Sold an item, return window expired. How long before my money is off hold?

[cardballgaming]

So I sold an item and a scammer who didn’t have any feedback for the last 6 months requested to return my item. I granted it even though I felt he was acting in bad faith and angling for a discount after the fact with a partial refund. 

ebay said “If the buyer doesn't send the item back by Apr 05 we may close this return.”

Well April 5 has come and gone with no attempted return and my funds are still on hold. I called and spoke with a team member at eBay on the 6th and he said that the refund would be closed automatically by some system eventually this week and that there was nothing he could do. 

Has anyone had this experience? Any idea how long before my funds will be released? The CS rep said the buyer could no longer return the item since the window had passed but, needless to say after how I was treated when I was forced to take the return, I don’t believe him.

I’ve waited three weeks and I still don’t have access to my money. How much longer do I have to wait?

[lamber9347]

@cardballgaming There are many posts on this forum similar to this. Buyers are allowed to still send back their item even when the window has closed. As long as it is sent back within 30 days that is. So your best bet is to remain quiet and just wait for this to either close on it's own, or you will actually receive the item back and can proceed with the refund. Best of luck to you....

[cardballgaming]

Ahh so the eBay Rep was lying to me. Gotcha. Sorry I had a hard time finding a similar question and answer. 

[fashunu4eeuh]

Hi, below is a link that can give more info on payment holds.

https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/service-and-payments/funds-availability.html

[vintagecraze50]

Ebay has a LENGTHY return window due to COVID.  They allow the funds to be held for at least another week or two after the time they say they can step in.

[frommichel]

Probably a couple of extra weeks. If you don't have money access by then, send an email to EB. No point in talking to them b/f that though.

BTW, did you add the buyer to your blocked list?

[toysaver]

My experience when returns aren't sent back is eBay closes a few days later than stated.

[48hrs-clothing]

I am astonished by eBay customer services agents comments and I believe you deserved and should have received very clear advice.

I shall attempt to do the job that eBay CS should have done.

Noted that on case itself  it stated “If the buyer doesn't send the item back by Apr 05 we may close this return.”

Assume buyer sends the item by April 5th means expected arrival to you by say April 12th ( Can be a day or so sooner or later depending on distance involved)  and an additional 2 days for you to inspect the item and issue a refund means earliest eBay can step in is April 14th. Dates may be out by a day or 2 but I am sure you get the approximate time frame.

Some where around April 12th I would expect the details on the case itself to change inviting you to escalate and this is when case will close without a refund to your buyer and if you are in manage payments then I would expect your funds to be released within 24 hours of case closing.

CS rep statement that " the buyer could no longer return the item since the window had passed" is strictly speaking not quite correct as buyer may have already sent the item but not upload the tracking and buyer can appeal the case if he did this and item gets delivered to you even after case is closed in your favour.

I know that it is frustrating when buyers do not send the items back quickly and we seller have no option but wait for these dates to pass.

I hope this helps.

Good luck