UK marketplace questions answered
Understand payments, SilentCover® contributions, Shipping, PIN Pickup and withdrawals.
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- Is it safe to sell on Facebook Marketplace?
Questions to consider when arranging a local marketplace sale, and how SilentSale® PIN Pickup works.
- How to avoid marketplace scams in the UK
Practical checks for UK marketplace purchases and sales, with SilentSale® payment and acceptance rules.
- What is the safest way to sell something in person in the UK?
How to complete a local sale using SilentSale® PIN Pickup, from payment to inspection and acceptance.
- How to get paid safely when selling online in the UK
How payment, order completion and withdrawals work for private sellers on SilentSale®.
- What is buyer and seller protection?
How SilentCover® contributions and discretionary protection work for both sides.
- How to sell to a stranger safely online
How to use in-app payments, tracked Shipping and PIN Pickup when trading with another private individual.
- Do online marketplaces protect sellers?
What to check in marketplace protection terms, and how SilentSale® protects both sides equally.
- How to avoid chargeback scams when selling
Keep payment records and fulfilment evidence when selling through a marketplace.
- Is PIN Pickup safe for in-person sales?
PIN Pickup explained: in-person inspection, payment and PIN acceptance.
- What is SilentCover®?
SilentCover® contributions, shared protection and the different rules for Shipping and PIN Pickup.
- Who pays buyer protection on SilentSale®?
On SilentSale®, buyer and seller each contribute to SilentCover®. Both sides are protected equally under the Terms.
- Is SilentSale® legit? Check the company and terms
SilentSale® is operated by SilentSale Ltd. Check the company details, Terms and payment process before deciding whether to transact.
- How does PIN Pickup work?
The buyer pays in the app, inspects the item in person, then shares a six-digit PIN. The seller enters it to complete the order.
- Can I sell without meeting the buyer?
Yes. Choose Shipping where available and use the SilentSale® label. The buyer receives the parcel instead of meeting you for PIN Pickup.
- What happens if my parcel is lost?
Report the problem through the order. The outcome depends on the delivery evidence, packaging rules and applicable courier limits.
- How do I get paid on SilentSale®?
Stripe processes the buyer’s payment and holds funds until completion. Available earnings can be withdrawn after the required verification.
- Do I need ID to sell on SilentSale®?
Identity and bank verification with Stripe are required before withdrawing earnings. Complete the checks requested in your account.
- What is SilentCover® and what does it cover?
SilentCover® is a discretionary protection service under the Terms, with contributions from both sides and evidence-based decisions.
- Is it free to list on SilentSale®?
Yes. There are no listing costs. The standard seller contribution to SilentCover® is deducted after a successful sale.
- Are packing and unboxing videos required?
No. Packing and unboxing videos are encouraged, not mandatory. They can strengthen the evidence available when a problem is reviewed.
- Vinted, eBay or Depop asking for your National Insurance number?
A National Insurance number request is about HMRC reporting. It is not, by itself, a tax bill. Check your own situation with HMRC.
- What is the eBay Buyer Protection fee?
The eBay Buyer Protection fee is paid by the buyer on a UK private-seller listing. It is already in the price and in an offer.
- Why is eBay holding my money?
eBay usually releases a private seller’s funds after delivery, or within 24 hours of payment if the account meets a sales test. A hold can take longer.
- eBay account restricted (MC011): what should you do?
Read the email eBay sent, keep the reference, and send only what it asks for. For held money, complain to eBay Commerce UK Ltd before the Ombudsman.
- How does eBay collection in person work?
The buyer pays on eBay, inspects the item, then you scan a QR code or enter a 6-digit code. eBay tells you to decline cash that moves the sale off eBay.
- Why does Vinted charge a buyer fee?
Buyers pay it at checkout. Vinted’s help page says the old name is changing, and that sellers are not charged this fee.
- Do I pay return postage on Vinted?
Vinted’s help pages say the buyer pays return postage once a return is agreed, unless the seller offers to cover it.
- How long do I have to claim a lost Vinted parcel?
There are two clocks. One starts when Vinted says the parcel should be there. The other is the wait before a missing parcel can be treated as lost.
- Does Vinted side with the buyer?
Vinted’s refund policy does not publish a win rate. It says support decides if you and the seller cannot agree, and it lists outcomes that cut both ways.
- Can I withdraw from Vinted if I am banned?
Vinted’s ban page says a permanently banned member can still withdraw an available balance, unless a listed risk exception applies.
- Why is my Depop payout not in my bank?
Depop pays into a Depop Balance first. The bank transfer follows a clock that depends on how you shipped, plus ID and bank checks.
- Depop suspended my account with no explanation. What now?
Depop’s help page says it may act without a direct notice. The appeal is a form, and a person reviews it.
- Can I cancel a Faster Payment or a bank transfer?
No. Pay.UK says that once a Faster Payment has been sent, it cannot be cancelled. Phone your bank at once if the payment was a mistake or fraud.
- Is “is this still available” a scam on Facebook Marketplace?
Not on its own. People send that line as a first message. The warning signs are what they ask for next, not the opening words.
- What is the Gumtree Buyer Protection fee?
On Buy now, Gumtree says the buyer pays £0.70 plus a percentage. Its July 2026 policy says 5% to 10%. An older highlight says 5%. Check the checkout.
- Is PayPal Friends and Family safe on a marketplace?
PayPal says no, if you are buying from someone you do not know. Choose Goods and Services. Friends and Family sits outside its buyer programme.
- What does “Hi I'm interested” mean on Gumtree?
On its own, it means very little. One UK seller reported a run of those messages. It is not proof of a scam, and it is not a Gumtree rule.
- The buyer booked a van and did not show. What now?
You stayed in. The buyer booked a van and never came. You still have the item. The hire charge is between the buyer and the hire company.
- Can a buyer get a refund after collecting?
Cash or a sent Faster Payment is hard to undo. Shop refund rules apply when a trader supplies a consumer.
- The buyer offers less once they arrive. Can I say no?
Yes. A lower offer on the doorstep is a new offer. You can refuse it and keep the item. Agree the price before they travel.
- What does sold as seen mean in the UK?
Sold as seen does not erase the description. The goods still have to match what was said. A private seller is not a shop.
- Can a buyer return an item to a private seller?
A private seller need not accept a change of mind. The item must still match the description. If it later breaks, start with what you said.
- What are your rights when buying from a private seller in the UK?
Buying from a private seller is not the same as a shop. A wrong description can still be challenged. A change of mind is not an automatic refund.
- Can I sell used perfume or makeup?
Used perfume and opened makeup are blocked on several UK apps. A sealed, unused product is often treated differently. Read the rule for the site.
- Can I sell a second-hand mattress?
A second-hand mattress is a fire-safety question, not only a delivery question. RoSPA says a missing label may mean it does not comply.
- Can I sell a used car seat in the UK?
RoSPA says a used car seat needs a known history. eBay does not allow used seats. Depop says they can’t be listed. SilentSale®’s Terms do not name them.
- Can I sell second-hand electricals?
A used kettle or hair dryer can be listed on some sites and blocked on others. A frayed flex is a reason to stop, not a detail to hide.
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Sources
SilentSale® Terms and Conditions, checked 2026-10-02. Each article includes its own sources.