Bid with Confidence! You're Insured.

Under the WineCommune.com Fraud Insurance Program buyers of items purchased through WineCommune.com are covered for amounts up to $300 with a $25 deductible against fraud. For example, if the winning bid price is $300, you are eligible to receive $275 in the unlikely event of fraud. Every WineCommune.com buyer is automatically covered at no charge under the terms of this program if they meet the requirements.

While fraud is virtually non-existent at WineCommune.com, our Fraud Insurance Program gives you as the bidder the peace of mind to bid and buy with confidence. Specifically, our Fraud Insurance covers you if you pay for an item and never receive it.

To be eligible for Fraud Insurance coverage you must be the winning bidder of an item as defined by our User Agreement. 'Side Deals' in which you were not the winning bidder, and any other transaction in which you were not the winning bidder of an auction here are not eligible for Fraud Insurance. Damage sustained in shipment is not covered by the Fraud Insurance; it is the seller's and buyer's responsibility to insure the item against damage in shipping.

If you are having a problem with a seller and believe that you have been defrauded, please do the following:

• Try to contact the seller directly via email, telephone, or snail mail. Many problems are either misunderstandings or difficulty in communications. You can contact us to request the seller's contact information and call or email him.



• We strongly recommend that buyers and sellers work together in an attempt to resolve their dispute. Third-party tools such as SquareTrade can assist in the dispute resolution process.



• Review the Fraud Claim Process to understand the claim process and to determine if the item is eligible for Fraud Insurance Protection.



• If you have been unable to work the matter out with the seller and 30 days have passed since the ending date of the auction, you can file a Fraud Report. To allow the seller sufficient time for communication between yourself and the seller you must wait a minimum of 30 days from the date the auction ends to file the Fraud Report. The Fraud Report must be filed within 60 days of the end of the auction; claims made after 60 days will be denied by the insurance company.

• The transaction occured through the WineCommune system - the transaction originated as an auction item, fixed price item, WineCommune Store purchase, or was made through the after auction offer system. BUYING AND SELLING THROUGH THE WINECOMMUNE MESSAGE SYSTEM OR THROUGH OTHER METHODS ARE NOT COVERED.



• If you paid for an item and never recieved it



• At the time the bid was placed, both the bidder and the seller are verified users (click here for further information)



• The incident is the result of seller fraud. Shipping accidents, damage or other situations are not covered. The buyer will be asked to file a police report alleging fraud agains the seller.



• Both the bidder and the seller have a net feedback of zero or higher at the time the bid is placed



• The bidder has not filed another claim within the past 30 days



• The bidder is a WineCommune member in good standing at the time of the claim



• The transaction occured from using the WineCommune system (you must be a winning bidder on the WineCommune


lot, have offically accepted an offer from a seller using the WineCommune Offer system, or had the seller officially accept your offer to purchase using the WineCommune Offer system)


• The location of the lot in within the United States (no items offered outside the United States are insured)



• You must have proof of payment (ie. copy of canceled check, credit card receipt)



• You will be required to sign an affidavid stating you paid for lot but never recieved it and to file a police report alleging fraud against the seller



• We recommend printing a copy of the lot page and of the confirmation page you recieve after placing a bid



• Insurance only covers buyers against fraudulent sellers, not seller's from non-paying buyers



• Purchases agreed upon through email with WineCommune members, even if through the WineCommune message system, or purchases of additional bottles of wine (beyond what was conducted through the WineCommune system) ARE NOT covered.

The insurance covers up to $300 and there is a $25 deductible. For further information or to file a claim please contact us.

Learn more about internet auction fraud at our fraud watch page.

Policy last updated August 21, 2003