"Unpaid" item dispute

[warranyah]

I can't believe I just posted this on the US board in error. I'm probably blind with rage! Anyway, I meant to post it here .

Early in January I purchased 3 items from a UK seller and asked for an invoice for combined shipping.

The seller replied that he had CANCELLED the sales because he had no stock and the listings were a mistake.

I  then received a message from Ebay confirmimg that the purchases had been cancelled by the seller.

Last week 3 unpaid item cases were opened against me. The only option I had for action to take was "Pay" or

"Contact seller"

I contacted the seller who replied that he had not opened the cases - that ebay had and it was up to me to sort it out.

I phoned ebay and they confirmed that the cases had been opened according to the seller's settings (so it was his doing that they were opened), but, frustratingly, the ebay person told me that he was unable to resolve the matter.

I contacted the seller again and asked him to close the cases but he said he could not - and, again, that it was my problem and I'd have to sort it out.

Then, strangely, one case closed because the item had been paid for but it was not paid for by me!

So that left two cases still open.

I have subsequently sent ebay three emails with no response (why am I not surprised?)

Tonight I received messages from ebay saying that the cases had been closed and I had received two unpaid item strikes.

I discovered that I was now able to leave feedback and since I am so annoyed by all this I left 2 neg. FBs but I won't be surprised if they disappear.

How can I appeal these strikes? How can I be given strikes for purchases cancelled by the seller because the items did not exist?