Buying from a private seller
Last updated 27 August 2026
Every listing on Microcity says whether the seller is a business or a private individual. It is not a detail — it changes what you are legally entitled to if something goes wrong.
Microcity is in development and is not yet open to the public. This page describes how the platform works today and will be reviewed by a solicitor before launch.
The short version
| If it… | Business seller | Private seller |
|---|---|---|
| You simply changed your mind | 14 days to cancel | No right to cancel |
| Is faulty or poor quality | Full Consumer Rights Act protection | No quality guarantee |
| Is not what was described | Covered | Covered |
| Never turns up | Covered | Covered |
Why the difference exists
UK consumer law — the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts Regulations — applies to traders selling to consumers. A private individual clearing out a cupboard is not a trader, so those rules do not attach to the sale. This is the same distinction that applies at a car boot sale or in a newsagent's window; it is not something Microcity has chosen.
What does not change is misrepresentation. A private seller who describes something as working when it is not, or omits damage they knew about, has misdescribed the item, and you are entitled to your money back. That right holds against everyone.
What we do about it
- Every listing, search result and checkout page carries a badge saying which kind of seller you are buying from. You will never find out afterwards.
- We hold the seller's money for a period after delivery rather than paying it straight out, so there is something to refund from if a case goes against them.
- If an item does not match its description or never arrives, open a case with us and we will decide it on the evidence. We can refund you from the held funds without the seller's agreement.
- Someone selling as a private individual while actually trading is breaking the law and our rules. We watch sale volumes and reclassify accounts that cross the line — at which point the buyer protections above apply to them in full.
Before you buy from a private seller
- Read the condition grade and the fault description, not just the photographs.
- Ask questions through the site. A seller who will not answer in writing is telling you something.
- Pay through Microcity. A bank transfer arranged off-platform has no protection at all, and asking for one is grounds for us to suspend an account.
- For anything electrical, check the listing says it has been PAT tested or comes with its original plug and cable.
Related
Questions? help@microcity.co.uk