eBay breaches privacy laws

[cq_tech]

2 days ago I received email notification from eBay that they had divulged my personal details to one of my previous buyers. Now that would be OK if they were currently involved in a transaction, but this particular buyer had purchased an item from me at the beginning of last month, immediately left me malicious and intentional negative feedback (which was later removed by eBay on appeal) and the transaction was concluded just on a month ago.

I immediately rang CS and was told that this shouldn't have been allowed to happen and the rep was horrified and apologised profusely. The rep then lodged a report and started an investigation into both the circumstances under which this had occurred, as well as the buyer concerned because under eBay's own User Agreement she had no right to be given my personal information. I was also told to report any form of harassment by this person, in which case further action would be taken.

I also wrote them a scathing complaint about their appalling lack of security and received this reply (salutations removed)...

Thanks for your email about the message that the buyer is asking for your contact details.

Buyer has the option to ask for your contact information if there's an existing transaction between you and your buyer. It is a common practice for your trading partner to ask for your information since this is an online business.

If you don't want to communicate with your buyer, you can just block the buyer and ignore their messages. If you will receive any harassing  emails from the buyer, please don't hesitate to contact us and we can help you in investigating the buyers account for any eBay Policy violation.

I replied immediately, pointing out once again that the transaction had been concluded a month ago and that they had no right to pass out my personal details to somebody who clearly had no need for them, other than to harass me, and received the following virtually unintelligible response...

Thank you for your email. We make sure that We still be able to hold the request an secure your privacy. We immedeately (sic) take an action. We apologize for inconvenience.

"We apologize for inconvenience" indeed! Well that's pretty bloody big of them, don't you think? As you can imagine, I'm really angry with eBay at the moment and am very much inclined to take the matter further, but in the mean time, I think it's very important that all sellers out there should know that their privacy means absolutely nothing to eBay, and they're quite happy to breach both their own User Agreement and the Australian Privacy Laws.

[imastawka]

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@daddykool-123 wrote:

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@imastawka wrote:

Isn't that the American Constitiuton?

Which doesn't apply in Australia?

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Doesn't it?

No

So what you're suggesting is that the right to privacy only exists there?

No

So what you're suggesting is that it's not applicable anywhere else?

No

I gave the quote verbatim in the simple understanding that it was as valid on Mars as well as the U.S. or anywhere else.

You quoted the American law.  Do some homework and find the Australian

equivalent

Yes, Australia does have a Constitution too.

Nothing like the American one though

DK

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I'm not doing your homework for you.   I don't want to download

the pdf on the Australian Constitution and trawl through it looking

for something to dispute what you're saying.

But, for cryin' out loud,    American Law is not Australian Law

Otherwise, in some states we could hang people.

And right now, I kinda like that idea!

[*tippy*toes*]

Not so sure about the hanging bit, but definitely lethal injection

Can I suggest the first contender be the dog across the road who hasn't shut up since they moved in 3 months ago? Then the owners can cop it too 😄

I guess it's only a matter of time until we hear about the 1st or 5th amendment.......

[daddykool-123]

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@pennyforum14 wrote:

- Eventually, ALL eBay sales will be linked to the ATO through myGov software.  Then, the taxman will know automatically the sales amount you made.

Again, speculation, and this one I sincerely doubt, the sheer logistics of managing that much data would be prohibitive with the current policies of reducing the cost of government.

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Here Penny, on this point you are wrong.

I used myGov this year.

I chose not to give my TFN for a small personal bank account.

The ATO found my $5.66 interest easily and prefilled my return. So, this has nothing to do with logistics and the ATO already has the means to do this.

DK

[daddykool-123]

For goodness sake, not are you only off topic, but completely missing the point.

[lyndal1838]

You really don't get it do you?

The ATO did not "find" that bank account.  All banks have to give that information to the ATO in the same way that ebay is required to give your details to the ATO.   It has been that way for years.

[daddykool-123]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

You really don't get it do you?

The ATO did not "find" that bank account.  All banks have to give that information to the ATO in the same way that ebay is required to give your details to the ATO.   It has been that way for years.

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I unreservedly, sincerely and completely apologise for your total lack of understanding.

There are so many errors in the last two lines of your quote, I could write an essay.

At the risk of appearing overly judgemental and before you fire off another sarcastic reply, consider an example that may assist:

- 2 people have exactly the same name. (Perhaps clones if it makes it easier for you)
- They share the same address.
- Both have a bank account with the same bank.
- They didn't supply their TFN's (that's Tax File Numbers) for whatever reason.
- What then?

You really don't get it do you?

DK

[daddykool-123]

So What's?

[lyndal1838]

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@daddykool-123 wrote:

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

You really don't get it do you?

The ATO did not "find" that bank account.  All banks have to give that information to the ATO in the same way that ebay is required to give your details to the ATO.   It has been that way for years.

---

I unreservedly, sincerely and completely apologise for your total lack of understanding.

There are so many errors in the last two lines of your quote, I could write an essay.

At the risk of appearing overly judgemental and before you fire off another sarcastic reply, consider an example that may assist:

- 2 people have exactly the same name. (Perhaps clones if it makes it easier for you)
- They share the same address.
- Both have a bank account with the same bank.
- They didn't supply their TFN's (that's Tax File Numbers) for whatever reason.
- What then?

You really don't get it do you?

DK

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So they were born on the same day in the same year too?

The ATO has many ways of matching data.

In the scenario you have provided I would say that if they have this problem they would be silly not to provide their TFN.

[imastawka]

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@daddykool-123 wrote:
So What's?

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     I'm slowly losing the incentive to live 

Just can't handle this lightning fast repartee   

[daddykool-123]

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@imastawka wrote:

Isn't that the American Constitiuton?

Which doesn't apply in Australia?

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The quote I gave is also on the Australin Governments Privacy laws web pages,

the Office of the Australian Information Information Commissioner OAIC. (Privacy Laws).

I'm tired of this argument.  If you're happy, with the status quo, that's fine. 

"there are sheep, there are shepherds and those that own both and pay 4% tax."

DK