eBay automatically opens unpaid item case after 3 days

This is strange, I've never had this happen before so correct me if this isn't a new feature.

My eBay item sold 3 days ago. Two days went by and I still hadn't received payment, so I sent an invoice to the buyer. A day later, I get this email:

Hi Travis,
We've told your buyer that we just opened an unpaid item case for Nike Air Jordan AJF XII 12 Retro WHITE BLACK TAXI 317743-101 Size 7Y.

If payment isn't received by Nov-08-14, you'll get a final value fee credit. We'll also record an unpaid item on the buyer's account.

In the past, I've always had to initiate the unpaid item case on my own.

There is an option you can check to have them automatically open a case for you called Unpaid Item Assistant. Maybe you clicked on it by mistake. It does seem handy but 3 days seems a bit fast. I imagine if your buyer contacted you to say they need more time you could probably close it. I would be worried that it could result in some grumpy feedback.  I inserted instructions on how to set it up below so I am sure you could cancel it using the same instructions if you want to.

Setting up Unpaid Item Assistant:
Go to My eBay > Account > Site Preferences.
Click Show to the right of Unpaid Item Assistant, and then click Edit .
Select Yes – I want Unpaid Item Assistant to open and close cases on my behalf.
In the drop-down menu, select the number of days you want Unpaid Item Assistant to wait before opening a case. If you don't see the lower settings (for example, 2 days), update your combined payments preference.
Select the Real-time option if you want to receive an email when the Unpaid Item Assistant opens or closes a case.
Under Automatically relist the item when the case is closed with no payment, select Yes or No.
Click Save.

another thought...My EBAY looks completely different as of a few days ago and I don't know if it's because I clicked on something or what but my husbands account has not changed. Maybe the unpaid case assistant thing is part of the change. I just checked mine and the unpaid case assistant still says "no".

I am curious if anyone else's EBAY changed. I wish it would change back.
 

The settings on your account are set to do this. You can personally be in control of unpaid item cases or you can automate it, yours is automated.

I think it's actually quite good that these sites are starting to be a little more intuitive. Saves the sellers a lot of trouble and makes the buyers watch their toes when it comes to skimping on a buy!

Yes there is indeed an automatic option which you can adjust accordingly from your account settings. Ebay will help you initiate a re-instatement after a certain number of days should the buyer falls under the unpaid item category. However, if you mentioned that the option is not activated then perhaps you should check with Ebay as to why they are proactive on this particular case of yours.