal of “illegal or dangerous items” after investigators discovered that electrical appliances and toys were among items sold in the UK without meeting safety standards.

Regulators will be offered “the possibility of themselves withdrawing any listing on the market”.

Ebay justified the move, saying that “eliminating the need for a second level of approval streamlines the process, making product removal more efficient and reducing the risk of purchasing harmful products.”

Online retailers must be legally recognized as retailers

Responding to the news, Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, told the Mirror that online retailers should be legally recognized as retailers.

She said: “Our investigations have continually found unsafe, unbranded electrical products with obvious visual flaws for sale to UK consumers. These products often lack some of the most basic safety features.”

Murray Lambell, UK director of eBay, said: “Markets should take their responsibility for consumer safety seriously, but working with authorities is vital,” he said.

“We hope other industry players will follow suit.”