How To Open Unpaid Item Case On eBay

How To Open Unpaid Item Case On eBay – Read Best Guide

This post provides a comprehensive guide on How To Open Unpaid Item Case On eBay. As a seller on eBay, you can open an unpaid item case if an item is yet to be paid for after some days. eBay introduced the Unpaid Item Assistant feature to ensure that sellers are protected, the popular marketplace wants to ensure that each seller’s interest is protected and they can get paid for every item sold.

The eBay unpaid item case feature also helps in reminding buyers over an item(s) they ordered and are yet to pay for. Are you a seller on eBay and you are looking for ways to open a case over an item that was ordered and not paid for by one of your buyers?

This article will provide every answer you need regarding how to open unpaid item case on eBay. You can click on any of the links below to jump to the section you want to read or read everything down. Also read How To Avoid Ebay Managed Payments

Unpaid Assistant eBay

The Unpaid Item Assistant is a feature on eBay that helps sellers get paid for their items by automatically opening an Unpaid Item case if a buyer does not pay for an item within a certain timeframe. The timeframe can be customized by the seller, but it defaults to 4 days.

If a buyer does not pay for an item within the timeframe, the Unpaid Item Assistant will automatically open a case against the buyer. The buyer will then have 4 days to pay for the item or the case will be closed and the seller will be able to relist the item.

The Unpaid Item Assistant can be a helpful tool for sellers who want to avoid having to manually open Unpaid Item cases. However, it is important to note that the Unpaid Item Assistant is not perfect. There are some cases where the Unpaid Item Assistant may not open a case, such as if the buyer has a good feedback rating or if the item is a low-value item.

As a verified seller on eBay, you can enable the Unpaid Item Assistant by going to your Seller Dashboard and clicking on the “Preferences” tab. Under the “Payments” section, you will see the option to “Enable Unpaid Item Assistant”. You can then select the timeframe for which you want the Unpaid Item Assistant to open cases.

If you are a buyer on eBay, you should be aware of the Unpaid Item Assistant and take steps to avoid having an Unpaid Item case opened against you. You can do this by paying for items within the timeframe specified by the seller. If you are unable to pay for an item within the timeframe, you should contact the seller and let them know as soon as possible.

Is eBay Unpaid Item Assistant Free?


Yes, the eBay Unpaid Item Assistant is free for sellers to use. It is a feature that is included in the basic eBay seller fees. There is no additional charge to use the Unpaid Item Assistant.

The Unpaid Item Assistant is a helpful tool for sellers who want to avoid having to manually open Unpaid Item cases. It can save sellers time and effort, and it can help to ensure that they get paid for their items.

However, it is important to note that the Unpaid Item Assistant is not perfect. There are some cases where the Unpaid Item Assistant may not open a case, such as if the buyer has a good feedback rating or if the item is a low-value item.

If you are a seller on eBay, you should still be proactive about checking your listings and opening Unpaid Item cases manually if necessary. This will help to ensure that you get paid for all of your items. Also read How To Reprint Shipping Label on eBay 

eBay Unpaid Item Case Automatic

A seller can automatically enable the eBay unpaid item assistant to save time. Once this is enabled, unpaid item cases will be open automatically on the seller’s behalf and a mail will be sent to the seller once credits or payments are made.
The feature will also relist the item and close the case if the buyer does not pay after five days.

This eBay unpaid item assistant can only be set to automatic if the seller is using electronic payments.
The feature can’t detect when payments are made by postal order, outside the eBay checkout, or check.

How To Open Unpaid Item Case On eBay

If you have waited for over 4 days and no words from the buyer, try to contact him or her politely to find out what is wrong or remind them to pay. If that doesn’t work, follow the steps below to open an unpaid item case.

  • Head to the Resolution Center.
  • Click on ‘I haven’t received my payment yet’.
  • Tap ‘Continue’.
  • Sign in to your seller account to insert details of the order.
    The buyer will be notified of the unpaid order immediately.

When Can I Cancel An eBay Order For Non Payment?

eBay allow every seller to cancel an order for non-payment if the buyer has not paid within 4 calendar days of the listing ending. You can do this by going to your Orders page and selecting the “Cancel order” button next to the order. You will need to select the reason for the cancellation, which in this case is “Buyer hasn’t paid.”

Once you have canceled the order, the item will be relisted automatically. You will also receive a full refund of the listing fees.

Remember that you cannot cancel an order if the buyer has already paid. If you do, you may be subject to penalties from eBay. Also learn How To Print Packing Slip eBay

eBay Unpaid Item Case Consequences

eBay no longer supports unpaid item cases. Instead, if a buyer does not pay for an item within 4 calendar days of the listing ending, the seller can cancel the order. The item will be relisted automatically and the seller will receive a full refund of the listing fees.

