Ebay asked me for my medical information

[auburn0825]

I have been on Ebay since they pretty much started. I am far from being a big seller, but I do love selling on here. I was hospitalized and couldnt put my account on some kind of hold or cancel any auctions until I was back home. I had 4 auctions that went through and couldnt mail out, so i was able to cancel the orders at this point and just put out of stock, mind you Ebay still got their fees. Because I didnt click on correct cancelation, I am now a below standards. I literally have to sell 217 items to bring back up. I can appeal this if I submit medical information about hospital stay,  How is this possible, I thought Hippa laws were in place of this. I refused, my health is my business.  4 items after selling for 1.3k and 100% feedback how is this resonable? 

I think im done, there is nothing in place when a buyer doesnt pay, our items have to sit for 2 weeks than we can cancel. Ridiculous 217 items that they will recieve and extra 5%. So now if I sold something for 10.00 that I paid 5.00, my profit would be $1.00

[bonjourami]

Sorry for your troubles, but canceling transactions is the kiss of death for every seller. Ebay does not like disappointed, unhappy, buyers who may not come back. How long you've been on Ebay is immaterial, I joined that same year, but I dont expect special treatment because of it. The rules are the same for everybody, no exceptions. If you dont want to provide any proof that you were hospitalized, then dont. Accept the defects, and move on, good luck.

[heckofagame]

What other proof can you offer? What specifically are they looking for? I would assume they need verification of dates. 

[fern*wood]

I'm kind of surprised they are even willing to look at a medical excuse.  If it were me, I'd probably submit my proof if I thought I would get the defects removed and if I wanted to continue selling.   I thought hipaa laws protected you from having your medical records released without your permission.  It doesn't prevent you from releasing them yourself.

[worldcoinauctions]

HIPPAA is intended to keep your health care providers from sharing information about you. It doesn't keep you from sharing information about you. It sounds like ebay is offering you a pass on defects if you prove that you had a medical issue, it's your choice to give them that or take the defect.

[nobody*s_perfect]

---

@auburn0825 wrote: .... I can appeal this if I submit medical information about hospital stay,  How is this possible, I thought Hippa laws were in place of this. I refused, my health is my business....

---

Yes, HIPAA protects the confidentiality of your medical information -- it can't be released without your consent.  That's why eBay is asking for you to provide proof that you had a medical problem that prevented you from shipping out.

IMHO you shouldn't be outraged, you should be grateful that eBay is even willing to consider giving you a break due to your circumstances.  If they want proof that you were hospitalized, then some very basic billing information should suffice; I doubt that they expect you to reveal your diagnosis and every little lab test.

There's a lesson here for us all -- try to have somebody in your life as backup who can deal with your eBay stuff if you're incapacitated.

[tsme35]

Yes, with hippa laws, they can't look at your medical records but ebay has policies in place if you fall below standards. Your lucky they requested proof, I've read a bunch of posts where sellers sent in proof and the ebay refuse to drop it. You should be able to send in proof of a hospital stay without disclosing the reason.    Just a thought

[soh.maryl]

HIPA is designed for confidentiality so that no health care provider can release your medical information without YOUR consent.  It does not prevent YOU from releasing YOUR OWN information, however.  

[monica-sells]

They didn't ask you for "medical information"....

If they are offering you a way to justify your inability to meet your obligations....take it...

What are you revealing if you simply show a record that you were hospitalized....

they are not asking what for, what the treatment is, what the prognosis is....

you are being given an opportunity to clear yourself... 

I am somewhat surprised you are getting this option....I would take it in a minute

[yuzuha]

Look at it this way: if they DIDN'T ask for proof, then sellers could get away with just not shipping items or canceling orders willy-nilly by claiming they were sick/in the hospital.

I don't see why it's a big deal. If I have to take more than three sick days in a row, my job wants a doctor's note as evidence that I am in fact sick. It's the same idea.

[maxine*j]

Conversation:

eBay:  We must restrict your account for non-performance, as you failed to complete several transactions.

Seller:  I was so sick I was hospitalized and so distraught I used the wrong reason for cancellations.

eBay:  OK, then show us proof of the hospitalization so we can reconsider.

Seller:  What! You want my medical information? I am outraged! That is against the law!

Me: Huh?

-

[iamalwaysright]

Sentiment aside, I get why ebay is such a stickler at sellers cancelling orders. If I was a buyer, I would HAAAATE the unreliability of some of ebay's competitors. At those sites, you think you secured a purchase, but did you really? Plenty of buyer/seller flakes.

And I get why ebay won't just take your word for it. These days the lengths some people will go or say just to get their way is staggering. They aren't above any shadiness. And showing proof is the only way ebay can distinguish you from them. 

If your health was your business, why did you even bring it up at all to ebay or even this thread? I'm simply saying if it wasn't a big deal to you to mention it those times, then it shouldn't be that big of a deal to show proof of your hospital stay. See if the hospital can provide the proof without showing your reason of stay. Good luck.

[wastingtime101]

Can you not provide a copy of the hospital bill and black out the info related to diagnosis / treatment - just provide proof of the dates/length of your stay @auburn0825 ? Seems that's all eBay would really need in this situation.

[lux.ra_14]

I had to present a death certificate to get a bereavement fare from an airline. Unpleasant but necessary.

[house*of*paws]

Hi @auburn0825 

All you would need to prove is the fact of your hospital stay ... NOT the reason for it. 

Why wouldn't you want to do that?