Newbie Question
Summary: tewhol-0 questioned why eBay requires a phone number without providing theirs in return. shire123 and bonanza125 explained that eBay may use phone numbers for callbacks and due to legal requirements. onlinecentral noted that phone number verification is a common practice. duffy4444 warned about potential scams involving fake eBay contact numbers, and stainlessenginecovers highlighted the asymmetric nature of sharing sensitive information with companies. tewhol-0 thanked the participants for their explanations.
Why does e-bay need my phone number if i cant have theirs ?
tewhol-0
Posted Aug 12, 2026 at 3:06 PM · Edited Aug 12, 2026 at 3:06 PM·Last reply Aug 12, 2026 at 10:34 PM
10 comments
mam98031
·Aug 12, 2026 at 10:34 PMEbay is now required by LAW to have that information. Once Ebay became a Money Processor, lots of things changed. More information was required by LAW for them to have. But with that said, Ebay has always required a current and correct phone number for members. If Ebay needs to contact you right away, that information is very important for them to have and for it to be correct.
You seem to feel that if they can do it, you should be able to do it too. This isn't a level playing field. You are not equal to Ebay in your rights as a user. You are not required by LAW to adhere to certain things or gather certain information, but Ebay is. If you feel you are equal to Ebay in all things, you will constantly be frustrated and disappointed.
stainlessenginecovers
·Aug 12, 2026 at 6:57 PMThey also require your Social Security Number, Bank Account Number but you also do NOT get theirs.
Kinda reaching, huh??
tewhol-0
OPAug 12, 2026 at 8:09 PMSimple Question
duffy4444
·Aug 12, 2026 at 6:17 PMeBay doesn't have a phone number for any of us to use. If you have a phone number for eBay CS that you found online or from a friend, there's a really great chance it is one of many scams to get your information for nefarious use.
Cheers, Duffy
tewhol-0
OPAug 12, 2026 at 4:49 PMthank you for the information
@everyone!
onlinecentral
·Aug 12, 2026 at 4:48 PMCompanies will send a code to the phone number. The would be new member needs to enter that code to confirm that it is their phone number. All companies do that. It does not seem unusual to me for eBay to ask for your phone number.
arraus
·Aug 12, 2026 at 3:59 PM · EditedTrue.
Congress made a law for e-commerce sellers to provide our name, address, and number... but not for CS to customers.
Hmmmmm, your point is well taken
bonanza125
·Aug 12, 2026 at 3:51 PMEbay has a call back system in place. Chatbox leads to "Have us call you." They would then call you back. There is also some legal requirements that Ebay and other platforms have a phone number on file.
shire123
·Aug 12, 2026 at 3:23 PMSo that when you ask them a question they can call you back.
tewhol-0
OPAug 12, 2026 at 3:33 PMEmail .