Method and system for dealing with non-paying bidders related to network-based transactions

• US 7,774,276 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2000
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Leonardo, Lou, Ching, Randy, Wahl, Amanda
• Primary Examiner(s): Kazimi; Hani
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vyas; Abhishek
• Application Number:
  US09/717,433
• Time in Patent Office: 3,550 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/26, 705/27, 705 35- 40, 705/13, 705/15, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

A method and system for dealing with non-paying bidders related to network-based transactions in which a submission of a complaint to a network-based facility is facilitated. The complaint is related to a party who has failed to complete a transaction. A resolution of the complaint is facilitated. A record associated with the part is updated if the complaint is not resolved. The record indicates a count of failed transactions related to the party. A submission of a refund request can also be facilitated if the complaint is not resolved.

Claims

1. A method for a network-based facility, the method comprising:

receiving submission of a complaint at a network-based facility, the complaint being related to a failed transaction that is not completed by a party, the party is a buyer and the transaction is not completed by the buyer for the reason that the buyer failed to send a payment to a seller;

facilitating, a resolution of the complaint;

determining, by a processor, the complaint is not resolved;

at the network-based facility and using one or more processors, updating a record associated with the failed transaction that is not completed by the buyer, the updating the record including incrementing a first count of failed transactions not completed by the buyer for the reason that the buyer failed to send a payment to the seller;

communicating a user interface to a client machine of a seller, the user interface including a second count of failed transactions not completed by the buyer, the second count including the first count of failed transactions not completed by the buyer for the reason that the buyer failed to send a payment to the seller; and

updating a seller refund request table upon crediting a fee previously charged to the seller by the network-based facility based on the failed transaction back to the seller.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating submission of a refund request for the fee if the complaint is not resolved.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the facilitating of the submission of the refund request includes:

providing an interface to facilitate input of information for the refund request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating the submission of the complaint includes:

providing an interface to facilitate input of information for the complaint.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating the resolution of the complaint includes:

notifying the party that the complaint has been submitted against the party.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the first count exceeds a predetermined count value;

responsive to the determining, suspending the party from participating in future transactions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network-based facility includes a network-based online auction facility and the transaction includes a network-based online auction transaction.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the first count exceeds a predetermined count value; and

responsive to the determining, communicating a warning to the party of a suspension from participating in future transactions.

29. The method of claim 28, further including receiving an appeal from the party and denying the appeal.

30. The method of claim 28, further including receiving an appeal from a party and granting the appeal.

31. The method of claim 29, further including decrementing the count of failed transactions not completed by the party responsive to the granting of the appeal.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the second count of failed transactions is based on a number of failed transactions not completed by the buyer for the reason that the buyer sent a payment to the seller that was fraudulent.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the second count of failed transactions is based on a number of failed transactions not completed by the buyer for the reason that the buyer made a fraudulent payment to the seller.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the second count of failed transactions is based on a number of failed transactions between the buyer and the seller that are not completed.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a list of failed transactions that are not completed, wherein the failed transactions include the buyer and a plurality of sellers.

8. A network based facility system comprising:

a database configured to maintain a plurality of records of network-based transactions, the plurality of records including a first record; and

a processor configured to facilitate submission of a complaint, the complaint being associated with a first record maintained by the database, the first record relating to a failed transaction that has not been completed by a party for the reason that the buyer failed to send a payment to a seller, the processor to facilitate a resolution of the complaint, the processor configured to determine the complaint is not resolved and to update the first record, the first record indicating a first count of failed transactions that have not been completed by the buyer for the reason that the buyer failed to send a payment to the seller, the processor configured to communicate a user interface to a seller, the user interface includes a second count of failed transactions not completed by the buyer, the second count includes the first count of failed transactions not completed by the buyer for the reason that the buyer failed to send a payment to the seller, the processor configured to update a seller refund request table upon crediting a fee previously charged to the seller by the network-based facility based on the failed transaction back to the seller.

9. The network-based facility of claim 8, wherein the processor is to facilitate submission of a refund request for the fee if the complaint is not resolved.

10. The network-based facility of claim 9, wherein the processor is to provide an interface to facilitate input of information for the refund request.

11. The network-based facility of claim 8, wherein the processor is to provide an interface to facilitate input of information for the complaint.

12. The network-based facility of claim 8, wherein the processor is to notify the party that the complaint has been submitted against the party.

13. The network-based facility of claim 8, wherein the processor is to determine the first count exceeds a predetermined count value;

and to suspend the party from participation in future transactions responsive to the determination.

14. The network-based facility of claim 8, wherein the network-based facility includes a network-based online auction facility and the transaction includes a network-based online auction transaction.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium that provides instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

facilitate submission of a complaint to a network-based facility, the complaint being related to a failed transaction that has not been completed by a party, the party is a buyer and the transaction is not completed by the buyer for the reason that the buyer failed to send a payment to a seller;

facilitate a resolution of the complaint;

determine the complaint is not resolved;

update a record associated with the failed transaction that has not been completed by the buyer, the record indicating a first count of failed transactions that have not been completed by the buyer for the reason that the buyer failed to send a payment to the seller;

communicate a user interface to a seller, the user interface includes a second count of failed transactions not completed by the buyer, the second count includes the first count of failed transactions not completed by the buyer for the reason that the buyer failed to send a payment to the seller; and

update a seller refund request table upon crediting a fee previously charged to the seller by the network-based facility based on the failed transaction back to the seller.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to:

determine the complaint is not resolved; and

facilitate submission of a refund request for the fee.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to:

provide an interface to facilitate input of information for the refund request.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to:

provide an interface to facilitate input of information for the complaint.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to:

notify the party that the complaint has been submitted against the party.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to:

determine the first count exceeds a predetermined count value; and

suspend the party to participate in future transactions with the network-based facility.

21. A network-based facility, comprising:

a first means for maintaining a plurality of records of network-based transactions, the plurality of records including a first record; and

a second means for facilitating submission of a complaint, the complaint being associated with the first record relating to a failed transaction that has not been completed by a party, the party is a buyer and the transaction is not completed by the buyer for the reason that the buyer failed to send a payment to a seller;

facilitating a resolution of the complaint;

determining the complaint is not resolved;

updating the first record to indicate a count of failed transactions that have not been completed by the buyer, the updating the record including incrementing a first count of failed transactions not completed by the buyer for the reason that the buyer failed to send a payment to the seller;

communicating a user interface to a seller, the user interface including a second count of failed transactions not completed by the buyer, the second count including the first count of failed transactions not completed by the buyer for the reason that the buyer failed to send a payment to the seller; and

updating a seller refund request table upon crediting a fee previously charged to the seller by the network-based facility based on the failed transaction back to the seller.

22. The network-based facility of claim 21, wherein the second means is for facilitating submission of a refund request for the fee if the complaint is not resolved.

23. The network-based facility of claim 22, wherein the second means is for providing an interface to facilitate input of information for the refund request.

24. The network-based facility of claim 21, wherein the second means is for providing an interface to facilitate input of information for the complaint.

25. The network-based facility of claim 21, wherein the second means is for notifying the party that the complaint has been submitted against the party.

26. The network-based facility of claim 21, wherein the second means is for determining whether the first count exceeds a predetermined count value;

and for suspending the party from participating in future transactions.

27. The network-based facility of claim 21, wherein the network-based facility includes a network-based online auction facility and the failed transaction includes a failed network-based online auction transaction.