In the past, eBay sellers could file an unpaid item case against a buyer who did not pay for an item. If the buyer did not respond to the case within 4 days, the seller could win the case and receive a refund of the item price and shipping costs. The buyer would also receive an unpaid item strike on their account.

However, eBay discontinued unpaid item cases in May 2021. The company said that the new policy would make it easier for sellers to get their items back on the market and would also reduce the number of unpaid item strikes that buyers received.

Even though eBay no longer supports unpaid item cases, there are still consequences for buyers who do not pay for items. If a buyer has a history of unpaid item cancellations, they may be subject to limits imposed by sellers or by eBay, or they may lose their buying privileges altogether.

eBay Unpaid Item Strike Removal

An eBay buyer can plead for an unpaid item strike to be removed by providing valid reasons for being unable to pay for the items purchased.

However, there are conditions for this request to be granted. These conditions include;

  • If it was your first unpaid cancellation.
  • If there was a family emergency you attended to.
  • If your account was compromised.
  • If you actually paid for the items and you have proof.
  • If the seller was suspended.
  • If the terms of the sale was changed by the seller after you won an auction or committed to buy.
  • If mitigating circumstances like natural disaster stopped you from making the payment.
  • The seller proved you paid through a feedback they left.
  • You and the seller agreed to a later payment date via messages.

To apply for the eBay Unpaid Item Strike removal, click here.

How Many Unpaid Item Strikes eBay?


A buyer can receive up to 2 unpaid item strikes in a 12-month period. If a buyer receives 2 unpaid item strikes in a 12-month period, sellers can automatically block them from bidding or buying on their listings.

Unpaid item strikes are not removed from a buyer’s account automatically. They expire after 12 months. However, if a buyer receives a third unpaid item strike in a 12-month period, the strikes do not expire and the buyer will be suspended from eBay.

Buyers can appeal unpaid item strikes if they believe they were issued in error. To appeal an unpaid item strike, the buyer must contact eBay customer support.

Can eBay Force You To Pay?

No, eBay cannot force you to pay for an item that you have won or purchased on the platform. However, there are consequences for not paying for an item, such as:

  • The seller can cancel the order and you will not receive the item.
  • You may receive an unpaid item strike on your account.
  • You may be blocked by sellers from bidding or buying on their listings.
  • You may be suspended from eBay.

If you are unable to pay for an item for a legitimate reason, such as financial hardship, you should contact the seller and explain the situation. The seller may be willing to work with you to find a solution.

It is important to note that eBay does not have a system in place to collect payments from buyers who do not pay. If you do not pay for an item, the seller will have to take legal action against you in order to recover the money. Also Read: How To Block User On eBay – Full Details

eBay Buyer Hasn’t Paid In 48 hours


If a buyer hasn’t paid for an item on eBay within 48 hours, you can send them a reminder to pay. You can do this by going to your Orders page and selecting the “Send reminder” button next to the order.

If the buyer still hasn’t paid after 4 calendar days, you can cancel the order. To do this, go to your Orders page and select the “Cancel order” button next to the order. You will need to select the reason for the cancellation, which in this case is “Buyer hasn’t paid.”

Once you have canceled the order, the item will be relisted automatically. You will also receive a full refund of the listing fees.

eBay Preferences For Items Awaiting Payment

eBay’s Preferences for Items Awaiting Payment setting allows you to control how long you wait for buyers to pay for items before automatically canceling the order. This can help you to avoid having unpaid items on your account, which can hurt your seller rating.

To set your Preferences for Items Awaiting Payment, go to your My eBay page and select the Selling tab. Under Selling Preferences, select Edit next to Preferences for items awaiting payment.

You can then choose how long you want to wait for buyers to pay for items. The default setting is 4 calendar days, but you can change it to a shorter or longer period of time.

You can also choose to automatically relist unpaid items after they are canceled. This can help you to get your items back on the market quickly. To enable this feature and customize it, click here.

eBay How Long To Open Unpaid Item Case?

You can open an unpaid item case on eBay 2 to 32 days after a sale. In the past, sellers had to manually open unpaid item cases. However, eBay rolled out a new unpaid item policy in May 2021 that eliminates the need for sellers to file unpaid item claims or send payment reminders.

Now, if a buyer doesn’t pay for an item within 4 calendar days, eBay will automatically open an unpaid item case on the seller’s behalf. The seller will then have 4 days to respond to the case. If the seller doesn’t respond, eBay will automatically close the case in the seller’s favor and refund the seller’s final value fees.

However, there are some exceptions to this policy. For example, if the buyer has a good feedback history, eBay may extend the payment deadline. Additionally, if the buyer contacts the seller and asks for more time to pay, the seller can agree to extend the deadline. Learn How To Block Messages On eBay