More proof that eBay is playing games with the ACCC?

By Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Sunday, 06 July 2008 20:23

Opinion and Analysis

An iTWire reader has sent through what appears to be further proof of eBay flouting the ACCC’s wishes in a continued attempt to force PayPal on sellers who may not wish to use it. Please read on.

An iTWire reader that is closely following the eBay case with the ACCC (the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) and investigating what its Australian CEO, Simon Smith, is saying to the press, has sent us another copy of a letter he has sent to the ACCC.

Calling Simon Smith’s action’s “misinformation”, I am reprinting most of the letter here with permission, as it effectively speaks for itself and is a follow on to my previous article entitled “Despite backdown, is eBay still flouting Australian law with PayPal?”

The letter is as follows, with bold and italicisations left intact:

“Further to my email to you on Friday 4th July, I am contacting the ACCC yet again to complain about the misinformation which Mr Simon Smith, eBay's chief executive, is perpetuating through the media. 

“As evidenced below Mr Smith is misrepresenting what the ACCC included (and by implication what the ACCC did not include) in its draft notice, to mislead consumers into believing the ACCC overtly supports eBay's assertion that PayPal improves safety and security. 

“Together with the account of an interview with Mr Smith published in "The Sheet" (the subject of my email to you on Friday) this approach by eBay is misrepresenting PayPal, misusing the office of the ACCC, and is misleading consumers. 

“With such media releases on the increase, it seems apparent that this is now a deliberate tactic pursued by eBay given its decision last Thursday to withdraw its notification to the ACCC.

“Specifically, the following statement by Mr Smith published in the "Business Spectator" (also on 4th July) is grossly misleading and unacceptable behaviour for a senior officer of a large corporation:

“Simon Smith: "This has always been only about improving safety and security on eBay and I would say that the ACCC draft notice firstly says that PayPal does improve safety and security for buyers and also said that they didn’t find that our motive was anything other than improving safety and security on eBay.com.au."

Continued on page 2 where we see how this statement conflicts with what the ACCC has stated in its draft notice!